4 Exciting National Parks in Sydney
Although Sydney is most famous for its beaches and cosmopolitan lifestyle, not to mention the big city element, many tourists are surprised to find how many national parks are so easily accessible from the CBD. When you have organised your car hire, Sydney becomes a tourist palette from which you can choose any number of destinations.
The hustle and bustle of the city can be left behind as you visit one of the many national parks located in and around Sydney. They are a great place to unwind from the hectic city pace and a visit to any one of the famous national parks will bring you back to earth and remind you of the natural environment that surrounds the fast paced City of Sydney.
So, once you have acquired your appropriate roadmaps, jump behind the wheel and get out to these national parks for a day to remember of famous Australian bushland.
- Sydney Harbour National Park comprises a huge tract of bushland and several islands in Sydney Harbour. You’ll be able to enjoy long walks and see some fabulous aboriginal carvings and rock paintings as you visit places like Ashton Park and Dobroyd Head. Fort Denison is also one of the more obvious inclusions in this National Park as it is easily visible from circular quay, not far from the Sydney Opera House. You can take a specially guided tour to any of these places or you can simply drive through the inner suburban streets and find yourself in the middle of some typical Australian bush.
- Botany Bay National Park is located just south of the Sydney CBD in Botany Bay, the location of the first European landing in Australia when Captain Cook arrived in 1770. The purpose-built Discovery Centre paints a vivid picture of Australia’s early days and is a great starting point for numerous walks around the area, including beaches and natural bushland.
- The Heathcote National Park is located a little further south of Botany Bay, just near Port Hacking. There are several swimming pools to enjoy here as well as some fantastic walking trails through some rugged Australian bushland.
- The Royal National Park is adjacent to Heathcote National Park where tourists can enjoy some wonderful hilltop scenery as well as some of the more secluded and beautiful beaches in the area. The longest trek is just over 26 km long so it is not for the fainthearted, but is certainly worth the effort (especially as you will be travelling through some of the best surfing spots on the New South Wales coast). You can also take one of the shorter walks if you don’t have the time or energy for such a long trek.
You will probably want to rent a car in order to easily visit these national parks to give yourself the flexibility of being able to spend as much time there as you wish, without the restraints of a bus timetable. Of course, when looking for car hire, Sydney offers you an excellent range of options and you are certain to get a good deal.
