Central Coast National Parks and Nature Guide 2026, Best Hiking, Nature Walks and Day Trips

Central Coast National Parks 2026, Overview

The Central Coast has excellent national park access surrounding the Gosford and Wyong areas, with Brisbane Water National Park's sandstone and wildflowers, Wyrrabalong's coastal heathland, and Dharug's remote sandstone country to the west. Here's a guide to national parks and nature on the Central Coast.

Brisbane Water National Park

• Highlights, Large sandstone national park surrounding Brisbane Water (Gosford Inlet and Broken Bay). Sublime wildflower displays August-November (waratahs, banksias, grevilleas), Aboriginal rock engravings at Bulgandry Art Site (access from Woy Woy Road, Kariong, easy 1km walk to a magnificent gallery of 125 engravings), Kariong Brook Trail. The Bulgandry engravings are one of the most accessible and impressive Aboriginal rock art sites in NSW.

Wyrrabalong National Park

• Highlights, Coastal heathland national park protecting beach and lagoon environments at Bateau Bay and Long Jetty on the Central Coast. The Crackneck Point Lookout Walk (1.8km) has magnificent coastal views. Entry free.

Popran National Park

• Highlights, Remote sandstone bush park in the Mooney Mooney Creek valley between the Central Coast and the Hawkesbury. Good bushwalking in a quiet, rarely visited park.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (Southern Border)

• Highlights, The Basin Aboriginal engravings (accessible by ferry from Palm Beach or on foot via the Basin Track), Cowan Creek and Berowra Waters houseboat area, walking tracks from the Brooklyn end. The northern sections of Ku-ring-gai Chase are accessible from the Central Coast's southern border area at Mount Colah.

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