The walk meanders by a freshwater stream, through regenerating coastal forest, over a sand dune and along the shores of Botany Bay where the crew of the Endeavour landed. Interpretive signs have been installed along the walk providing a fascinating insight into the cultural and natural history of the park, while an evocative soundscape brings the Aboriginal ties to the area to life.

Dotted throughout the Burrawang Walk are species that were collected by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1770, including bracken fern, coastal banksia, coastal wattle, dusky coral pea, magenta brush cherry, woody pear and of course, burrawang.

In addition to the new walk, the Visitor Centre has also been upgraded to include the impressive First Encounters art exhibition, with works showcasing glimpses of Botany Bay in 1770, alongside traditional Aboriginal art and photography by NPWS staff. Other upgrades include a new mural display, theatre, retail area and café, and an Environmental Education Centre for school students.

The park also provides shady picnic areas with facilities and BBQs, plenty of bushwalking, cycling and diving opportunities and spectacular views of the coastline from Cape Solander.

For more information on Kamay Botany Bay National Park, visit our website or contact the local park office on 02 9668 2000.

Blue Mountains National Park	Gold Ecotourism Award
Lane Cove River Tourist Park	Silver Ecotourism Award Silver Tourist and Caravan Park Award Bronze Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Holiday Accommodation	Gold New Tourism Development Award
Jenolan Caves	Silver Tourist Attractions Award for The Magic of Jenolan Bronze Adventure Tourism Award for Adventure Underground
Tri State Safaris	Gold Adventure Tourism Award Silver Tour and/or Transport Operators Award
Sydney Seaplanes	Gold Tour and/or Transport Operators Award
TreeTop Adventure Park	Bronze New Tourism Development Award (For Ourimbah State Forest experience. Read about their new experience at Blue Gum Hills Regional Park)
Booderee National Park (Commonwealth-managed)	Gold Tourist Attractions Award Gold Indigenous Business Award

Click here for the full list of 2009 NSW Tourism Awards winners and finalists.

NSW National Parks Passes open the door to countless opportunities for recreation and adventure in a variety of environments, from lush rainforests and deserted beaches to granite gorges and rugged bush. Whether you're buying for a beachgoer, mountain lover or someone who prefers the wide open spaces of country NSW, there are four different passes to choose from that meet the needs of all types of travellers. What's more, passes are available for use straight away, allowing the recipient to make the most of their Summer holidays.

A wide range of NSW National Parks Passes can be purchased to suit all needs, from a one-year Single Country Parks Pass for just $22 through to a two-year All Parks Pass. Call the Annual Pass Centre on 02 9585 6068 or visit our website.

On Boxing Day, watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race from Shark Island on the harbour. Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy front row seats as the competitors race past the island and out to sea. Tickets are available for ferries departing from Rose Bay - phone 02 9247 5033. 

If you’ve missed out on New Year’s Eve tickets for the harbour islands or Nielsen Park in Vaucluse, you can still witness the final sunset for 2009 from various foreshore areas providing free entry, such as Bradleys Head at Mosman and North Head at Manly. These areas are extremely popular so make sure you plan ahead and arrive early to secure a good spot!

Looking for a special spot to celebrate Australia Day on 26 January? Why not ship the family out to Shark Island or Nielsen Park to experience the celebrations taking place on and around the harbour, such as the annual Ferrython and Tall Ship races, aircraft flyovers and the Australia Day fireworks spectacular. Call 02 9247 5033 for information on these and other great harbour vantage points and park activities taking place on the day.

How about a harbour experience with a more laid-back flavour? For a lazy afternoon in the sun, cruise over to Fort Denison for Sundays 'til Sunset jazz sessions on the island. Held each Sunday over Summer from 4pm, the experience includes return water taxi from Circular Quay and an afternoon of music, food and cocktails, all served up with a backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and sparkling harbour. For more information or to make a booking, email fortdenison@tecatering.com.au or phone 02 9361 5208.

Of course, the arrival of Summer also means kids break from school for the holidays, and there are some great activities coming up in Sydney Harbour National Park and in parks around the State guaranteed to keep the kids entertained – check out our Discovery story in this issue, visit our website or contact your local park office for information on NSW National Park Discovery Walks, Talks and Tours in a park near you.

For bookings and more information on the range of activities and events taking place in and around Sydney Harbour National Park this Summer, visit our website or phone 02 9247 5033.

