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The 12 Best National Parks in Australia (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 12 picks

The best national parks in Australia in 2026 are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, Kakadu, the Daintree, the Blue Mountains and Freycinet. For hikers, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair, Karijini's gorges and the Grampians are the next on the list, and Royal National Park is the easiest wilderness day trip from Sydney.

Australia's national parks are run by the states, except Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa, Kakadu and Booderee, which are Commonwealth parks jointly managed with their traditional owners. Most charge an entry or vehicle fee — buy passes online before you go, since many parks have no mobile coverage. In the tropical north, the dry season (May to October) is the time to visit.

1. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park — Red Centre, Northern Territory

Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta — the spiritual and geographic heart of Australia.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for First-timers · Couples

The park is World Heritage–listed for both its landscape and its living Anangu culture, and is jointly managed by the Anangu traditional owners and Parks Australia. The Cultural Centre near Uluru is the place to start.

The 10-kilometre Uluru base walk and Kata Tjuta's Valley of the Winds are the essential walks; sunrise at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku and sunset at the car sunset viewing area are the essential views.

Good to know: Some parts of Uluru are culturally sensitive and photography is not allowed there — follow the signs.

Lasseter Hwy, Petermann NT 0872

Google Maps Website

2. Kakadu National Park — Top End, Northern Territory

Ancient rock art, vast wetlands, waterfalls and saltwater crocodiles.

$ BudgetBest for Couples · First-timers

Kakadu is Australia's largest national park, about three hours east of Darwin. Ubirr's sunset lookout and rock art galleries, Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) and the Yellow Water billabong cruise are the highlights for most visitors.

In the dry season, a 4WD gets you to Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls; Gunlom's infinity-edge plunge pool is reachable by 2WD when open.

Good to know: Do the Yellow Water cruise at sunrise, when the birdlife is busiest and the light is soft.

Bowali Visitor Centre, Kakadu Hwy, Jabiru NT 0886

Google Maps Website

3. Daintree National Park — Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Cairns

Ancient tropical rainforest running down to the reef.

Best for Couples · Families

Daintree National Park has two sections: Mossman Gorge, where Kuku Yalanji guides lead walks through the rainforest, and Cape Tribulation, north of the Daintree River, where rainforest meets the beach.

It is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and home to cassowaries, tree kangaroos and an extraordinary range of plants. Port Douglas is the closest base.

Good to know: Don't swim in creeks or the sea north of the Daintree River unless a sign says it's safe — crocodiles and, in summer, stingers.

Mossman Gorge Rd, Mossman QLD 4873

Google Maps Website

4. Blue Mountains National Park — Katoomba, two hours west of Sydney

Sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus valleys and the Three Sisters, a train ride from Sydney.

Best for First-timers · Families · Budget

The Blue Mountains get their name from the blue haze given off by the eucalyptus forest. Echo Point's view of the Three Sisters is the classic stop; the cliff-top walks from Katoomba and Wentworth Falls are far better than the crowds suggest.

Go beyond the lookouts: the Grand Canyon track at Blackheath, the National Pass at Wentworth Falls and the Govetts Leap lookout are the locals' favourites.

Good to know: Take the train from Central to Katoomba (about two hours) and use the hop-on bus or walk between lookouts — weekend parking at Echo Point is hard.

Echo Point Rd, Katoomba NSW 2780

Google Maps Website

5. Freycinet National Park — East coast, Tasmania

Wineglass Bay, the pink granite Hazards and some of Tasmania's best coastal walking.

Best for Couples · Families

Freycinet is Tasmania's oldest national park (with Mount Field). The Wineglass Bay lookout is the essential walk; the full circuit over the saddle to Hazards Beach takes most of a day.

Coles Bay is the base for cruises and sea kayaking; the nearby east-coast vineyards and oyster farms make it an easy place to spend two nights.

Good to know: A Tasmanian parks pass is needed for every park — a holiday pass covers all of them for up to two months.

Freycinet Dr, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Google Maps Website

6. Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park — North-west Tasmania

Alpine wilderness, wombats and the start of the Overland Track.

Best for Couples · Families

Cradle Mountain's jagged peak over Dove Lake is the image of Tasmanian wilderness. The Dove Lake circuit (about two hours) suits everyone; the climb to the summit is a serious full-day scramble.

The park is also the start of the six-day Overland Track to Lake St Clair, one of Australia's great walks; bookings are required in the peak season, roughly October to May.

Good to know: Use the shuttle bus from the visitor centre to Dove Lake, and look for wombats around Ronny Creek at dusk.

Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, 4057 Cradle Mountain Rd, Cradle Mountain TAS 7306

Google Maps Website

7. Karijini National Park — Pilbara, Western Australia

Deep red gorges with waterfalls and swimming holes in the middle of the outback.

