How to Visit Sydney’s National Parks by Public Transport

I have listed the parks in order of how easy they are to get to.

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Sydney Harbour National Park

Sydney Harbour National Park stretches across the harbour, encompassing sections on both the northern and eastern sides of the city. It is home to several spectacular walks that run along the Harbour foreshore.

While you’re here, set aside some time to do at least one walk. The landscapes will please and a few hours spent here can help offset a day of indulging in Sydney’s dining delights.

Most of the walks would rate as easy to moderate, from a 1/2 hour stroll along Hermitage Foreshore walk in the eastern suburbs to the rewarding yet demanding four-hour trek from the Spit Bridge to Manly, there is a track to suit your time and fitness levels.

My favourite harbour walks

There is something for everyone here. My quick picks depending on your time and ability would be:

• For families, small children and those with limited mobility – The Fairfax Walk at North Head is a great choice. This 750m walk is partially wheelchair accessible and is a great vantage point for whale watching (June-Oct)
  
• If you are short of time – Bradley’s Head to Chowder Bay. There is a free audio tour too. (Apple and Android)
  
• The South Heritage Trail out to Hornby Lookout is also a favourite. This Watson’s Bay walk is easy to do and offers a fantastic harbour view.
  
• The Hermitage Foreshore walk is one many local Sydneysiders have not discovered. It’s hardly ever busy and has plenty of shade and beaches along the way to cool down.
  
• Lots of energy? Then try to Spit Bridge to Manly track – you can attempt it all or walk some of the 10 km. The 270° view from Dobroyd Head alone is worth the effort.

Check out our harbour walks guide for hours of fun!

Kamay Botany Bay National Park

Split by the waters of Botany Bay, the park is made up of two sites. The Kurnell Peninsula, where Captain Cook’s landing place is marked by a monument, and the La Perouse area, named after the French explorer Comte de La Pérouse, who arrived just 4 days after the First Fleet landed.

La Perouse arrived in Botany Bay just 4 days after the First Fleet – the city could have had an entirely different future.

The park has significant Aboriginal history and features over 30 Aboriginal sites. Aboriginal discovery tours are regularly offered.

What to see at La Perouse

Highlights in this section of the park at La Perouse include:

1. Bare Island: This historic military fort and tunnels, constructed in 1885, are connected to the mainland by a footbridge. It’s a well known Sydney landmark and popular for guided tours, snorkeling, and scuba diving. It was also a filming location for a sequence in “Mission: Impossible 2”.
   
2. La Perouse Museum and Visitors Centre: Here you can learn about the area’s history. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-4pm.
   
3. Aboriginal Heritage: The Guriwal Aboriginal Bush Tucker Track and the Yena Track are easy tracks that provide insights into the area’s original inhabitants, the Gweagal and Kameygal clans. They are signposted with information on the use of local plants for food, medicine, and tools.
   
4. Henry Head and Cape Banks walking tracks: These tracks provide views of the coastline. They’re great for birdwatching, and whale watching during migration season.
   
5. Congwong Beach: A calm bay beach perfect for swimming, picnicking and relaxing. Nearby is also the more secluded Little Congwong Beach, which is a well-known nude beach although it is not officially recognised as such.

La Perouse offers a safe family beach, Frenchman’s Beach on the sheltered Yarra Bay where you will also find several restaurants. Try the Boatshed La Perouse for a relaxing lunch, they also have a take away shop across the road.

Kamay Botany Bay – Kurnell

Captain James Cook first stepped ashore at Kurnell on the park’s southern side in 1770, claiming Australia for Great Britain. 

Along with the significant colonial and indigenous sites, this section of the park is a popular whale-watching site

What to see at Kurnell

1. Captain Cook’s Landing Place: This is the historical site where Lieutenant James Cook landed on 29 April 1770, marking the first contact between Aboriginal people and European explorers. A plaque marks the spot of his landing.
   
2. Monument Track: A walking track that takes you past several monuments and plaques, including a monument to Captain Cook. It provides a good overview of the history of the area.
   
3. Visitor Centre: Offers interpretive displays of the area’s cultural and natural history, including the first contact between the Aboriginal people and the crew of the HMS Endeavour.
   
4. The Meeting Place: Outdoor sculptures and installations representing the Aboriginal and European perspectives on the landing of the Endeavour.
   
5. Muru and Yena tracks: These tracks offer scenic views and take you past several significant cultural and historical sites. They’re also great for birdwatching.
   
6. Cape Solander: Named after naturalist Daniel Solander, this is one of Sydney’s best whale-watching areas. A lookout provides panoramic views of the ocean and whale migration path between May and November.
   
7. Cape Baily Lighthouse: Located on the coastal walking track, this lighthouse offers views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean.
   
8. Banks-Solander track: A short track (1 km return) where you can see some of the native plants first documented by Cook’s botanists, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander.

Getting to the Kamay National Park

La Perouse – Take the 390X from Bondi Junction or from Circular Quay, catch the light rail or the 396 to South Sydney Juniors and change to the 390X there.

