Which Australian National Park Is Right For You?

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.

Today there are 516 National Parks in Australia covering 3% of the land. That might not sound very much but given the size of Australia, it equates to 25 million hectares!

It's the local state governement's responsibility to look after the National Parks. So for example a park in NSW is looked after by the NSW government. The most important ones are looked after by the Federal Government.

A trip to Australia should include a trip to an Australian National Park. In fact, its hard not to as most of the key attractions or travellers routes will take in some of the best National Parks.

It is not my intention to tell you about all 516 parks but I will share with you which ones I think are the best.

Lets firstly understand a bit more about how the parks operate. Don't be fooled by the name Park. These areas can be very large indeed and generally include areas where endangered species such as animals or plant species live or where there are ancient rock formations like the home of Ayers Rock in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Most visitors to one of the National Parks only touch a small piece of the park given their sheer size. There are others however that are smaller allowing you to cover more ground.

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.

Don't expect that you can just turn up and camp. The places for camping are limited especially in the peak of summer and you will need a permit. You need to book well in advance. The government websites have search facilities allowing you to find out which park has camping facilities but remember you will need to search by state. If you are planning to go over Christmas then make sure you book well in advance (months.) The most popular sites, e.g. Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, actually run a ballot system with the lucky names being pulled out of a hat.

So which are the best National Parks to visit? To be honest, it is a very subjective view and it depends what you are looking for. Whichever you pick, they all have stunning scenery. I've only got room here for 3 but but there are lots more recommendations at the website below

Best for Coast and Beaches

If you are looking for pristine beauty then head to Lord Howe Island. It is one of the only islands of Australia to be awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. The island manages to keep the area unspoiled as it only allows 400 visitors onto the island at a time. The island has something for everyone - great marine life, mountain and forest walks and beautiful beaches. The day walk to the top of Mount Gower is known to be one of the best day walks in Australia. You can also take the Valley of the Shadows walk through 40 metre high forests or walk to Kim's lookout and enjoy the view over the lagoon and island.

Best for Ancient Rock Formations

Whilst Ayers Rock might be on the tourist trail, this National Park (Uluru Kata Tjuta) is formidable and deserves to be in the top 3 of all the Australian National Parks. It's also a World Heritage listed site due to its culture and rock formations. Most come to visit the Rock and you really should make sure you see it at either sunset or sunrise. They say that this is the best time to view as the changing light on the rock makes it look particularly stunning. You can take your car to the special viewing platforms but get there in good time to get a good spot. I'd also recommend doing one of the organised dinners or breakfasts which take place at these times. There are two rock formations in the park though and the second, The Olgas, are in my opinion, more impressive than the rock. Make sure you visit both. First stop should be the Cultural Centre as this gives you an idea on the walks and times for guided walks if you prefer to have a guide. Don't forget to check out the Aboriginal goods that are usually on sale here too. The Base walk is the most popular (9km) Allow about 3 hours which is plenty of time to take photos. Don't climb the rock. Not only is it steep and dangerous, it's totally against the local aboriginal culture and beliefs.

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.

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