A mammoth-sized new national park is being created in Western Sydney. Meet Gulguer National Park.
The trouble with green space is that it becomes most valuable just after someone decides it would make an excellent housing estate. Gulguer National Park, a new nature reserve being created by the Minns Labor Government, is an increasingly rare case of land being valued for what it is, rather than what it could become.
The new national park sits west of Bringelly in Western Sydney and comprises an impressive 1100 hectares of bushland – that’s roughly the size of 1500 football (soccer) fields. The goal? Deliver a destination blending recreation, environmental conservation and Aboriginal heritage on the city’s growing western fringe.
Set to open within the next six months, Gulguer National Park will be an affordable natural playground for relaxing and appreciating local beauty. Walkers, wildlife photographers, families and mountain bikers are all counting it as a major win, along with nature lovers simply looking for room to breathe.
The reserve is arriving at a time when Western Sydney is undergoing rapid transformation, with major infrastructure projects like Western Sydney International Airport bringing new attention to the need for balanced growth.
Where is Gulguer National Park?
A section of the land proposed for restoration within Gulguer National Park.
Located in Western Sydney, the park is just a few kilometres west of Bringelly, near Greendale, and around a 40-minute drive from Liverpool. It will add roughly 700 hectares of new land to the existing environmentally protected areas at Bents Basin State Conservation Area and Gulguer Nature Reserve, spanning a total of 1100 hectares.
Why is it being created?
A place of Aboriginal heritage and for reconnecting with nature.
The Minns Labor Government is establishing Gulguer National Park for several reasons: to protect threatened wildlife species, preserve significant Aboriginal cultural artefacts and provide Sydneysiders with an expansive new space to reconnect with nature.
The reserve will safeguard important natural habitat for at least 28 threatened species, including the southern greater glider, powerful owl, giant burrowing frog, eastern coastal free-tailed bat and Cumberland and Dural land snails. In addition, it will provide greater protection for the critically endangered Shale Sandstone Transition Forest and Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest.
“It is part of our ongoing commitment to boost conservation in Western Sydney, to ensure our precious native creatures and plants exist here for generations to come," says Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe.
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The national park will protect the habitats of species such as the powerful owl.
Admire native Australian plants such as the mountain devil flower.
Named after the Nepean River – a body of water spiritually significant for the Darug, Gandangara and other traditional owners of the Hawkesbury-Nepean basin –the park will also preserve Aboriginal cultural heritage sites including rock art, artefacts and shelters.
Beyond environmental and cultural preservation, Prue Car, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney, says the park will create affordable and convenient opportunities for local residents to access green spaces.
“For too long, families in Western Sydney have missed out on access to outdoor spaces that other parts of the city take for granted," Car says.
“At a time when families are under pressure, this new National Park will give locals a world-class destination right in their own backyard."
When will Gulguer National Park open?
Remnant mature trees from cleared paddocks will provide a seed bank for rehabilitation.
According to the NSW government, Gulguer National Park is set to open in the next six months. If all goes to plan, that means full public access and new visitor facilities will be rolled out in early 2027.
There is no shortage of advice imploring us to spend more time in nature. Doctors prescribe it. Psychologists endorse it. Smartwatches guilt us towards it. The difficult part is actually finding somewhere close to home large enough to disappear into – yet Gulguer National Park promises exactly that.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.
Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.
Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.
Where to stay
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.
Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.
Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.
Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.
The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.
Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.
Where to drink & dine
1. The Bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.
Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.
Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.
The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.
On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.
Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce.
2. The Place
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.
On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.
3. Local gelato
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)
What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.
What to do/see
1. GPO Heritage Tour
Be awed by the building’s history.
Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.
From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.
2. Circular Quay
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)
An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)
Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.
4. Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)
Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).