Kurnell – Take the train from the Town Hall or Central to Cronulla and then join a local bus service 987

Royal National Park

A little over an hour south of Sydney (32 km) is the Royal, the second oldest National Park in the world. The easiest way to the park without a car is to take the ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena.

From Jibbon Beach, you have two options; you can explore aboriginal rock engravings at the point or choose the 7km circuit track that follows the coast and then heads inland for a short while on the way back to the ferry. We have shared a guide for exploring Bundeena here.

If you would like to do some hiking Royal National Park offers plenty of great walks from a few km to an overnight hike. There are also some great tour operators running day walks, like this guided hike by Sydney Nimble Tours if you prefer a guide to show you around.

There is also a fun small group South Coast day trip if you don’t have a car but would like to experience the park and surrounding coastline.

If you have a car, I recommend visiting Wattamolla, the beach is gorgeous but only quiet on weekdays and feel really remote. The Royal National Park Visitor’s Centre at Audley is also worth a visit.  The Royal National Park also has its own waterfall, Curracurrong Falls, making a great day out.

Lane Cove National Park

Lane Cove National Park is less than 15km from the city centre and spans 372 hectares across Lindfield, Chatswood and Pennant Hills. The Lane Cove River is the centrepiece, offering spots for riverside walks, kayaking and paddling.

The park is home to short walks, riverside tracks and good wildlife viewing. Despite its suburban location, you can spot swamp wallabies, kookaburras and bush turkeys. Most people head to one of the many picnic areas with good facilities.

The best way to enjoy the river is to visit the Lane Cove Boatshed near the Chatswood entrance to rent a rowboat, paddleboat or kayak. Note: swimming in the Lane Cove River is not advisable.

Walking options include:

• The Riverside Walk (follows the river with wildlife viewing opportunities)
• Great North Walk (a longer, more challenging section through the park)
• Scribbly Gum Track (short walk to see the characteristic scribbles on eucalyptus trees)
• Fairylands track (easy 1km suitable for families).

There are also a number of cycling tracks in the park if you prefer to explore on two wheels.

Picnic spots include Jenkins Hill Picnic Area, Fiddens Wharf Oval, Lane Cove Weir, Bakers Flat Picnic Area, Haynes Flat Picnic Area (with playground) and Carter Creek Picnic Area.

If you don’t want to pack a picnic, try the Lane Cove National Park Cafe. The Lane Cove Boatshed also sells drinks, ice cream and pies.

Getting to Lane Cove National Park by public transport

Take bus 259 or 545 from Chatswood Station. If you have energy, it’s about 1km walk from the station. You can also access the park from North Ryde Station.

If you want to stay in the park, Lane Cove Holiday Park has campsites, cabins and glamping tents available.

Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park

Ku Ring Gai is the second oldest NP in Australia (established 1894). It’s the right choice if you want to escape the city without going too far. Though only 25km from the CBD, reaching it without a car takes some planning, but it’s possible.

The park overlooks Pittwater and Broken Bay with walking tracks that offer wide views and a couple of secluded beaches. It’s known for its Aboriginal heritage, with over 800 recorded Aboriginal sites.

Aboriginal sites worth seeing include:

1. Red Hands Cave: On the Red Hands Cave walking track, this small rock shelter features hand stencil rock art made by the park’s traditional owners, the Guringai people. It’s an easy 1km return walk to the cave.
   
2. The Basin Aboriginal Art Site: This site, best accessed by ferry from Palm Beach, includes a large rock platform with over 100 Aboriginal engravings, providing evidence of the area’s occupation by the Guringai people.

Add one or more of these walks:

1. America Bay Track: This short walk will get your heart pumping but it rewards with a beautiful lookout and even a small waterfall. It’s only a 1.8km return and starts from West Head Road.
   
2. Resolute Track Loop: This 6km track starts at West Head lookout, and includes Red Hands Cave, and several fantastic lookout points over Pittwater. You can detour to the small but pretty West Head and Resolute Beaches.
   
3. Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk: This short but steep walk takes you to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse at the tip of Barrenjoey Head. From the top, you’ll get panoramic views of Palm Beach, Pittwater, and the Central Coast. The walk is a 2.3km return.
   
4. Bobbin Head Track: Starting from the Sphinx Memorial, this track takes you through beautiful bushland and along Cowan Creek, offering views of mangroves, a salt marsh, and casuarina woodland. It’s about a 10km loop track, and you can have lunch at Bobbin Head when you finish.

For hard-to-reach sections of the park, a guided seven-hour tour can reach places that would take hours without a car.

Getting to Kur-ring-gai Chase National Park

• Barrenjoey Head at Palm Beach is the easiest to reach by public transport via the L90 bus.
• Bobbin Head can be reached by train to Turramurra, then local bus connections. A ride share from the station is often quickest.

Ferry services from Palm Beach to Bobbin Head run on a seasonal schedule (check with the park for current times).

To visit other sections of the park without a car requires planning and determination. Contact the park directly about transport options to specific areas.

Have you visited any of these Sydney National Parks? If you are looking for parks, you can take your dog to check our guide to the best parks in Sydney which includes dog-friendly options.

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