Australia has a lot of national parks. In fact we have hundreds of them. More than any other country in the world.
They are generally massive areas, so sometimes their riches can be hard to reach. But not always…
We’ve scoured the land and found some of the best national parks in Australia that make comfortable day trips from prominent locations.
Take advantage of easy access to these awesome areas and their prized attractions when staying at various BIG4 parks around the country.
Part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, Wooroonooran is ripe with goodies: waterfalls, swimming holes, gorges, and soaring peaks among swathes of rainforest. Conveniently, several key features are within comfortable reach of either Cairns, such as Walshs Pyramid, or Innisfail, led by the not-to-be-missed Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Josephine Falls.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Ingenia Cairns Coconut, Tasman - Cairns Cool Waters, BIG4 Innisfail Mango Tree or BIG4 Kurrimine Beach.
This instantly inviting park engulfs Noosa Headland, so expect a litany of captivating coastal outlooks that contrast with sprawling greenery. Even better, it all begins just a stone’s throw from Noosa Heads’ heart. A key feature is Boiling Pot lookout, which delivers sparkling sea views and is only a short distance from the main car park.
Nearby accommodation: Ingenia Holidays Noosa North, Ingenia Holidays Noosa or Noosa North Shore Retreat.
This coastal park accentuates the bountiful beauty of the Whitsunday region thanks mainly to its expansive tropical rainforest and isolated beaches. It surrounds Conway Peninsula, so expect walking trails that reveal breathtaking sea views that stretch far and wide.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Conway Beach Whitsundays or BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort or NRMA Airlie Beach in Airlie Beach.
A raft of gems erupt from these spellbinding expanses. Encounter brilliant beaches, rugged cliffs, and eye-catching rock formations that contrast with captivating caves and karri forest. Add to the mix spring wildflowers and abundant wildlife, and it’s beyond argument that this park commands serious attention.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks - Busselton, BIG4 Bunbury Riverside, BIG4 Taunton Farm Margaret River, RAC Busselton and Mandalay Holiday Resort.
Reached with ease from Denmark, William Bay is sublime. It’s mostly to do with the blissful beaches found within its boundaries, mixing white sand with turquoise waters alongside gripping rock formations synonymous with the region. Green Pools is the showstopping beach in these parts and it vies for headline billing along with the funky and well-named Elephant Rocks.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park.
Encompassing vast stretches of territory that overlook the Great Ocean Road, this crowd-puller is dotted with enticing attractions. A succession of waterfalls are headliners alongside flowing forests that mix colourful ferns with the likes of gigantic Californian redwoods. Captivating creatures and ample opportunity to soak up splendid sea views are also on the agenda. Great in every way.
Nearby accommodation: Bimbi Park in Cape Otway or BIG4 parks in the Great Ocean Road region.
On Wangaratta’s doorstep is this beauty, which hoards a wealth of enchanting landscapes that include river red gum forests, wetlands, and craggy granite hills. Inviting walking trails lead to lookouts, some of which reveal mountain peaks that are snow-covered in cooler months.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Wangaratta North Cedars Holiday Park.
‘The Dandenongs’ are irresistibly enchanting, with cloud-piercing mountain ash trees emerging from lush fern gullies that dominate these hilly surrounds. Visit glorious gardens often erupting with vibrant colours, witness waterfalls, and explore charming villages on the fringes of the park. And that is not all.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park, BIG4 Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park and BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park.
Occupying a magnificent stretch of coastline, this North Coast NSW park is filled with eye candy. Soak up sensational coastal outlooks that incorporate dramatic cliffs and rock formations with glittering beaches backed by pockets of rainforest, wetlands, wildflowers, and more. There’s plenty of opportunity for wildlife spotting, too.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Colonial Holiday Park in Harrington.
The park is surrounded by water, which instantly provides appeal. That attraction is heavily amplified by a walking trail that leads to Tomaree Head Summit where the widespread views are simply divine. Gob-smacking vistas aside, Tomaree is home to various native animals and historical remnants among much more.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Ingenia Soldiers Point, BIG4 Karuah Jetty, BIG4 Bays Holiday Park, Ingenia One Mile Beach and Ingenia Middle Rock.
Spectacular scenery abounds from this coast-hugging national park. Glittering beaches, stunning headlands, pockets of rainforest, and wildlife aplenty combine to dish up a feast for the eyes. The visual rewards are heightened at various designated lookouts, some incorporating the striking offshore rocks from which the park takes its name.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Tathra Beach, NRMA Tathra Beachfront Holiday Park, BIG4 Wallaga Lake Holiday Park or Ingenia Holidays Ocean Lake.
Right on the doorstep of Coles Bay is one of the best national parks in Australia. Dominated by the bold peaks of the Hazards mountain range, Freycinet hoards gems at every turn. Wineglass Bay is its most recognised asset and is joined by other paradisical beaches, massive boulders, wildlife, and plenty more.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park, Coles Bay.
Strong variation of sights and scenery ensures Narawntapu has rich appeal, just west of the Tamar Valley. Beautiful beaches and coastal heathlands meld with wetlands and woodlands and much more. And this is the place to spot variable wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons along with many bird species.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Kelso Sands Holiday and Native Wildlife Park and BIG4 Ulverstone Holiday Park.
A treasure trove of eye-catching wonders awaits visitors to Nitmiluk, northeast of Katherine. The headline act is Nitmiluk Gorge, also known as Katherine Gorge. Despite the singular nature of its name, it is in fact a series of 13 spectacular sandstone gorges with towering walls that line the snaking Katherine River. Swimming holes, waterfalls, and Aboriginal rock art are among other essential sights.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks – Katherine.
An hour’s drive from BIG4 Howard Springs leads to a national park jam-packed with fabulous features. Gorgeous fast-flowing waterfalls and their welcoming waterholes are the top attractions, ably supported by monsoon forest, sandstone outcrops, iconic termite mounds, and all manner of native animals and birds. A day-trip must.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park or BIG4 Hidden Valley Holiday Park.
Head below the surface and marvel at spectacular natural wonders that make up South Australia’s only World Heritage site. Located on the outskirts of the town centre, Naracoorte Caves are considered one of the world’s most important fossil sites, creating a snapshot of a landscape 500,000 years in the making. Incredible.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Naracoorte Holiday Park.
This national park is unusual in ‘design’, essentially made up of a 130km-long stretch of lagoons fringed by sand dunes. It’s particularly popular with photographers and bird watchers and is well-suited to walks. And for a visit with a difference, join a boat cruise departing from the Fleurieu Peninsula town of Goolwa.
Nearby accommodation: BIG4 Breeze Holiday - Parks Port Elliot and BIG4 The Bend Holiday Park in Tailem Bend.
Isn’t it time you explored Australia’s immense treasure? Start your adventures here.
