Best Sydney National Parks: 5 Must-Visit Hiking Trails

Sydney National Parks 2026 — Overview

Sydney is one of the world's great cities for nature access, flanked by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to the west, the Royal National Park to the south, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to the north and Garigal National Park to the north-west. Within the city itself, Sydney Harbour National Park protects the foreshore from the CBD. Here's a guide to the best national parks and nature experiences near Sydney.

Blue Mountains National Park

• Distance from Sydney — 1.5 to 2 hours west by car or Blue Mountains Line train (Central to Katoomba: 2 hours by train).
• Highlights — The Three Sisters (Echo Point, Katoomba), Wentworth Falls, Govetts Leap Lookout (Blackheath), the Grand Canyon Walk (Blackheath, 5.4km loop, moderate), Evans Lookout and the Pulpit Rock lookout. The Blue Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage Area covering 1 million hectares of sandstone plateau, eucalyptus forest and dramatic cliffs.
• Best walks — Grand Canyon Walk (Blackheath, 5.4km loop), Federal Pass Track (Katoomba to Scenic World, 5.4km one way), Wentworth Falls Track (3.5km, spectacular waterfall views). National Parks entry: free at most Blue Mountains trails. Check nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.

Royal National Park

• Distance — 40km south of Sydney CBD. Accessible by train (Waterfall, Heathcote, Audley stations) or car.
• Highlights — Australia's oldest national park (1879), second-oldest in the world. The Coast Track (26km, 2 days, stunning cliffside walking), Garie Beach, Wattamolla Lagoon, Era Beach. Entry fee applies per vehicle (check current rates).

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

• Distance — 30km north of Sydney CBD. Accessible from Turramurra, Mount Colah, Berowra.
• Highlights — Ancient Aboriginal engravings (Basin Track rock art site), Bobbin Head (mangroves, waterways), Barrenjoey Lighthouse (walk via Palm Beach). Great for kayaking, boating and walking.

Sydney Harbour National Park (City Access)

Sydney Harbour National Park protects pockets of harbour foreshore and headlands accessible from within the city. Key sites include North Head (Manly), South Head (Watsons Bay), Nielsen Park (Vaucluse) and the walking tracks from Middle Head (Mosman).

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