Did you know that Australia is one of the driest continents in the world? It is part of a huge land mass called Gondwana, which linked Africa, Antarctica, Australia, India and South America. It broke up more than 100 million years ago.
There are 25 million hectares of National Park in Australia (3% of the total size of Australia,) and this equaes to 516 parks in total.
Most of the parks are serviced by the local state government e.g. parks that are in NSW are looked after by the NSW government. There are some parks however that are seen to be very special and these are run by the Federal Government.
No visit to Australia is complete without a trip to at least one National Park. Most of its famous natural attractions are in one of the parks anyway, so by default, you’ll end up visiting.
I couldnt possibly take you through all 516 National Parks. What I intend to do is tell you about some of the best.
Before I do though, understand how the National Parks operate. A National park can literally be a park but its more likely to be a larger area where wildlife and plant/tree species are special or sacred. It can also be sacred rock formations e.g. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is home to Ayers Rock. A national park can span for huge distances with the average visitor only touching a small corner of it. Others are more manageable and you can see much more.
Entrance to the parks is not usually free. You will be required to pay an entrance fee of around $10. They may charge this per person or per vehicle. For popular tourist haunts e.g. Ayers Rock, you can expect to pay more.
Australian National Parks and Camping
If you like the open air and don’t mind roughing it a bit, then camping in one of Australia’s National Parks can be a fabulous experience – the scenery is usually stunning. Rules in the campsites around campfires are very strict given the risk of bush fires. Facilities tend to be pretty basic though but you might find the odd one with a hot shower.
Camping requires a permit and you must book well in advance to get a camping spot. You can search the government websites to find the campsites that have the facilities you require. Remember you will need to do this for each state. If your trip falls near Christmas then you really need to book well in advance. This is the most popular time due to the school holidays around this time. Some of the parks even run a ballot where your name is pulled out of a hat if you are one of the lucky ones.
It’s hard to pick which are the best National Parks and it can be a little subjective as it depends what you like. All have stunning scenery and below you can find my top 3. There are over 15 on the website featured below.
Best for Coast and Beaches
Lord Howe Island has won international acclaim and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s not hard to see why with its enchanting walks, forests, mountains, beaches and marine life. The best walks are the Valley of the Shadows and Mount Gower. The first takes you through high forests of Kentia Palms and Banyan trees. The second is a well known day walk to the top of Mount Gower and its known to be one of the best walks in Australia.
Best for Rock Formations
Uluru Kata Tjuta is probably the most visited National Park in Australia given its the home of Ayers Rock. This is a world Heritage listed site for its culture and natural values. It is the heart of the red centre and a very spiritual place indeed. Clearly its about visiting the rock, either at sunset or sunrise (when the rock is at its very best due to the light that is cast upon it.) There are special viewing platforms where you can park up and enjoy the views. Get there early though as the best positions go quickly. The sunrise and sunset dinners are also worth going to but not both. Just pick one. The park itself is split into two ” Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta, where the Olgas are. I personal thought the Olgas were more impressive than the rock so a visit to both is highly recommended. There is a great Cultural Centre that you should visit first. This will inform you of all the walks and when the guided ones are available. Theres often some Aboriginals here too selling locally made products. The most popular walk is the Base walk which takes in the entire base of the rock which is about 9km in total. It says to leave approx 4 hours but you can do it much more quickly than that and still have time to take photographs. Some get to the rock and insist on climbing it. First, if its a hot day, they close the climb. More importantly, you just shouldnt make the climb given its totally against the local aboriginals culture and beliefs. Its also extremely steep and apart from a small iron rope to hold onto, there is nothing. Its very dangerous.
The Grampians National Park is one of Victoria’s largest parks and has great walks, scenery and wildlife. Its 260km from Melbourne along the Western or Glenelg highways (takes about 3.5 hours) The Grampians are a series of sandstone ridges with steep slopes and are very picturesque. The most spectacular waterfall is Mackenzie Falls. You can also see good Aboriginal rock art at Billimina and Wab Manja. There are a couple of 2 day walks for the serious walkers amongst you. But for the best view of the park head to Mount Abrupt. Access to the park is at Halls Gap. But if you want to escape the tourists head to Wartook Valley, e.g. Mt Zero and Mt Stapylton. For the really adventurous go for Mount Difficult which is hard going but amazing. Stony Creek Track to the Bundaleer passing Stony Peak is another good one. You can ascend the Wall of China to obtain the vast views to Tower Hill and the picturesque Victoria Valley.
