There are over over 225 national parks and 890 national parks and reserves in NSW – the second-most of any state in Australia (although this may change as new parks are gazetted). The first national park in Australia was the Royal National Park, created in 1879 and only the second in the world at the time. There are over 60 million annual national park visits, with the most popular parks being Royal (6.1m visits), Ku-ring-gai Chase (3.9m) and Sydney Harbour (2.4m) based on a 2018 survey. Bushwalking and other outdoor activities are also possible in many of the 68 State Forests and 34,000 Crown reserves across NSW.
- National Parks are managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, with over 7.5m hectares of public land. Many have an entry fee, and an annual pass can be purchased. Dogs are generally not allowed.
- State Forests are managed by the the Forestry Corporation of NSW, with over 2.2m hectares under management. They are free to visit with fewer restrictions (dogs and 4WD-driving allowed and usually camping anywhere away from roads)
- Crown Reserves support a wide range of uses and include bush reserves as well as sport fields and parks. View Crown Reserves Directory
A guide for what to see and do in Bouddi National Park... Located about an hour north of Sydney on the Central Coast, Bouddi National Park offers some spectacular bushwalks, pristine beaches and stunning lookouts.
- When was park established: 1967
- Size of park: 3790 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 25
- https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/bouddi-national-park
- Features: Aboriginal heritage, Beaches, Swimming, Views
Garigal National Park in Sydney's north is the fifth largest park in the Sydney metropolitan area. Within the park are over 40 bushwalking trails and mountain-biking tracks covering 120km, as well as many lookouts and places to kayak.
- When was park established: 1991
- Size of park: 3790 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 25
- https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/bouddi-national-park
- Features: Aboriginal heritage, Beaches, Swimming, Views
A guide to the bushwalking trails, mountain bike tracks as well as the best swimming holes and waterfalls in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydney's north.
- When was park established: 1894
- Size of park: 37010 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 50
- https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/kuringgai-chase-national-park
- Features: Aboriginal heritage, Rainforest, Rock formations, Swimming, Trig Station, Views, Waterfall, Waterhole
Marramarra National Park is located on the Hawkesbury River, to the north of Sydney. Although most of the bushwalks are along firetrails, it has a few interesting trails that are never busy.
- When was park established: 1979
- Size of park: 29120 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 14
- https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/marramarra-national-park
- Features: Aboriginal heritage, Trig Station, Views
A guide to the best bushwalks, swimming spots and waterfalls of the Royal National Park, in Sydney's south. Also covers the many picnic areas and campsites of the park.,
- When was park established: 1879
- Size of park: 39537 acres
- Number of hiking trails: 60
- https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/royal-national-park
- Features: Rainforest, Rock formations, Swimming, Views, Waterfall, Waterhole