Australia Flights > New South Wales > State Parks

Coffs Coast

Only five hours drive from Sydney, Coffs Coast State Park is on the popular NSW North Coast, famous for its year-round sunny weather. Located on the foreshores adjacent to the major coastal centre of Coffs Harbour, Coffs Coast State Park stretches from Bonville Headland in the south to Park Beach in the north. It takes in the beaches, the foreshores behind, and some of the local estuaries and wetlands.

Coffs Harbour is on the Pacific Highway, the major coastal link between Sydney in the south and Brisbane in the north. The park is reached via Sawtell Road just south of the town centre. If you're staying in Coffs Harbour, the beaches and estuaries can be reached by walking, cycling or by boat.

There's a superbly positioned caravan park and campsite at Sawtell, only 10 minutes south of Coffs. Set in a 55 Ha nature wonderland it offers the perfect setting for the relaxing summer holiday or winter retreat. Within a short stroll is the picturesque village of Sawtell with its restaurants, cinema clubs and patrolled surf beach.

Visitors come for a day, a weekend's recreation, a week's holiday or longer stay. It is very popular with families and the local fishing is renowned. Picnics, barbecues, bushwalking, camping, horse riding and 'mucking around in boats' feature in the recreational activities that can be had year-round.

Visitors and holidaymakers who like to be active can take advantage of the park's: beaches
bushwalks
picnic areas
modern amenities blocks
boat ramps

Sawtell Beach office. Tel: (02) 6653 1379

Lake Burrendong

Lake Burrendong offers a year-round feast for the senses for nature lovers, bushwalkers, fishing enthusiasts, campers and picnickers. It features a 160 hectare arboretum of native plants and animals near the main entrance. Fishing, sailing and water sport enthusiasts love Lake Burrendong's 60 km of waterways. Others like to relax beneath shade trees near the water's edge.

Situated in one of the most picturesque areas of New South Wales, Lake Burrendong is only one hour's drive from each of the central west towns of Dubbo and Orange, or five hours from Sydney. Lake Burrendong State Park is 27 km south-east of the historic town of Wellington, while Mookerawa Waters is 45 km from Wellington and 70 km from the city of Orange.

The area is unique in that it features two parks just 12 km apart: Lake Burrendong State Park and Mookerawa Waters State Park, which is also beside the lake. Both are about five hours drive from Sydney. The Western Plains Zoo near Dubbo is only an hour's drive away.

Some of the best scenery in NSW can be viewed from the many walks through Burrendong and Mookerawa. Each park has its own unique character. At the adjoining arboretum the wilderness of subtropical vegetation is 'paradise' for photographers, with local bird life adding to the magic. About 2000 species of flowering native plants, shrubs and trees have been established on 160 hectares south of Burrendong Park's main entrance. This arboretum is one of the largest collections of Australian plants in cultivation and the home of native animals, too, so there's lots to see here. Many bushwalkers take advantage of camp sites along the backwaters of Burrendong, while Mookerawa has many picturesque areas in which to camp. There are also cabins, bungalows and powered van sites; even a houseboat!

Through the spring and summer seasons, Burrendong and Mookerawa offer excellent:
pleasure boating
sailing
swimming
water skiing

Park office on-site. Tel: (02) 6846 7435

Burrinjuck Waters

Burrinjuck Waters State Park offers relaxation among stunning scenery overlooking the giant Lake Burrinjuck, surrounded by bushland that has changed little since European settlement. The park is home to many native animals, which you can see up-close, and a paradise for birdwatchers.

The park is just four hour's drive from Sydney down the Hume Highway, or only two hour's drive from the national capital of Canberra. Turn off the highway 25 km south of the rural centre of Yass.

The famous Murrumbidgee River feeds the lake and flows through the dam, which supplies an award-winning hydroelectric power station. Burrinjuck was the first dam built in NSW to supply the irrigation farmers on the expansive plains to the west, Australia's great 'food bowl'.

Picnics, barbeques, bushwalking, camping, and fishing feature in the recreational activities that can be had year-round at Burrinjuck Waters. When the lake is low, limestone caves are accessible beneath Cave Island. When the lake water is high, pleasure boating and water sports are popular.

Because of its unspoilt nature, Burrinjuck Waters is among the best places in NSW for both casual and avid bushwalkers. A variety of trails have been developed, ranging from easy to the more challenging. The famous 370 km-long Hume & Hovell explorers' track passes through the park. There are wood-fire barbecues and many picnic tables available with great views, or take a walk for a bushland picnic. For those who like a bit of sport, you can play frisbee golf, tennis and volleyball.

Through the spring and summer seasons, Burrinjuck offers excellent:
canoeing
sailing
swimming
water skiing

Park office on-site. Tel: (02) 6227 8114

Killalea

About an hour and a half's drive from Sydney, Killalea is 250 hectares of pristine coastal reserve sited on 8 km of coastline with one of the best surf beaches on the south coast of New South Wales.

Located between the coastal towns of Kiama and Shellharbour, Killalea is 90 km south of Sydney. It's a short drive from Wollongong or a few hours from Canberra. Killalea makes a great day trip.

This natural setting features small areas of rainforest among open rangeland and wetlands. Day visits are very popular, people coming for the scenery, the surfing, for barbecues and picnics. Buhwalkers and campers take to the trails for multi-day visits.

Bushland and beaches are the big attractions. For nature lovers, walking trails through littoral rainforest areas offer many delights, as do trails along extensive estuarine wetlands and seabird breeding areas. Swimming and surfing are on offer at "The Farm" and "Mystics", two of the best surf beaches on the south coast. There are many picnic areas and a number of barbecue facilities. Beach, estuary and rock fishing beckon many anglers. For offshore fishing, you can launch your boat from Minnamurra or Shellharbour.

