Most popular national park in the region

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Somersby Falls is a major attraction within Brisbane Water National Park Photo: John Yurasek-DPE

October 11, 2023

Brisbane Water National Park has been named the most visited national park in the Hunter Central Coast region in 2022 and the 10th most visited in the state.

The latest National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) visitor survey reveals that more than five million domestic visits were made to national parks in the Hunter Central Coast region last year, with more than 900,000 of them to Brisbane Water National Park.

The Park Visitor Survey showed visits to national parks in the region have increased by 46 per cent in 10 years.

Brisbane Water National Park has expansive views, bushwalks, cycling tracks and Aboriginal rock engraving sites, and stretches from near Gosford, down around Woy Woy to Patonga.

Brisbane Water National Park offers multiple walks and expansive coastal views

A major upgrade to the 8km Bouddi Coastal Walk was one of three park upgrades completed in the past year.

Across NSW, visits to national parks increased 49 per cent over the past 10 years to reach 53 million.

The Park Visitor Survey is undertaken every two years and reports on the total number of visits, rather than the number of people who visited parks.

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said with 895 national parks, nature reserves, state conservation areas and regional parks around the state, the Central Coast community was lucky to have so many on its doorstep.

“Among the outdoor adventures available to us is the Crackneck Lookout at Forresters Beach, which has been upgraded to make the track, lookout and parking more accessible,” he said.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said national parks were one of NSW’s greatest public assets, with visitation growing in a post-Covid world.

“The NSW Government is investing $74M to upgrade visitor infrastructure in NSW national parks so people can enjoy unforgettable experiences, from camping trips in the bush to coastal getaways and alpine adventures,” she said.

The 10 best-known and most-visited parks in the Hunter Central Coast region are (in order) : Brisbane Water National Park, Bouddi National Park, Glenrock State Conservation Area, Tomaree National Park, Munmorah State Conservation Area, Worimi Conservation Lands, Myall Lakes National Park, Booti Booti National Park, Wyrrabalong National Park and Barrington Tops National Park.

Source:
NSW Government