Mungo National Park, MungoCredit: Tyson Mayr
The night sky over the Walls of China in Mungo National Park, Mungo.
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One of the ultimate ways to switch off, unwind, and relax is by immersing yourself in nature - mobile phones not welcome!
You may have heard of Kosciuszko and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Parks, but did you know New South Wales is home to more than 870 national parks and reserves? If you venture beyond the big-hitters you’ll find an array of lesser-known parks that offer incredible bushwalking, swimming, Aboriginal history, and more. Here are five under-the-radar national parks that call NSW home.
Mungo National Park
The landscapes of Mungo National Park in Outback NSW, 1,000km west of Sydney, are so otherworldly that arriving here feels like stepping onto another planet. In contrast to the green trees and flowing waterfalls of many other NSW national parks, Mungo is full of red earth, sand dunes, wild emus and unusual rock formations. It’s unlike anything else in Australia.
Don’t miss the Walls of China and Red Top lookouts, which can be explored on walking tours and offer magnificent views of the park below, particularly at sunrise and sunset. You can also tackle one of the park’s cycle loops, taking in the desertscapes around you as you pedal. Another must-see is the dry bed of Lake Mungo, which is now filled with photogenic layers of sand and clay called ‘lunettes’. Here, you can also learn more about the Aboriginal history and culture of the Paakantji, Ngiyampaa and Mutthi Mutthi people. The park is home to Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, which date back 42,000 years and are considered to be the oldest human remains found outside of Africa.
Where to stay: There are two campgrounds in the park (the Main Campground has more facilities), or you can opt for a basic but comfortable stay inside at the Mungo Shearers’ Quarters. Consider breaking up the drive here with a night in Wagga Wagga.
Bungonia National Park
You don’t have to go remote to discover a new national park. Just 2.5 hours’ drive southwest from Sydney, you’ll find Bungonia National Park, which is known as the adventure capital of the NSW Southern Tablelands. You can abseil, rock climb, hike and go canyoning or caving here. But for a slower pace, bushwalks are a great way to explore the scenery. A popular walk is the 6.7km Green Track (allow 2.5 to 3.5 hours to complete the loop). Multi-day guided adventure treks are also possible.
Where to stay: Pitch a tent in the national park campground (which has toilets, showers, barbecue facilities and drinking water) or choose from the many accommodation options in Goulburn, just 30 minutes’ drive to the west.
Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man watching the sunset at the Walls of China in Mungo National Park, Mungo.
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Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Tyson Mayr
Man watching the sunset at the Walls of China in Mungo National Park, Mungo.
Bungonia National Park Credit: Sara Fife; Capital Country Tourism
Lookout at Bungonia National Park, Capital Country
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Bungonia National Park Credit: Sara Fife; Capital Country Tourism
Lookout at Bungonia National Park, Capital Country
Boonoo Boonoo National Park
It’s in Boonoo Boonoo National Park that famed poet Banjo Paterson proposed to his sweetheart Alice Walker back in 1903. Patterson popped the question at Boonoo Boonoo Falls Lookout, where you can still see the mighty, 210-metre tall waterfall cascade down into the rainforest gorge below.
The national park, 30 minutes north of Tenterfield, is perfect for soaking up northern NSW’s natural beauty with bushwalking trails, secluded rock pools, and more to discover. Pack your swimsuit and tackle the 6.1km River Walk, which takes you through eucalypt forest and past the river, where you may see wallabies and kangaroos grazing; allow 3.5 to 4.5 hours each way.
Where to stay: By the river, Cypress Pine Campground has toilets and barbecue facilities. Just inside the park, there’s also Robinsons Cabin, or get a room in Tenterfield, just 27 kilometres from the park.
Paroo-Darling National Park
An hour north of Wilcannia in far western NSW, Paroo-Darling National Park’s position on the Murray-Darling Basin means you can kayak, canoe and fish here. The rugged park is home to the serene Peery Lake, which draws kangaroos, emus and an incredible array of birds to the shore when full; look out for pink cockatoos! Just keep in mind that this is a remote part of NSW, so you must bring everything you’ll need with you.
Where to stay: Camp at the park’s Coach and Horses Campground, perhaps breaking up the journey in Dubbo if you’re headed here from Sydney.
Mutawintji National Park
Another ruggedly beautiful national park in the Central Darling Shire, 2.5 hours drive northeast of Broken Hill, is Mutawintji National Park, where you can see the crimson red Bynguano Ranges and immerse yourself in Aboriginal history.
The ancestral home of the Malyankapa and Pandjikali people, Mutawintji National Park is NSW’s first Aboriginal-owned national park. Discover Aboriginal rock engravings and spot emus on trails that lace this wild outback landscape such as the 7.5km-return Homestead Gorge Walking Track. You can also explore the park on a tour with Tri State Safaris based in Broken Hill.
Where to stay: The well-equipped Homestead Creek Campground is a great base for exploring the park. It has showers and barbecue facilities, but you’ll need to bring your own drinking water.
Paroo River, Wanaaring Credit: Destination NSW
Paroo River, Wanaaring, near Paroo-Darling National Park.
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Paroo River, Wanaaring Credit: Destination NSW
Paroo River, Wanaaring, near Paroo-Darling National Park.
Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Credit: Destination NSW
Mutawintji National Park tour guide Keanu Bates showing visitors Aboriginal rock art at Mutawintji Historic Site.
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Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Credit: Destination NSW
Mutawintji National Park tour guide Keanu Bates showing visitors Aboriginal rock art at Mutawintji Historic Site.
More Inspirational Stories
Glasshouse Rocks, NaroomaCredit: Destination NSW
Father and son heading out for a morning surf at Glasshouse Rocks, Narooma.