The town of Shellharbour is minutes away by road, and offers lawn bowling, golf and horse-riding, as well as sea sports. There's a light rail (tramways) and a railway museum, and the Tongarra Bicentennial Museum featuring pioneering and historical exhibits. Take a scenic drive south to Kiama. Here you can see the amazing natural formation of the Kiama blow hole, where the sea rushes into a cave beneath and shoots plumes of water high in the air. There are scenic views from Saddleback Mountain and lush foliage in the Minnamurra Rainforest.

Lake Glenbawn

Great for a day trip from Newcastle and many north coast centres, or even Sydney, Lake Glenbawn State Park in the Upper Hunter Valley offers a wonderful diversity of bushland and wildlife. The park is great for barbecues and picnics, or bushwalks and other recreation in a natural setting. For weekend or longer stays, holiday cabins and camp sites offer breathtaking views and there are many recreation facilities.

Located 160 km north-west of Newcastle, about one and half hour's drive, Lake Glenbawn State Park is reached via the New England Highway, from either Aberdeen or Scone. From Sydney, it's only a three and half hour drive, making it ideal for that weekend away.

Nature lovers and bushwalkers appreciate the open woodland environment of the park, which provides plenty of shady areas and a habitat for about 100 species of birds, including the magnificent native wedge-tailed eagle and Australian kestrel. Water birds are also abundant.

Have a barbecue at one of the many areas that have electric or wood barbecue facilities, or go for a picnic in the bush or beside the lake. Hire a boat. Lake Glenbawn is renowned as one of the best freshwater fishing spots in NSW. Cast a line and you can catch our famous BIG BASS, golden perch (yellow belly), Murray cod, trout and catfish.

Through spring and summer, when the lake water is high, water sports are popular, including:
Canoeing
Pleasure boating
Sailing and windsailing
Swimming
Water skiing

The Historical Museum housed in an old jail at the nearby town of Scone is a well-regarded attraction. Visit the Burning Mountain where a sulphur seam burns, thought to have been ignited by lightning. The Aboriginal legend of its origin, however, is more interesting. There is a well-marked walking path to the mountain. Buffs of Australian movies will appreciate the nearby village of Gundy that featured in The Shiralee (from the Neville Shute novel).

Park office on-site. Tel: (02) 6543 7193

Lake Keepit

Lake Keepit State Park offers fun and relaxation for the whole family, all year round. Barbecues, picnics and bushwalking along the Namoi River are popular pastimes. You can take a walk along the dam wall or learn how to glide. Bird watching is a popular activity for wildlife enthusiasts. Fishing, sailing and water sport enthusiasts love Lake Keepit's extensive waterways.

For a weekend or week-long stay, there's accommodation to suit all budgets, from bush camping to cabins, or a chalet. You can just relax or do more active things using the park's many recreation facilities.

Situated in the New England region in the state's north, the park is reached via the Oxley Highway, 56 km west of the major regional centre of Tamworth. It is an easy drive from Sydney, Newcastle or Brisbane.

The park is great for bushwalks, with many pleasant and easy trails. For the nature lover, there are many native plants and trees, and some 170 species of birds inhabit the area. There are gas-fired barbecues in the park, and many picturesque spots to take a picnic. Go gliding - lessons are available. Bring your BMX bike and try out the track. Bring your roller blades, roller skates or skateboards and have fun in the skate bowl!

Lake Keepit State Park is famous for its fishing. You can hook silver and golden perch (yellow belly), estuary perch, bass, catfish and eels. The park's kiosk sells bait and provides maps of the best spots to fish and can advise the best times. The Lake Keepit Family Fishing Club runs an annual bonanza fishing competition held in January, which draws visitors from all around the state.

Through the spring and summer seasons the lake's 4,370 hectares offers:
pleasure boating
sailing
swimming
water skiing and windsailing

Tamworth, 50 minutes drive to the east, being the country music capital of Australia , has the Country Music Hall of Fame, and hosts the Tamworth Country Music Festival each January. Gunnedah, 30 minutes drive to the west, hosts the AgQuip Rural Field Days every August. Manilla, 20 minutes drive to the north has a meadery and is a pleasant day trip.

Park office on-site. Tel: (02) 6769 7605

Wyangala Waters

Known as 'the jewel in the crown of the central west', here you can enjoy the peace of the countryside in scenic surroundings at any time of year. Wyangala Waters is easily reached in a morning's drive west from Sydney, or a short drive from Canberra. It's a great spot for a picnic or barbecue day out from Canberra, Cowra, Bathurst or Goulburn.

For a week or a weekend's respite from city stresses, the park offers plenty of affordable accommodation. You can pitch a tent anywhere, or take one of the self-contained bungalows or cabins, or hire an on-site van. Relax on the water in one of the houseboats. There's plenty to do, apart from lazing around. Take a bushwalk. Cast a line for some fun fishing.

The park is located 330 km west of Sydney via the village of Woodstock. It's just 40 km from the regional centre of Cowra

There are many walking trails through the bush. Vantage points offer great views. Go mountain bike riding. Canoe around the foreshores any time of year. For barbecues and picnics there are coin-operated barbecues throughout the park. Or bring your own.

Lake Wyangala is well-regarded as an excellent inland fishing spot. Catch silver and golden perch (yellow belly), catfish, bass, Murray cod and of course, the renowned brown and rainbow trout.

Through the spring and summer seasons, Wyangala Waters is great for:
jet-skiing
pleasure boating
sailing
windsailing
swimming
water skiing
giant waterslide - popular with children and adults

Park office on-site. Tel: (02) 6345 0877