National Parks and Nature Reserves of Broken Bay, Pittwater, Cowan Creek, and the Hawkesbury River

broken bay sydney

12 National Parks

Explore more than 60,000 ha of wilderness on the very edge of Sydney. From space you can see humanity's tendrils creeping over the landscape, lacing into the green and blue wilderness of 10 major national parks and nature reserves.
At night, from the middle of the marine park in Cowan Creek, you will see Sydney's glow lighting up the clouds. But during the day, the shore and cliffs look just the way they did when the Ku-Ring-Gai Aboriginal people first discovered these waterways thousands of years ago.

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Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park

  • 15,000 ha.
  • Walking Trails
  • Public Moorings
  • Aboriginal rock engravings
  • Horseback trails
  • Scenic Overlooks
  • Waterfalls
  • Marine Park
  • Information Kiosks and guided nature tours at Bobbin Head.
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calm sailing
Tanna Family

Brisbane Water National Park

  • 10,000 ha of rugged sandstone wilderness
  • Wildflowers
  • Aboriginal engravings
  • Koalas
  • Platypus
  • 150 species of birds
  • Nature Walks
  • Waterfall
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Bouddi National Park

  • 395 ha of sand dunes forests and heath.
  • 287 ha Marine Park
  • Bushwalking
  • Swimming
  • Surfing
  • Snorkeling
  • Picnic Facilities
  • Camping
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safety
recreation

Barrenjoey Lighthouse

  • Beautiful lighthouse on a rugged headland
  • Easily accessible.
  • Walking trails
  • Scenic views
  • Guided tours.
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Dharug National Park

  • 14,000 ha of spectacular sandstone cliffs and canyons.
  • Aboriginal rock etchings and cave paintings
  • Early European history.
  • Picnic and Camping
  • Easy and challenging bush walks.
  • Mountain Bike trails
  • Excellent Canoe waters.
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anchorages
Broken Bay surf

Mudgamarra Nature Reserve

Sandstone ridges and deep gullies supports a wide diversity of plants and birds in this nature reserve.

Many of the birds, such as this Kukabarra, are so tame you have to guard your lunch.

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Marramarra National Park

12,000ha of diverse sandstone and volcanic terrain. A little visited wilderness with a rich population of rare and unusual birds and reptiles. The park includes the largest mangrove forest on the central coast of New South Wales.

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wilderness
activities

Angophora Reserve.

In the heart of Avalon is a forest preserve with the oldest living Angophora tree.

Walking trails wind through a rugged terrain.

Step from upper class suburbia into a lovely forest.

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Spectade Island Nature Reserve.

Just off the Mooney Mooney Point Park, this nature reserve is a totally protected zone for Hawkesbury wildlife.

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park marina

Get your Nature Fix

The Cruising Guide to Broken Bay shows you how to cruise in protected waters and enjoy the fabulous beauty and wildlife of Australia's National Parks.