Best day trips from Sydney: Six top national parks to visit
by Lissa ChristopherOur world is suddenly opening up again, with travel in NSW unrestricted from Monday June 1. Residents of NSW can go anywhere in the state and stay overnight, and interstate visitors are also welcome to drop in although they must abide by any regulations imposed by their home state on return.
While this is great news for everyone, including the state's tourism industry, some people may feel like prisoners emerging from their cells for the first time in months, eyes squinting in the bright light of freedom and not quite ready for overnight travel.
If that's where you're at, relax and take it one gentle step at a time. Here are six glorious national parks close to Sydney where you can soak up the wonders of the natural environment, start working your travel muscles back into shape and be home in time for your evening meal.
Wherever you go, however, remember it's vital to maintain social distance - that's 1.5 metres, people - and use that hand sanitiser. We're not out of the metaphorical woods yet when it comes to COVID-19 even though we can now enjoy a bit more time in the actual woods.
THE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 36 kilometres via the Princes Highway
Australia's oldest national park offers a variety of stunning vistas, from sandstone cliffs that look like toffee to bird-filled coastal heath, beaches to rainforests. If you're up for a challenge, you can walk the entire, glorious 26-kilometre Coastal Track from Bundeena to Otford or vice versa in a day, but there are plenty of shorter loop-walks, too. In June and July, the Royal is typically a great spot for whale watching.
DHARUG NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 82 kilometres via Old Northern Road
DHARAWAL NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 73 kilometres via the M5
The walk to Minerva Pool is short, sweet and picturesque, with the possibility of spotting yellow-tailed black cockatoos and swamp wallabies along the way. The pool is a significant Aboriginal cultural site for the Dharawal People and only women and children are permitted to swim in it. The Jingga walking track is a short but steep walk that ends at another watering hole and, if you don't mind cold water, anyone is welcome to take the plunge.
BLUE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 112 kilometres via Bells Line of Road
Save the Three Sisters for another time and head out to the wilder, windswept Mount Wilson area. The steep 2.4 kilometre hike to the summit of Mount Banks (which is unfenced) rewards all that thigh-work with panoramic views of the Grose Wilderness. Alternatively, you can cycle or walk the Mount Banks Road route, which is moderate with a few steep patches. Cycling and walking groups in this area are always limited to eight people.
BEROWRA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 29 kilometres via the M2
It's easy to take it easy in this park just north of Hornsby. The dog-friendly walk along the Bellamy Fire Trail is a relaxing sojourn that takes less an hour even if you dawdle. You can also gaze down over beautiful Berowra Creek from Barnett's Lookout or stroll through woodland and salt marsh along the Place of Winds interpretive trail.
SEVEN MILE BEACH NATIONAL PARK
Distance from Sydney CBD: 140 kilometres via the Princes Motorway
Spotting colourful parrots and lorikeets is just one of the pleasures of a stroll along the Sand track walk. Head north or south through blackbutt and bangalay forests and patches of littoral rainforest then kick off your shoes and walk back along the sand of Seven Mile Beach.