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Put this glorious stretch of the New South Wales coastline on your holiday radar and drive four hours south from Sydney to discover the charming Eurobodalla region. You’ll have plenty of easy adventures on this laidback coastal getaway stretching from South Durras down to Tilba Tilba on the NSW South Coast. Elevate your visit with these 10 memorable experiences.
Go snorkelling with seals
Experience the unforgettable thrill of snorkelling alongside playful fur seals on a day trip to Montague Island, a protected nature reserve just off the coast of Narooma. Local operators such as Montague Island Adventures can take you on this exhilarating adventure and if you book between November and May you might be lucky enough to share your trip with migrating whales. You can also tour the island’s historic lighthouse and significant Aboriginal sites or seize the rare chance to stay overnight in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
Get back to nature with your family
Connect with your loved ones in the inspiring surrounds of Murramarang National Park, which offers a family-friendly taster of the magnificent coastal wilderness in the Eurobodalla region. Children will love the tree stump stepping ‘stones’ at the start of the Durras Lake Discovery Trail, with possible kangaroo sightings adding to the fun. Find the trailhead for the 1.5km loop at the end of Lake Road.
Enter cheese heaven
Feasting on local cheese is a quintessential experience in this historic dairy region, which has been producing quality cheeses since the 1870s. Live out your farming fantasies at the 1950s-style Bodalla Dairy in Bodalla, where fresh milk is produced onsite every morning to make artisinal cheeses with native flavours, as well as traditional milkshakes, great coffees and ice-creams. Stay the night in one the property’s five farm-chic guest rooms.
Sample more delicious cheeses and perhaps join a cheesemaking course at the ABC Cheese Factory further south in the charming surrounds of National Heritage-listed Central Tilba, which offers a living snapshot of 19th-century regional Australia.
Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
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Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
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VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
Be mesmerised by whales
Seeing a whale in the wild is magical, whether it’s your first time or your 50th. The huge marine mammals are at their most playful in the Eurobodalla region from September to November, making this the perfect time to marvel at their aerobatic feats. Bring your binoculars to spot whales from the shoreline at Toragy Point near Moruya (which has the region’s only airport) or on Broulee Island. Or join an action-packed whale watching tour with the likes of Narooma Charters. You might also be treated to a very special whale encounter on a half-day kayaking tour with Region X as you paddle out into open water in search of hidden beaches and azure rock pools.
Sign up for more aquatic adventures
The Eurobodalla Shire is known as the land of many waters, with rivers, lakes and, of course, the ocean to enjoy aquatic adventures such as surfing, diving, fishing, and more. Revel in the accomplishment of learning to surf with Surf the Bay, a mobile surf school based in Broulee; get a buzz catching your own seafood dinner on a fishing trip with Narooma Charters;, and feel anew after an invigorating beach dip at pretty Mystery Bay.
Explore Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden with all your senses
Stop and smell the native flowers in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, just south of Batemans Bay, where five walking trails weave around a collection of themed gardens. Learn something new on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a 1km walking path suitable for visitors with limited mobility that reveals the fascinating traditional uses of about 30 Eurobodalla plants. Feel your worries melt away as you wander the gardens, calmed by the trickle of water features and the buzz of the bees. Bring a picnic or grab a wholesome bite at the Mossy on Gardens Café, which overlooks the gardens.
Follow Eurobodalla’s oyster trail
Shuck and slurp to your heart’s content in the Eurobodalla region, which forms part of Australia’s famous Oyster Coast. Look out for these plump delicacies on menus across the region, as well as oyster specialists like the Oyster Shed on Wray Street in Batemans Bay, where you can sample oysters beside the Clyde River where they are farmed. The Oyster Farmers Daughter is an alfresco oyster bar nestled alongside the idyllic Wagonga Inlet in Narooma where you can pair fresh oysters with refreshing cocktails made with local gin.
Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
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Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
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Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture
Transform your understanding of the Eurobodalla region’s Aboriginal peoples and their fascinating stories with local Indigenous operator Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness. Its 40-hour Yuin Retreat, named for the region’s Traditional Custodians, begins on the first evening with a traditional welcome, followed by a sunrise ceremony and the option to hike Gulaga (formerly Mount Dromedary) or visit significant sites on the Djirringanj Dreaming Trail. Following a cultural program in the evening, the experience ends with an Aboriginal healing and connection workshop on the final morning, leaving you with a whole new outlook on Aboriginal culture and this storied corner of the country.
Embrace next-level camping and glamping
Deepen your connection to the region’s enriching natural landscapes on a local camping or glamping experience. Soak up the unrivalled seaside location along with the stellar wildlife-watching opportunities at Beachcomber Holiday Park at Potato Point, just south of Tuross Head, where you may be surprised to discover emus are among the menagerie of native animals known to frequent this campground backing onto Eurobodalla National Park.
If glamping is more your style, wake up to sweeping mountain views after a romantic night in a glamping tent at Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba. Also tucked in the lush rolling hills of the Tilba Valley is Tilba Lake House, which offers a luxe glamping option as well as four cosy self-contained tiny house stays with views of the lake, ocean and mountains.
Go market-hopping
Get to know the friendly Eurobodalla community at the region’s vibrant markets. Learn about their passion for developing a sustainable local food system as you fill your basket with local goodies spanning vegetables from Old Mill Road Biofarm to McAsh Oysters at the SAGE Farmers Market, held every Tuesday afternoon from 3pm at Riverside Park in Moruya. Find more produce and connect with the local artisans, craftspeople and designers, at the Moruya Country Market on Saturday mornings from 8am, held at the same spot.
Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
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Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.