If you’ve recently moved to Australia, you’ll want to check out the country’s impressive variety of national parks. At Remitly, we know how exciting it is to explore your new home, so we’ve created this Australia national park guide to help you plan your journeys.
From the iconic red rocks of Uluṟu to the lush rainforests of Daintree or the white-sand beaches of the Whitsunday Islands, this guide highlights the top parks and experiences that you won’t want to miss.
An overview of Australian national parks
Australia designated its first national park in New South Wales in 1879. Since then, the national park system has expanded to include more than 800 parks across every Australian state, making it home to the most national parks globally.
Australia’s unique climate and biodiversity face many threats, such as urban development, invasive species, and pollution. National parks play an important role in monitoring and protecting threatened native species, as well as conserving geologically significant landforms like caves, volcanoes, and rivers.
National parks also preserve Aboriginal culture. Some parks contain culturally significant sites, including carvings, paintings, and burial areas. Many are co-managed by local Aboriginal communities, who ensure proper restoration and access.
Australia’s best national parks: regional highlights
Western Australia
Cape Le Grand National Park: Famous for its white sand beaches and granite peaks, you can swim, hike, and camp on the beach at Lucky Bay.
Karigini National Park: Famous for its red-rock gorges, waterfalls, and swimming holes, this remote park (about 1500 kilometres from Perth and an hour from the nearest town) is ideal for overnight stays at park campsites or the on-site eco-retreat.
Francois Peron National Park: Home to many endangered species, like turtles, manta rays, sharks, and dolphins, this park offers activities like snorkelling, fishing, and camping. A 4WD vehicle is required for access to many areas of the park.
New South Wales
Blue Mountains National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site just one or two hours’ drive from Sydney, this park is home to the famous Three Sisters rock formation, hiking trails, and adventure activities like canyoning and rock climbing. It also features the world’s steepest railway and the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest aerial cable car.
Royal National Park: Australia’s oldest national park is located just 30 kilometres south of Sydney. It offers activities like whale watching, cycling, and exploring Aboriginal Rock.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park: Accessible by public transport from Sydney, this park is famous for its Aboriginal heritage. It features over 800 cultural sites, including rock art and middens. You can explore it on foot, by bike, or by boat.
Victoria
Grampians National Park: Known for its mountain ranges and wildlife, this park offers hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and Aboriginal history. You can also see famous Australian animals, including kangaroos, emus, wallabies, echidnas and cockatoos.
Port Campbell National Park: Part of the Great Ocean Road, this park features iconic rock formations like the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. You can swim, fish, scuba dive, camp, and even spot penguins.
Budj Bim National Park: Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park is home to an inactive volcano, koalas, crater lakes, and lava canals. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about local Gunditjmara culture.
Northern Territory
Kakadu National Park: Australia’s largest park is known for its Aboriginal rock art, waterfalls, and crocodile-spotting cruises. You can even go on a safari led by Aboriginal guides.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park: Famous for the Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa rock formations, the most important indigenous sites in Australia, this park offers plenty of Aboriginal cultural experiences and stunning sunrise views.
Litchfield National Park: A local favourite, this park can help you cool off in the hot Northern Territory summers with waterfalls, waterholes, and vine forests that are perfect for hiking, swimming, and camping.
Queensland
Whitsunday Islands National Park: Part of the Great Barrier Reef, this archipelago offers white sand beaches, snorkelling, and camping on uninhabited islands. You can join a tour or charter or sail your own boat to access them.
Lamington National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park covers the largest subtropical rainforest in the world, with over 160 kilometres of hiking trails and over 500 waterfalls.
Daintree National Park: Home to the Daintree Rainforest, this park is great for hiking and swimming. It’s also a haven for wildlife, hosting over 430 bird, 23 reptile, and 13 amphibian species.
South Australia
Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park: Visitors flock to this park for its dramatic desert scenery and Aboriginal rock art. It’s ideal for bushwalking, camping, and scenic drives.
Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park: Featuring white sand beaches, shipwrecks, and wildlife, this park is perfect for surfing, fishing, and hiking. It often has significantly smaller crowds than other white sand beaches in Australia due to its isolation.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park: Australia’s largest saltwater lake, this park transforms into a birdlife-filled wetland during rare flood events. Explore it by air, on foot, or by bike.
Travel planning essentials
Entry fees and passes
As National Parks in Australia are managed by the states in which they’re located, entry fees (often called vehicle fees, as many parks only charge for people entering by car) can vary from state to state and sometimes even from park to park. Not all national parks have entry fees, and you should check the state’s national parks website for up-to-date information. Discounts or concessions are usually available for seniors, those on a disability pension, carers, and veterans.
Many state governments also offer park passes, which usually offer unlimited entry to all parks in that state for the duration of the pass, not including camping or other extra activity fees. You can’t use one state’s park pass in another state’s national park. There are often park pass concessions available for seniors, those on a disability pension, or veterans.
Here’s information about fees and passes for five Australian states and the Northern Territory:
Western Australia
- Fees
- Standard vehicle: $17 AUD per vehicle
- Large vehicle: $8 AUD per person
- Motorcycle: $10 AUD per vehicle
- Park passes
New South Wales
- Fees
- Payment options and exact fees vary by park
- The large majority are $8 AUD/day
- Royal and Ku-ring-gai are $12 AUD/day
- Kosciuszko is $29 AUD during ski season, $17 AUD the rest of the year
- Park passes, all annual
Victoria
- All national parks in Victoria are free to access.
- Most campsites with few utilities are free. More developed campsites may be charged.
Northern Territory
- Park passes can only be purchased online.
- Kakadu National Park and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park have a separate fee structure, and tickets must be bought on the Parks Australia website.
- Some multi-day walking trails charge fees, in addition to any camping fees, that have to be booked and paid for online.
- Day pass
- Adult: $10 AUD
- Child (5-17 years old): $5 AUD
- Family (up to two adults and four children): $25 AUD
- Three-day pass for Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
- Adult: $38 AUD
- Child (17 and under): free
- Two-week pass
- Adult: $30 AUD
- Child: $15 AUD
- Family: $75 AUD
- 12-month pass
- Adult: $60 AUD
- Child: $30 AUD
- Family: $150 AUD
Queensland
- All national parks in Queensland are free to access.
- Camping costs $7.25 AUD/person/night or $29 AUD/family/night. A family is one or two adults and their children aged 5-18, up to eight people in total. Children under five are free.
South Australia
- Most fee-charging parks charge $13.50 AUD per vehicle, or $10.90 AUD with concession
- Flinders Chase National Park (Kangaroo Island): $14 AUD per person
- Holiday two-month pass: $40 AUD, excludes Kangaroo Island and Desert Parks
- Single park one-year pass: $60 AUD
- Belair Park one-year pass: $66 AUD
- Multi-park one-year pass: $90 AUD (excludes Kangaroo Island and Desert Parks)
- Desert Parks one-year pass: $163.20 AUD, including camping
- Kangaroo Island one-year pass: $89 AUD per adult, $54 AUD per child, or $249 AUD per family (can only be purchased in person)
Best times to visit
The best time to visit Australian national parks depends on what park you’re going to and what you’re going to do there. If you’re looking for a beach holiday, for example, January may be a good time to go, but a dry place like Kakadu may be unbearably hot and sunny.
Many forested places like Daintree and the Blue Mountains are best in spring, with milder weather and prettier vegetation. Travelling in winter, spring, and autumn also tends to be cheaper than in summer or school holidays.
In general, the north of Australia has tropical weather year-round, and the south has four distinct seasons. However, no matter what time of year you go to Australia, the national parks will have something to offer you.
Safety tips and regulations
- Before going to any park, check for any adverse weather and active park alerts, like trail closures.
- Protect yourself. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to shield your skin from the sun and wear the right gear for your planned activities. Wear light-coloured clothing that covers your arms and legs to prevent mosquito, leech, and tick bites.
- Bring insect repellent, first aid supplies, and enough water for the activities you plan on doing. Not every park has drinking water, and many parks have drinking water that may be difficult to access or low quality.
