.jpg "Free Traffic System - Increase Targeted Website Traffic with Free
Unlimited One Way Links")
Visiting Australian National Parks – What You Need To Know
Gondwana is the ancient name of the huge land mass made up of Africa, Australia, India, Antarctica and South America. Over 100 million years ago the mass broke up to form the individual countries. Australia is one of these countries and is one of the driest continents in the world
There are 25 million hectares of National Park in Australia (3% of the total size of Australia,) and this equaes to 516 parks in total.
Most of the parks are serviced by the local state government e.g. parks that are in NSW are looked after by the NSW government. There are some parks however that are seen to be very special and these are run by the Federal Government.
A trip to Australia should include a trip to an Australian National Park. In fact, its hard not to as most of the key attractions or travellers routes will take in some of the best National Parks.
It is not my intention to tell you about all 516 parks but I will share with you which ones I think are the best.
Lets firstly understand a bit more about how the parks operate. Don’t be fooled by the name Park. These areas can be very large indeed and generally include areas where endangered species such as animals or plant species live or where there are ancient rock formations like the home of Ayers Rock in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Most visitors to one of the National Parks only touch a small piece of the park given their sheer size. There are others however that are smaller allowing you to cover more ground.
Generally you will be asked to pay an entrance fee. The entrance fee is either per person or per vehicle. Its not usually very much (around $10 per person) but it can be more expensive in very popular areas such as Ayers Rock. The pass is usually valid for 48 hours.
Want to Camp in the National Parks?
Many people choose to camp in National Parks. This is a great idea if you like the open air and arent too worried about snakes or spiders (only joking!) There are usually designated areas for camping and there are strict campfire regulations given the risk of bush fires. The facilities are usually quite basic though so dont expect hot showers. That said, some of them do!
You generally need a permit to camp in the National Parks and places are limited. In the peak of summer it can sometimes be hard to find camping spots available so you need to book well in advance. The government websites will allow you to search for campsites. Remember that you will need to do this for EACH state given that the parks are run by the state government. Over Christmas when it is really busy, some of the national parks run a ballot system. If your name is picked out of the hat, you are one of the lucky ones (this is how it works in Freycinet National Park in Tasmania)
So which are the best National Parks to visit? To be honest, it is a very subjective view and it depends what you are looking for. Whichever you pick, they all have stunning scenery. I’ve only got room here for 3 but but there are lots more recommendations at the website below
Best for Coastal Views and Beaches
If you are looking for pristine beauty then head to Lord Howe Island. It is one of the only islands of Australia to be awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Listing. The island manages to keep the area unspoiled as it only allows 400 visitors onto the island at a time. The island has something for everyone – great marine life, mountain and forest walks and beautiful beaches. The day walk to the top of Mount Gower is known to be one of the best day walks in Australia. You can also take the Valley of the Shadows walk through 40 metre high forests or walk to Kim’s lookout and enjoy the view over the lagoon and island.
Best for Spiritual Rock Formations
Ayers Rock at Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park just has to feature in the top 3. Most come to visit the rock. Did you know its also on the World Heritage list? To see the rock you should make sure you get to the viewing platform (just take your car) at either sunrise or sunset. The light at these times makes the rock look particularly amazing. You can also pay to have a dinner or breakfast overlooking the rock at these times. But there are actually two rock formations in the park. The second is the Olgas and these were in my opinion, even more impressive than Ayers Rock. Make sure you visit both but make your first stop the Cultural Centre which gives great information on guided walks and a chance to meet some local Aboriginals. The most popular walk is the Base Walk. It takes your round the base of the entire rock and takes about 3 hours. Please don’t climb the rock though. It’s totally against the local aboriginal customs and beliefs.
One of Victoria’s most popular and largest parks is The Grampians National Park. 260km from Melbourne along the Glenelg or Western Highway, the journey will take you about 3.5 hours. The Grampians themselves are sandstone ridges with steep slopes. This park has stunning walks, rock formations and wildlife. It also has some great examples of Aboriginal rock art (Billimina and Wab Manja) The best view of the park is from Mount Abrubt and the best falls are Mackenzie Falls. If you are a serious walker then why not try one of the two day hikes. To get off the tourist trail, try Wartook Valley (Mount Zero and Mount Stapylton) or if you want a real challenge then Mount Difficult is as you would expect, difficult! Or why not try the Stony Creek Track to the Bundaleer. This route passes Stony Peak. Or the Wall of China offers great views to Tower Hill and Victoria Valley
2. Right-Click then Copy
3. Paste the HTML code into your webpage
![Recommend [aplus]](http://s3.amazonaws.com/arkayne-media/img/badge/02me.png){kind=icon}
