Australia's Best National Parks

Australia has more than 500 parks, which amount to 28 million hectares, 4% of the entire continent. Most of these areas have been declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

Source: Pixabay

It is very hard to nominate 'the best', but here we present a selection across each state:

Kakadu National Park - Northern Territory

It is Australia's largest park (covering almost 20,000 square kilometres) and perhaps the most well-known. It is in the Northern Territory and it is famous for its flora which is among the richest in Northern Australia with more than 1,700 plant species recorded, its natural rock pools and waterfalls and the boat excursions looking for crocodiles, but also for its Aboriginal rock art, with its oldest examples dating back to 50,000 years ago. Entrance: $25 for an adult pass.

Blue Mountains - New South Wales

A Unesco World Heritage Site, it has a million hectares with waterfalls, rock cliffs, grottoes. Among the places not to be missed there are: the Wentworth waterfalls, the Jenolan Caves, one of the world's most spectacular cave formations open to the public and the Three Sisters, ancient rock formations which according to local Aboriginals were three sisters turned to stone. From this area you can see some of the best views of the park, which is rich in history and culture.

The best way to visit the park is with Aboriginal guides. Entrance: $8 per vehicle per day (applies only at attractions in the Glenbrook area).

Kimberley Park - Western Australia

Another enormous park, famous for its varied landscapes. You can ride a camel on Cable Beach (22 km of white sand near Broome), take a swim in natural pools, drive a 4x4 along the river on the Gibb River Road and a helicopter tour to admire the Bungle Bungles/Purnululu National Park. In Western Australia it is possible to buy a pass valid for all parks which costs $40.

Grampians - Victoria

A mountain range which is located west of Melbourne, the Grampians (also known as Gariwerd) are 400 million years old. You can drive through the park or bush-walk to the best lookouts, such as Reed Lookout, The Balconies, Boroka Lookout, Mount William and The Bluff.

A perfect visit to the Grampians should include a night in a tent to admire the stars, sipping a glass of wine in front of the fire. Visitors should pre-book their campsite. Further information here.

Wilderness World Heritage Area - Tasmania

17 national parks cover a fifth of Tasmania. In 1982 three large, contiguous western wilderness national parks were World Heritage listed. In 2016, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service celebrated the centenary of the first national parks in the so-called apple island.

Natural beauty abounds in Tasmania: from The Hazards to Wineglass Bay, from Dove Lake circuit to the renown Overland Track, 65 km of stunning walks that require 5 to 6 days to be covered.

Visitors have a number of different pass options available to them: the most cost effective is the Holiday Pass which covers entry into all of Tasmania’s national parks for up to two months, and also provides free use of the Cradle Mt shuttle bus, for $60 per vehicle.

Daintree Cape Tribulation - Queensland

Set in the tropical part of Australia, it has the most ancient rain forest in the world, a true botanical treasure with a breath-taking biodiversity. You can visit it with an organised tour, or renting a car from Port Douglas or Cairns. This Far North Queensland park has some of the best beaches in Australia, such as Cape Tribulation, but you can also explore the thickest forest.

Kangaroo Island - South Australia

The perfect island to have a break, it is reachable in 45 minutes by boat from Cape Jervis. As the  name suggests, it is a natural habitat for kangaroos, but also many other animal species. On Kangaroo Island you can do some bushwalking, sand boarding (!), or simply relax in an eco-resort. The return ticket costs around $100.