Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

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

Today there are 516 National Parks in Australia covering 3% of the land. That might not sound very much but given the size of Australia, it equates to 25 million hectares!

The parks are looked after by state governments but there are some National Parks that are deemed so significant that they are looked after 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.

The majority of parks require an entrance fee. This can be by person or by vehicle depending on the park. It’s not normally very much (around $10) but for popular parks such as Ayers Rock, you can expect to pay more. Most passes give you unlimited access to the park for 48 hours.

Australian National Parks and Camping

If you like the open air and don’t mind roughing it a bit, then camping in one of Australia’s National Parks can be a fabulous experience - the scenery is usually stunning. Rules in the campsites around campfires are very strict given the risk of bush fires. Facilities tend to be pretty basic though but you might find the odd one with a hot shower.

Don’t expect that you can just turn up and camp. The places for camping are limited especially in the peak of summer and you will need a permit. You need to book well in advance. The government websites have search facilities allowing you to find out which park has camping facilities but remember you will need to search by state. If you are planning to go over Christmas then make sure you book well in advance (months.) The most popular sites, e.g. Freycinet National Park in Tasmania, actually run a ballot system with the lucky names being pulled out of a hat.

It can be a little subjective picking the best Australian National Parks to visit. Below you will find my top 3 but visit the website below for more information on great Australian National Parks.

Best for Beaches and Coastal Views

Lord Howe Island has won international acclaim and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s not hard to see why with its enchanting walks, forests, mountains, beaches and marine life. The best walks are the Valley of the Shadows and Mount Gower. The first takes you through high forests of Kentia Palms and Banyan trees. The second is a well known day walk to the top of Mount Gower and its known to be one of the best walks in Australia.

Best for Spiritual Rock Formations

Whilst Ayers Rock might be on the tourist trail, this National Park (Uluru Kata Tjuta) is formidable and deserves to be in the top 3 of all the Australian National Parks. It’s also a World Heritage listed site due to its culture and rock formations. Most come to visit the Rock and you really should make sure you see it at either sunset or sunrise. They say that this is the best time to view as the changing light on the rock makes it look particularly stunning. You can take your car to the special viewing platforms but get there in good time to get a good spot. I’d also recommend doing one of the organised dinners or breakfasts which take place at these times. There are two rock formations in the park though and the second, The Olgas, are in my opinion, more impressive than the rock. Make sure you visit both. First stop should be the Cultural Centre as this gives you an idea on the walks and times for guided walks if you prefer to have a guide. Don’t forget to check out the Aboriginal goods that are usually on sale here too. The Base walk is the most popular (9km) Allow about 3 hours which is plenty of time to take photos. Don’t climb the rock. Not only is it steep and dangerous, it’s totally against the local aboriginal culture and beliefs.

The Grampians National Park, 260km from Melbourne is one of the most popular parks in Victoria. To get there you need to take the Glenelg or Western Highway from Melbourne and the journey will take you about 3.5 hours. There’s lots to do and see apart from the Grampians themselves (a series of sandstone ridges with steep slopes.) Try a 2 day walk or Mount Abrupt for the best views over the park. The Mackenzie falls are very popular but if you want to get off the tourist trail, go further into the park away from Halls Gap. Try Wartook Valley (Mount Zero and Mount Stapylton) or for something more strenuous, go for Mount Difficult. Stony Creek which goes via Stony Peek is also good as is the Wall of China which offers great views to Tower Hill and picturesque Victoria Valley.