Best for Couples

Karijini is a remote park in the Pilbara whose gorges cut straight down through banded red rock to cool, clear pools. Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls and the Handrail Pool walk are the classics.

It's a long way from anywhere — about 1,400 kilometres from Perth — and most people come on a road trip or fly into Paraburdoo or Newman.

Good to know: Visit between April and October; summer temperatures make the gorge walks dangerous.

Karijini Visitor Centre, Banjima Dr, Karijini WA 6751

Google Maps Website

8. Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) — Western Victoria

Sandstone ranges, waterfalls, Aboriginal rock art and kangaroos at Halls Gap.

Best for Families · Couples · Budget

Gariwerd rises from the plains about three hours west of Melbourne. The Pinnacle lookout, MacKenzie Falls and the Balconies are the most popular stops, and the park holds most of Victoria's known Aboriginal rock art sites.

Halls Gap is the base, and kangaroos graze on its ovals and lawns every evening. The multi-day Grampians Peaks Trail runs the length of the ranges.

Good to know: Walk to the Pinnacle from the Wonderland car park early in the morning before the day-trip crowds.

Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381

Google Maps Website

9. Wilsons Promontory National Park — South Gippsland, Victoria

Mainland Australia's southernmost point — granite headlands, white beaches and wombats.

Best for Families · Couples · Budget

'The Prom' is Victoria's best-loved park, about three hours south-east of Melbourne. Squeaky Beach, Mount Oberon summit and Tidal River's beach and campground are the highlights, and wombats, emus and kangaroos are everywhere.

Longer hikes lead to Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove and the lighthouse at the southern tip.

Good to know: Camping and cabins at Tidal River book out months ahead for summer — some summer sites are allocated by ballot.

Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory VIC 3960

Google Maps Website

10. K'gari (Fraser Island) — Great Sandy National Park, Queensland

The world's largest sand island, with rainforest growing out of the sand and perfect lakes.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Couples

K'gari is World Heritage–listed and part of Great Sandy National Park. Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora), Eli Creek, the Maheno shipwreck and Seventy-Five Mile Beach, which doubles as a highway, are the highlights.

It's 4WD only. Self-drivers need vehicle permits; tours from Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach take the stress out of the driving.

Good to know: Don't swim in the ocean — rips and sharks — and keep food locked away from the island's wild dingoes (wongari).

K'gari (Fraser Island) QLD 4581

Google Maps Website

11. Litchfield National Park — Top End, Northern Territory

Waterfalls and swimming holes 90 minutes from Darwin.

Best for Families · Budget

Litchfield is the easier, smaller cousin of Kakadu, an easy day trip from Darwin on sealed roads. Florence Falls, Buley Rockhole and Wangi Falls are the swimming spots, and the magnetic termite mounds are a short stop.

Check the official site before you go — park pass rules and swimming closures change with the seasons.

Good to know: Swimming areas close in the wet season when water levels rise and crocodiles may move in — check the closures before you drive out.

Litchfield Park Rd, Litchfield Park NT 0822

Google Maps Website

12. Royal National Park — South of Sydney

The world's second-oldest national park, with clifftop walks an hour from the city.

Best for Families · Budget · Couples

Royal National Park was declared in 1879, making it the oldest in Australia. It has sandstone cliffs, heathland and beaches such as Wattamolla and Garie, and the Figure Eight Pools rock platform.

The two-day Coast Track runs its full length; shorter sections make excellent day walks, and whales pass the cliffs in winter.

Good to know: The Figure Eight Pools are only safe at low tide in calm seas — check the tide and swell, and the park's alerts, before you go.

Audley Visitor Centre, Farnell Ave, Audley NSW 2232

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous national park in Australia?

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, home of Uluru, is the most famous and among the most visited. Kakadu, Australia's largest national park at almost 20,000 square kilometres, is the other big name, listed by UNESCO for both its nature and its culture.

Do you have to pay to enter Australian national parks?

Most of the big ones, yes. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Kakadu sell multi-day passes per person; Tasmania sells daily and holiday passes per vehicle or person that cover every park; NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA charge per vehicle in some parks and not others. Check the park's official site and buy online.

Which national park is closest to Sydney?

Royal National Park, about an hour south, is the closest wilderness — coastal cliffs, beaches and the Coast Track. The Blue Mountains, about two hours west by car or train, are the classic day trip. See our best things to do in Sydney.

When is the best time to visit the national parks of northern Australia?

May to October, in the dry season. In the wet season (November to April) many roads in Kakadu, Litchfield and Karijini close, temperatures and humidity soar, and some trails shut for safety.

Can you swim in the national parks?

In many places, yes — Litchfield's Florence and Wangi Falls, Karijini's gorge pools and the beaches of Freycinet and Wilsons Promontory are classic swims. In the tropics, only swim where signs say it is safe: saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, billabongs and coastal waters across the north.

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