• At Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Life in the estuary (12 January) will introduce kids to the wonders of the mangroves as they hunt for crabs, shells and baby fish as the tide goes out, then make an estuary-themed craft project.
• Bizarre sea hares and anemones are just some of the strange creatures that will be revealed when the tide goes out on the rock platform at Wyrrabalong National Park during the Sea Creatures Family Treasure Hunt (8 & 25 January). Kids will find out how these unusual animals survive and participate in some fun and games. A tour of the Lighthouse is also an option.
• At Arakoon State Conservation Area on the mid-north coast, kids six and over will enjoy a fun exploration of the local ecology on a Junior Rangers Bush Detective tour (4 January).
• In Royal National Park, the Bonnie Vale Spotlight (22 January) will take visitors on a nighttime adventure to find possums on the prowl, spiders spinning and other critters roaming the bush at night looking for their dinner.
• Junior Rangers can discover the Wild, Wild World of Minibeasts (8 January) or the Wild, Wild World of Waterbugs (15 January) and their important role in the ecosystem at Glenrock State Conservation Area.
• On the south coast at Merimbula, the Wet, Wild and Whacky Kids Snorkel (5 & 19 January) will see kids in snorkel and fins discovering the creatures living under the sea on a guided adventure.
• At Kosciuszko National Park, Wild – Wonder Wander (29 December and 8 & 15 January) invites kids on an activity-filled amble through the mountain forest to find out about some of the wonderful animals living in the Snowy Mountains.

History is also bringing fun and adventure to two of Sydney Harbour’s iconic islands this Summer.

• The Kid Day Out at historic Goat Island in Sydney Harbour National Park (10 January, 2010) will see kids ‘transported’ back to 1835 to experience life as a convict, playing games of yesteryear and solving clues to plan their escape from the island.
• At Fort Denison, kids will have the opportunity to explore the island bastion dressed as a buccaneer for It’s a Pirate’s Life (12 January, 2010) or as a petite princess on Princess Day (18 January, 2010). The two themed experiences include a return ferry ride and morning of kids activities on Fort Denison.

Bookings are essential for most activities. To find out more about the activities listed here, or the huge range of activities taking place in national parks around the State this Summer and throughout 2010 and the International Year of Biodiversity, visit our website or contact your local park office.

Decked out in our westsuits, we quickly master the four steps for surfing... on the security of dry land. Now off to face the gnarly waves. And by “gnarly” I mean white wash. The guys have brought us down here because apparently it's “the spot” in NSW for a beginner's first surf, if the swell is small enough. No complaints from any of the group, we have the waves to ourselves and the awesome park as the backdrop.

Dragging the heavy maui boards out again and again is hard work and by the time Rowan calls time for lunch, I'm sure the dolphins can hear my stomach rumbling. With thanks to Maxi our surfing instructor/masterchef, a sanga never tasted so good! Everyone goes back for seconds and I can't help but notice how content all of the new surfers are, followed by the anticipation to get back out there.

Back to the beach for round two with the waves and everyone is looking a bit more confident as they ride them into the shore.  Second time round, I find myself taking the time to open my eyes and look at the lush green hills I am riding towards. If my arms weren't jelly, I could do this forever. Instead I move onto the beach to sit in the sun and watch Rowan and Maxi catch a few waves, they make it look so easy. The boys in our group are clearly addicted and couldn't imagine joining the girls on the beach, but it's soon time to head off and drag our heavy boards back up the beach.

As we head through the park on the way back to the city, I'm reminded of the beauty and natural wonder of the forest and coastline. The Royal National Park is so vast and dense that it envelopes the coast and I can't help but be disappointed to leave the isolation of Garie Beach. I quickly make plans in my head to lock in a date to get back there.

All in all, an epic day with full credit to Rowan and Maxi our surf gurus, who had us all standing up like pros. I wonder if the likes of Layne Beachley ever got a push start from the boys?

Waves Surf School runs learn-to-surf tours up and down the NSW coast, from day trips to Garie Beach in the Royal National Park to seven-day tours to Byron Bay. For more information or bookings, visit www.wavessurfschool.com.au

For information on other licensed operators offering surf lessons, tours and a host of other great experiences in NSW's national parks, visit our website.

With helmet and harness strapped on tight, I spent a good couple of hours swinging and shimming; flinging myself from tree to tree, stepping off platforms and dangling in the air like a human swing, whizzing through the bush via a wire, and manoeuvring limbs around hanging rope ladders.

Judging by the whoops and giggles coming from others dotted about the canopy, I wasn't the only one struggling to control an ear-to-ear grin while swinging through the natural playground.

The altitude of the ropes courses would definitely send some hearts racing, but I was loving the distance between myself and the ground. The higher, the better! Plus the view from above was amazing. During a breather, I would soak up the scenery - trees pushing up into the sky, a canopy of lush greenery, sun pouring through the leaves - all set against a soundtrack of bird calls.

A closer look revealed that the platforms and obstacles had all been erected without drilling through any trees. I later found out that the attraction has been built with the environment in mind, with structures designed to allow trees to grow unrestricted. The park also regularly conducts ultra-sounding on the trees to monitor their health. So the trees truly are the heroes of the attraction. Without them, the adventure course wouldn't exist.

