Grey nomads may soon find they’ve got even more company in New South Wales’ spectacular national parks as a massive new tourism campaign urges Australians to ‘find their path’ in the state’s magnificent natural landscapes.
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the first ever joint National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Destination NSW marketing initiative would showcase some of the most diverse national parks on the planet.
“From the crystal-clear waters of Tomaree National Park, to other-worldly rock formations in the Warrumbungles, Australia’s best snow at Kosciuszko, and ancient cultural landscapes of Mungo and Mutawintji, we are so lucky to have an incredibly diverse range of landscapes right here in our backyard,” he said.
The new campaign will showcase some of the most diverse national parks on the planet. PIC: NSW Government
“With more than 890 diverse national parks and reserves, we know that New South Wales is the national parks capital of Australia, but research suggests that our national parks aren’t quite as well-known as parks in other states.”
Mr Griffin said the aim of the campaign was for visitors to fall in love with the state’s spectacular regions, arriving at national parks as tourists and leaving as conservationists.
“Our national parks aren’t just brimming with natural wonders, they also support 74,000 jobs and contribute $18 billion in visitor expenditure to our economy annually, with 75% of the economic benefits delivered in rural and regional NSW,” he said.
The campaign will reach millions of people as it rolls out across television, digital media, billboards and outdoor media in Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, Sydney and regional NSW.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said it had the potential to make a huge difference.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of many regional and rural communities,” he said. “And our national parks are perfectly positioned to support regional economic recovery and assist communities that have endured drought, bushfires, flooding and a pandemic.”
New South Wales boasts 890 spectacular parks and reserves, including the second oldest national park in the world Royal National Park, in Sydney.
In a bid to improve the national parks experience, the NSW Government says it is delivering the largest investment in national parks history, with $450 million dollars for more than 200 visitor infrastructure projects across the State by 2024.
This will see 755 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and mountain-biking tracks, 61 new or improved picnic and visitor areas, and 36 campground upgrades.
Which is your favourite NSW national park? How do you think the state’s national park experience could be improved? Comment below.
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WELL, YOU WILL GET STAYERS AND VISITORS, WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE HINESTY BOX, OR YOU ADD INTERNET SERVICE AT EVERY PARK, AND ALLOW BOOKING A SITE ON THE DAY AND PEOPLE JUST ROCK UP THERE, UN TIL THEN DON’T EXPECT TO MANY PARKS BEING VISITED
Yes so true. So many say they are booked out and they are not and your the ones losing out. Stopped going to national parks for that reason.
I understand and fully support the protection of native animals and the environment but surely in this day and age responsible dog owners could pay an extra fee to take their dog on designated pathways in national parks . Using non extending leads and the enforced picking up of droppings along with a reasonable fee would encourage more people (especially grey nomads who travel with a dog ) to visit national parks . More money coming in would allow for more rangers to be employed bringing more jobs into rural areas . National Parks are missing out on an ever increasing portion of the population with disposable income who don’t visit the parks purely for this outdated reason .
Until they permit dogs on leash we will not be going ever
By all means have a booking system but let campers choose their site on arrival. Some campers need open sites for their solar panels and others prefer not to be camped right next to a large group of young people and others like a bit of privacy. This would also prevent regulars hogging the prime sites during peak seasons.
I agree to hard to book and does not cater for no internet service so you can not book, we travel and stay where we like and do not like to book ahead for a day we are not sure we will make. Bring back honesty boxes.
Oh goody goody – bad luck if you have a pet with you as you still will not be able to take them in there.
Until they make them pet friendly many gray nomads will not be able to use them.
Would be good if they allowed pets under control to be with owners
Neil, one of the best bits of going and staying in National Parks is, there are no dogs.
I boycott National Parks because I strongly oppose their aerial drops of the inhumane 1080 poison. They also use 1080 in other forms, including 1080 spray injectors. Their aerial kills of Brumbies is a disgrace. Horses have been shot and not killed but left to die from horrendous gun shot injuries. Foals die from starvation after their Mothers are killed.
So, you don’t like NPs because they poison and shoot feral non native animals to prevent them from taking over native animal species. Does this mean you like zoos and sheep/cattle stations where native animals are controlled to protect non native species? Horses are one of the non native animal species introduced into our unique continent by careless selfish humans generations ago. Isn’t it time to try and rectify a bit of this behaviour’s malicious footprints?
My wife and I have travelled for six out of the past ten years and have spent considerable time in each state, in our experience NSW Nat-parks are among the most expensive to camp in and often have the worst amenities. As for pre-paying for your site forget it… We pre booked twice and on the first occasion arrived at the campground to find a rooftop tent on a 4×4 (nothing against that) occupying the only site large enough to fit our 24′ caravan (and there were nearly a dozen other empty sites with ample space for the fourby). As for the fees… $48 bucks a night (2 adults and a vehicle) for no power, uncleaned long-drop, not even water to wash your hands, no fire wood for the vandalised fireplace, and you can’t collect fire wood either. How to attract more visitors??? Let the fees reflect what you get for your money, have the amenities cleaned and maintained, and use the existing vehicle fees to pay for road maintenance. Maybe then we’ll return.
They Know how to charge. That is why we don’t go.
The booking system doesn’t work for everyone.if you are travelling with no planned destination in mind and want to stay at a park bad luck with no internet connection or if you do try and book they are all full but if you go in last thing at night half are empty
almost like the big shops no staff at checkouts then complain if you don’t do it the correct way
Go back to having a ranger or camp host in place works better for everybody
Can’t agree more with Mark and Robbie. Having to book a camp site ahead means that you lose the flexibility you have with a van or tent to move and stay without pre planning. You should be able to drive into a NP and check whether a spot that suits you is available. In case you find a spot, there should be a pay station like you have in urban parking lots which prints a receipt. Most NPs don’t have cellular coverage so online booking and cancellation is just not an option.
There would be more visitors and campers if you keep the price down. Bush camping should be no more then $20/n. NSW fees are way to high!
I can stay in an air conditioned room overseas with pool, near the beach, for less than an unpowered NPWS bush campsite.