- Only walk or bike on defined trails. Closed areas are almost always inaccessible for safety reasons.
- If you’re doing more extreme sports or headed off to a remote area, let a friend or family member know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- When driving at dawn or dusk, drive slowly and keep an eye out for wildlife. These are high-traffic times for animals.
- If you plan on making a campfire, check to see if they’re permitted first. Australia is an extremely fire-prone country, so follow all regulations to safely build and put out campfires.
- Wildlife encounters are exciting but may carry risks. Keep your distance, and don’t feed the animals. Most animals only attack when threatened, but it’s better not to approach them.
- In case of an emergency, call 000 or 112 for police and other emergency services. If you don’t have mobile phone service, park trails may have emergency radios or other means to contact emergency services.
Top attractions
Scenic hikes and walks
- Grand Canyon Track, Blue Mountains: This steep, 6.3-kilometre loop is popular for its breathtaking views. It takes you through the park’s rainforests, with waterfalls, ferns, and lookout points.
- Jatbule Trail, Nitmiluk: Combining stunning nature with Aboriginal culture, this 62-kilometre trail connects Nitmiluk Gorge to Edith Falls. You’ll walk the same paths as the Jawoyn people, crossing woodlands, monsoon forests, and rivers.
- Twin Falls Circuit, Springbrook: Looking for something for the whole family? This hike can be done in an hour and a half, taking you behind waterfalls and through pink-barked trees.
Indigenous cultural experiences
- Uluṟu, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa: As previously mentioned, this is one of the most sacred Aboriginal sites in the country. Visit the cultural centre in the park or join an activity like a dot-painting workshop to learn more about the local Aboriginal culture.
- Ngadiky Dreamtime Walks, Daintree: These walking tours, led by a local Aboriginal guide, incorporate a traditional smoking ceremony and take you to culturally significant sites. Your guides will explain the local Indigenous people’s relationship to the environment, from traditional plant use to bush food sources. Tours end with traditional tea and bread.
- Aboriginal aquaculture, Budj Bim: The Gunditjmara people developed a complex system of channels, weirs and dams to trap and harvest eels in this area. This site has guided tours of this unique landscape and an Aqua Culture Centre. You can even try traditional eel dishes at the café.
Wildlife-watching opportunities
- Crocodiles at Nitmiluk: Both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles live in the Katherine River and Nitmiluk Gorge areas of the park. Both kinds will usually keep their distance, but it’s best to see these creatures on a guided tour with experienced staff.
- Wombats at Wilsons Promontory: The Prom Wildlife Viewing Area is a short, 1.45-kilometre circuit where you can easily spot wombats eating grass and relaxing. Many wild wombats in the area are used to humans, but please don’t feed them and keep a safe distance.
- Koalas at Guula Ngurra: The name of this recently established park can be translated as “koala country.” Most of the park is a high-quality koala habitat and has an estimated koala population of 1,000. They’re usually asleep, so check eucalyptus trees for furry grey balls.
FAQ
How much does an Australian national park pass cost?
Australian park pass costs vary from state to state and can only be used to access parks in that state. In Queensland and Victoria, all parks are free to access. In other states, park passes range from $8 AUD for a single-day pass to up to $200 AUD for an annual pass for a family of four. States also offer discounts for seniors, those with disabilities and their carers, and veterans.
What happens if you don’t pay national park fees in Australia?
Many national parks are free to enter if you enter on foot or by bike. If you don’t display a valid day or annual pass in your vehicle while in an Australian national park, you may receive a compliance notice. They can sometimes be paid online, but most notices have instructions on the back explaining how to pay them.
What are the most visited Australian national parks?
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is the most visited national park in Australia. Other highly visited national parks include Kakadu, Daintree, Blue Mountains, Kosciusko, and Port Campbell.
Which national parks are best for a first-time visitor?
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Kakadu are both great for first-time visitors, with their outback energy and Aboriginal connections. The Blue Mountains and Royal are easily accessible from Sydney and offer abundant nature. Flinders Chase is a great place to spot iconic Australian animals like koalas, kangaroos, and seals.