The Central Coast has a very special natural resource with over 210,000 ha of natural vegetation set aside for conservation as National Parks and other reserves.

The Parks of the Central Coast cover areas from the coast, including a marine extension to Bouddi National Park, through coastal lakes and lagoons, areas along the banks of the Hawkesbury River and its tributaries and up into the rugged sandstone country along the foot of the Great Dividing Range.

This mixture also means that there is a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife for people to observe. A simple afternoon walk can take you through coastal shrubs and dunes, rainforest gullies and Eucalypt forests in only a few hours.

The Parks provide the opportunity for people to partake in many different types of activities. You can go bushwalking, camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, surfing and whale watching (at the right time of year). Bushwalkers can visit historical sites, both Aboriginal and European, observe the vast array of spectacular wildflowers and even catch a glimpse of some of the unique wildlife or just take in the breathtaking views from the lookouts.

The above activities can all be undertaken at your own time and pace or if you wish to add to your experience in our wonderful natural bush, you can join one of the NPW Discovery Tours. On these walks, which sometimes also include a spotlight walk at dusk, you not only get to enjoy our native bush, but also learn more about the wildlife, bush and history of the area from the friendly Discovery Rangers. You might even see some of the more shy, hard to find animals and birds. The Discovery Program also caters for the more adventurous nature enthusiast, with four-wheel drive tours, abseiling courses, canoe trips, camping, camp fires and mountain bike rides.

As the seasons change, so do the parks. Different plants and trees are flowering, while different animals and birds are in the area. The parks are a great place to visit all year round, forever changing.

For further information please contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service.