21 Australian national parks to visit in 2021

Australia is blessed with an enormous collection of national parks. Some Australian national parks are world famous, such as the Sydney Harbour National Park and Kakadu National Park, while others are hardly visited. Or, for that matter, known about.

Once Covid travel restrictions lift, it’s arguably time to give some of these national parks a try. As part of the Australia in 2021 series, Australia Travel Questions has picked out 21 Australian national parks to visit in 2021 – with at least one activity to undertake in each.

Four Australian national parks in New South Wales

Murray Valley National Park: Along with the neighbouring Barmah National Park in Victoria, the Murray Valley National Park is home to the world’s largest forest of river red gum trees. It’s worth the scenic drive out from Echuca to visit the Reed Beds Bird Hide boardwalk – an excellent spot for wetland birdwatching.

Woomargama National Park: Peaceful, undervisited Woomargama National Park specialises in nature walks. The Danny’s Loop Walk is the ideal introduction for those taking a day out from Albury.

Morton National Park: One of the highlights of the Southern Highlands, the Morton National Park’s centrepiece is the magnificent Fitzroy Falls. The walk to the top of the falls also offers tremendous lookouts over the thickly-forested valley.

Nightcap National Park: A wildlife haven near Byron Bay, the Nightcap National Park springs into life after dark when the nocturnal creatures come out. This is best done while wearing night vision goggles on a tour from Byron – one of our 21 Australian wildlife encounters for 2021.

Four national parks in the Northern Territory

Litchfield National Park: The most accessible of the Top End’s collection of Australian national parks offers glorious waterfalls and giant termite mounds. Serious hikers can take on the five day Tabletop Track, camping along the way.

Garig Gunak Barlu National Park: Considerably less easy to get to, the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park is on the Cobourg Peninsula at the very north of the Northern Territory. Tours heading there take in Aboriginal rock art, crocodile-watching, fishing excursions and the tragic lost city of the Victoria Settlement.

Watarrka National Park: Home to the vastly underrated Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park is the most underrated of the Australian national parks in the Red Centre. Tackle the often brutal Kings Canyon Rim Walk or opt for a scenic helicopter flight above the George Gill Range.

Nitmiluk National Park: Katherine Gorge is justifiably one of the Northern Territory’s highlights. You can explore it in a canoe or cruise boat. But there’s more to Nitmiluk National Park than just the gorge, such as the multi-day Jatbula Trail walk. It’s one of Australia Travel Questions’ 21 things to do in the Northern Territory in 2021.

Three Australian national parks in Queensland

Kondalilla National Park: Near Montville on the Sunshine Coast, the Kondalilla National Park shows off rainforest hinterland at its best. Expect rock pools, waterfalls, dam lookouts and towering eucalypt forest along the walking trails.

Eungella National Park: In the Whitsunday Coast hinterland, the Eungella National Park is one of the best places in the country for spotting the elusive platypus. They tend to hang out in the Broken River, where there’s a viewing platform at the bridge.

Cape Hillsborough National Park: It’s one thing seeing kangaroos and wallabies in the wild. It’s quite another seeing them on the beach on the Whitsunday Coast. Come to Cape Hillsborough beach at sunrise or sunset, and the local mob gathers on the sand.

Two national parks in South Australia

Onkaparinga River National Park: The walking trails around the Onkaparinga Gorge vary from gentle strolling to near vertical. The smart way to enjoy Onkaparinga River, however, is going for some exercise before hitting the McLaren Vale wineries. Inkwell and d’Arenberg should be the first post-walk ports of call on a day trip from Adelaide.

Coorong National Park: The mouth of the Murray River hides amid lagoons and sand dunes. The Coorong is a bird-watcher’s haven, with rare migratory species coming from Siberia. It’s best explored on a Coorong cruise or kayaking tour from Goolwa.

Two national parks in Tasmania

Narawntapu National Park: Narawntapu is a fine spot for watching Australia’s native wildlife – especially Tasmanian devils. The action tends to start at dusk. That’s when the Forester kangaroos get active and Bennetts wallabies are prone to hopping around. You’ll also spot furry, tank-like wombats emerge from their burrows.

Freycinet National Park: One of Australia’s most strikingly photogenic beaches can be found in Freycinet National Park near Coles Bay. The catch is that to get to Wineglass Bay, you have to walk. To get from the car park to the beach, via the lookout, takes the best part of three hours.

Three national parks in Victoria

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park: The Hattah-Kulkyne National Park near Mildura is a good place to understand man’s impact on Australia’s eco-system. Walking trails take in Aboriginal boundary trees and native wildlife. But a Hattah Lakes tour will show how irrigation has impacted the Murray River.

Murray Sunset National Park: The neighbouring Murray Sunset National Park is largely four wheel drive only. But the pink lakes are worth seeing. It also provides some of the finest examples of mallee landscape. Animal-lovers, meanwhile, should know this is one of the few places in Australia where red and grey kangaroos mix. There are several campgrounds for those who want to sleep under the stars.

Grampians National Park: A perennial favourite of the Australian national parks, the wildlife-packed Grampians has a fabulous range of options. These include rock climbing, seeing Aboriginal cave art and hanging out with kangaroos in Halls Gap. Why not indulge on food and wine trails while there, too? For top drawer views, head to the Boroka Lookout.

Three national parks in Western Australia

William Bay National Park: Near the town of Denmark, and an easy drive in a hire car from Albany, the William Bay National Park is home to one of Australia’s best swimming spots. Greens Pool is sheltered and seductive. Combine it with a walk to the big granite outcrops of Elephant Rocks.

Porongurup National Park: If it’s big granite outcrops you’re after, the Porongurup National Park near Albany is just the ticket. Walking here is fun, as it involves scrambling and climbing up the giant boulders to get to the best lookouts. Come in the spring wildflower season, and you’ll see a colourful natural carpet below.

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: Just over three hours drive from Perth, the Margaret River region is most famous for its wines. But it scores highly on natural attractions, too. The Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park – the last of our 21 Australian national parks to visit in 2021 – is riddled with caves. Some of these are relatively easy to walk through – but a tour of Giants Cave is altogether more challenging. Expect a bit of scrambling and climbing in the dark.