Plan a trip to Australia if experiencing the country’s incredible wilderness is your bucket list. Australia has over 500 national parks and each has its unique identity. With spectacular limestone, snowy mountains, sandstone rock formations, tropical islands, rainforests, gorgeous beaches, beautiful scenery, and an abundance of flora and fauna, some of these national park shelters have world-famous kangaroos and dingoes. Book a rental car or a caravan and embark on this great adventure. Following is the overview of the top 10 national parks that you can visit in Australia.
01 ;Karijini National Park
Situated in the north of Western Australia, Karijini is known for its adventurous swimming holes and breathtakingly rugged landscapes. Being Australia’s second-largest national park, this region of the country is best visited during the winter months when the temperatures are sufficiently low enough for you to experience this place at its best.
With awe-inspiring escarpments, beautiful gorges, and wicked views, Karijini gives you many hiking opportunities along with great camping locations.
02 ;Kosciuszko National Park
A popular weekend spot for bushwalkers, hikers, horse riders, and skiers, the Kosciuszko National Park is named after Mount Kosciuszko(highest peak in mainland Australia and Cabramurra). Bordered by rugged mountains, the national park is located in southern New South Wales. Famous mountain ranges in Kosciuszko national park include Mount Townsend, Bimberi Peak, and Mount Jagungal. The mountainous wildlife reserve forms part of the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves. Home to Aboriginal heritage for about 20,000 years, the park is the only place where you can find the endangered southern corroboree frog.
03 ;Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
At the heart of Red Centre lies the iconic Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to Australia’s most famous monoliths like Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Associated with the aboriginal Australians, the park continues to be their prized possession. Almost 350-million-year-old, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta are not ordinary monoliths. Also, the Kata Tjuta part of the park consists of 32 rock domes. These gigantic formations have been enticing thousands of tourists every year. Besides the huge sandstone structures, you will love to see the diverse mix of flora and fauna at the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Here you can also get stunning sunrise and sunset photos as the rocks change colors in the sunlight.
04 ;Freycinet National Park
Home to the iconic Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park is one of the oldest wildlife reserves in Australia. Situated on Tasmania’s eastern coast, the park came into existence in 1916. Wineglass Bay and The Hazards is what makes this park unique. While the former is considered one of the best beaches in Australia, the latter is a beautiful granite formation made up of rugged pink and red granite mountains. Travelers visit here for sea kayaking, bird-watching, fishing, beachcombing, and other water activities.
05 ;Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is one of the largest wildlife reserves in Australia. Home to diverse terrain, and flora and fauna, including kangaroos and giant crocodiles Kakadu may be the only place on earth where you can see both crocodiles and aboriginal rock art. From endangered wetlands perfect for bird watching through to rivers teeming with crocs and waterfalls, Kakadu provides shelter to more than 400 species of birds and animals and 1,600 species of plants. Besides the abundance of flora and fauna, the park offers a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, and camping.
06 ;Blue Mountains National Park
Situated in eastern Australia, the Blue Mountains National Park is only an hour outside the bustling metropolis of Sydney. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the national park features several habitats, including grasslands, wetlands, and swamps. The wildlife reserve is also known for a couple of endangered species such as blue mountains water skink, broad-headed snake, and regent honeyeater.
Travelers visiting this location can choose from hiking, cycling, and rock climbing, or just admire the view from the famous scenic railway as the wonderful Katoomba Falls pass you by.
07 ;Royal National Park
Located in Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, the Royal National Park is the oldest protected national park in Australia. The park shelters kookaburras, lyrebirds, and echidnas and features coastal cliffs, many secluded beaches, and eucalyptus-rich bushland. You can also head to the Bungoona Lookout, for stunning views of the Hacking River. Other than admiring the park’s stunning landscapes and wildlife, you can enjoy various outdoor activities such as biking, walking, swimming, hiking, and camping at designated sites.
08 ;Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Situated amid the impressive Flinders Ranges, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park is one of the best open spaces in the Australian Outback. Rugged landscapes, picturesque gorges, and an abundance of wildlife make this place truly unmissable in the whole of South Australia. Showcasing an astounding spectrum of colors, the Flinders Ranges is a hiker’s paradise with valleys that seem to extend for miles. From mountain ranges to a captivating amphitheater, and a range of outdoor activities, the park is one of its kind. Crisscrossed by a network of sealed and unsealed roads, the wildlife reserve offers plenty of impressive views.
09 ;Daintree National Park
Situated in Far North Queensland, Australia, Daintree National Park is the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, this hot and humid area is teeming with life and exotic plants that are found nowhere else on the planet. Also, a drive and ferry ride north of the town of Port Douglas in the state’s tropical north region, the Daintree feels like a real retreat from civilization. You may also try the Great Barrier Reef that runs alongside it, so there is plenty to explore both on land and at sea.
10 ;Great Sandy National Park
If seeing dingoes is high on your list of must-dos in Australia, head over to the Great Sandy National Park, which is the world’s largest sand island located in Fraser Island, in Queensland. Being a coastal wilderness reserve, the park features massive dunes, rainforests, freshwater lakes, beaches, mangrove forests, shipwrecks, a variety of birds, and swamps. The howling dog-like animals are also a protected species on the island. A popular tourist destination, the Great Sandy National park also offers a variety of recreational activities.