The beauty of Sydney’s mild climate is that it’s never to cold to bushwalk. We don’t have to trudge through snow or worry about slipping on ice. Sure, we may need to throw on a jumper or wear thicker socks, but our nearby national parks are open for visitors year-round.
Without the summer tourists or crowds, winter is a fantastic time to explore New South Wales’ many national parks. There’s more than 200 of them to choose from, but we’ve narrowed it down to just four that are all within driving distance of Sydney and shine during the cooler months.
Blue Mountains National Park
Where it is? About 100km west of Sydney
What is there to see and do? Mountain valleys, waterfalls, bushwalking tracks and quaint towns.
Fees to visit: Free to walk in, but if you drive to the Glenbrook section, you’ll need to pay $8 to park.
There’s something about the crisp mountain air that we just love. And in the winter, it’s even better. It’s cool, refreshing, clean and has that unique hint of blue.
As the Blue Mountains are a popular spot for tourists visiting in the summer season, the winter months bring far fewer tour buses up to the area. If you venture beyond the likes of the Three Sisters and Scenic World in Katoomba, there’s a good chance you’ll hardly see anyone around.
If we had to pick just one bushwalk for winter, we’d recommend: Lockley’s Pylon, a 7.1 km track with panoramic views of the valley and very few people.
Read more on NSW National Parks’ website | Find a walk with All Trails
Sydney Harbour National Park
Where it is? Along Sydney’s harbour, including along much of the north shore, eastern suburbs and North Head.
What is there to see and do? Unrivalled views of Sydney’s skyline, secluded beaches, bushwalking tracks and tucked-away cafes.
Fees to visit: Free to walk in, but if you drive to certain areas fees apply. Bradleys Head is $8, North Head is $5 and Chowder Bay is $3 per hour or $16 per day mid-week, or $4 and $20 on weekends. (Note: Be careful to check signs at Chowder Bay! We’ve made the mistake of parking in a Mosman Council car park instead of National Parks and ended up with a fine.)
Much of the shorelines that trace Sydney Harbour is actually national park, and within it are plenty of bushwalking trails, calm beaches and picnic areas. There’s nature to be found in quite a few places around the harbour, too. From Taronga Zoo in Mosman around to Balmoral Beach, Spit Bridge to Manly, the entire North Head and much of the coast between Rose Bay and Shark Beach in Neilsen Park are all part of the park.
Walks like the Taronga Zoo-to-Balmoral track and Hermitage Foreshore walk are just beautiful, and offer great views of the city, too. The Hermitage Foreshore walk is popular with people heading to the secluded beaches along the track, which certainly aren’t as busy in the colder months.
If we had to pick just one bushwalk, we’d recommend: Balmoral Beach to Taronga Zoo, hands down. This is one of our favourite walks and aren’t quite sure why the Spit Bridge to Manly trek is so much more popular.
Read more on NSW National Parks’ website | Find a walk with All Trails
Berowra Valley National Park
Where it is? About 35km north of the CBD along Pacific Highway and the M1.
What is there to see and do? Forest tracks, views of Berowra Creek and plenty of stairs to climb.
With Ku-ring-hai Chase on one side of the highway and Berowra Valley on the other, there are certainly options when it comes to national parks in the far north of Sydney. But, Berowra Valley is our choice in winter. Part of the Great North Walk, the tracks in here feature beautiful bushland that’s home to plenty of wildlife.
Although it’s lovely any time of the year, why we prefer this national park in winter comes down to the pure hilliness of it. There’s lots of ups and downs that get your heart pumping, which can be a bit demanding on a hot day. In winter? Much less likely to break a sweat… or dehydrate. If you find yourself on Benowie Walking Track along the creek, it’ll take you to the ferry point where there’s a waterfront cafe serving warm drinks overlooking the water if it is a cooler day.
If we had to pick just one bushwalk, we’d recommend: Berowra to Crossland, as it takes you along the river and across the beautiful grassy field with a boardwalk through the centre.
Read more on NSW National Parks’ website | Find a walk with All Trails
Kamay Botany Bay National Park (Kurnell Section)
Where is it? About 39km south of Sydney via Kurnell.
What is there to see and do? Walking tracks, whale watching and even snorkelling (if you’re brave enough in the cool water!)
Much quieter than the La Perouse section of this national park, Kamay Botany Bay National Park has similar views and vibes to parts of Royal National Park’s famous coastal track. But, it’s half the distance away from the city and much quieter.
The park itself wraps around the headland between Kurnell and Cronulla, offering water views on three sides. Interestingly, it doesn’t have too many swimming points. Which is just fine for us, as we’re not game for ocean swimming during the winter months. (Come summer though, it’s said to be a great spot for snorkelling that we’re keen to check out one day).
Come winter, Cape Solander becomes a popular pitstop for migrating humpback whales. We’ve never done this walk between May and October without seeing either a whale or spray in the distance from their blowholes.
If we had to pick just one bushwalk, we’d recommend: Cape Baily Track, as it hugs the coast offering stellar views of the rocky cliffs and some pretty great vantage points for whale watching.
Read more on NSW National Parks’ website | Find a walk with All Trails