Once I had finished all four courses and was back on solid ground, I reflected on the experience as one of the best things I'd done in ages. Hanging about in the treetops was gripping, challenging and rewarding. I had discovered the forest from a different perspective, from the top looking down. Who would have thought getting in touch with nature could be so much fun?

Tree Top Adventure Park offers four courses designed for adventurers 10 years and above and two courses for younger participants. For more information on the new attraction, visit the website.

The Great Eastern Ranges Photography Competition is open to photographers of all standards and spans four categories including landscapes, people, flora and fauna, and under-21s. Thousands of dollars worth of prizes are up for grabs, and winners will have their images published in the April/May 2010 issue of Australian Traveller magazine as well as a travelling exhibition through the Great Eastern Ranges.

For more information, grab a copy of the Dec '09/Jan '10 issue of Australian Traveller or visit www.australiantraveller.com/GERphoto.

To find out about the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, visit www.greateasternranges.org.au

While the recovery program has successfully halted the decline of this species, the hoodie population has not recovered or increased, so NPWS is asking the local community to lend a hand in protecting the nests on NSW's South Coast during this breeding season.

Volunteers can do as little or as much as they like. Tasks range from just simply keeping an eye out for the birds when walking on the beach to the more physical jobs of putting up temporary fencing and signs.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, email Jodie Dunn, Shorebird Recovery Coordinator at the NPWS Ulladulla Office, or phone 02 4454 9500.

NPWS closed it in 2002 and spent the best part of five years and $1.5 million to better preserve the historic and natural elements of the track. In doing so, they also restored it as one of the best natural walking tracks in the country.

The National Pass runs along a claystone ledge about halfway between the top of the ridge and the valley floor below, incorporating waterfalls, rainforest, rocky ledges, cliff bridges and the pièce de résistance, the Grand Staircase - officially the tallest outdoor staircase in Australia.

The track is billed as a 5km loop back to your starting point - and it's action-packed. I had constant cause to pause at the ever-changing vegetation and topography. At one stage we stopped to watch a gossamer-thin curtain of water fall from a natural overhang 40 metres above us; a minute later I was stooping to walk under a ledge covering a competition swimming pool-length of track.

Wentworth Falls itself is awe-inspiring. The National Pass crosses the waterway at the foot of the second drop of the falls, which is a great place to rest and even swim in the naturally-formed pool, if you're prepared to brave the cold.

Had I known that by starting out from Conservation Hut I'd have to scale the near-vertical Grand Staircase, it's possible I would have reversed my route. I'm glad I didn't; on reaching the top and realising how far I'd climbed, the sense of achievement made the view of mist-shrouded Mount Solitary that much sweeter.

We managed to complete the National Pass loop in two hours, but could have spent a lot longer enjoying the journey. Even though people have trod this track for over 100 years, walking the National Pass felt like a journey into an untouched wilderness.

The National Pass is recommended for walkers of reasonable fitness, and is graded as a medium intensity trail by NPWS. For more information on the National Pass and other trails leading down to the Valley of the Waters in the Blue Mountains National Park, visit our website.

Washpool National Park

Coastal campgrounds inevitably get pretty busy in Summer, especially around Christmas. As an alternative to beachside camping, why not consider pitching your tent within the steep gorges, clear waters and expansive World Heritage rainforest of Washpool National Park?

Washpool is a great place to escape the crowds and heat of Summer. With an average temperature around 25 degrees during the day, followed by cooler nights, the park is an appealing option for campers looking for a more tranquil holiday experience.

The park offers two great camp sites with modest facilities, perfect for pitching a tent and both easily accessible by a conventional sedan.

Roll out the camping gear at the quiet and tranquil Bellbird Campground, which offers over a dozen campsites ranging in size from small to medium, with non-flush toilets and galley kitchen area with gas cooktops, picnic tables, wood barbecues and drinking water.

For the more seasoned, self-sufficient camper, Coombadjha Campground offers a great tent camping experience. The campground is accessible by foot only, with the Coombadjha Creek bridge running between the grounds and the carpark, so you're never too far from your wheels. On offer are picnic tables, wood barbecues with firewood supplied and non-flush toilets. Water is available from the nearby creek, but needs to be boiled before drinking.

The Coombadjha Campground has immediate access to Washpool Walk - an 8.5km loop track which climbs through rainforest and dry forest then descends to cross the beautiful Coombadhja Creek. You'll see rare giant red cedar trees, with signs detailing their historical significance, and picturesque Summit Falls. The changing plant life - rainforests of coachwood, crabapple, figs and lilly pillies - is a special feature of this walk.

Also accessible from the camping ground is the Coombadjha Nature Stroll - a short 1.4km track descending through rainforest to a shallow pool where swimming is allowed. A viewing platform here overlooks the crystal clear waters of Coombadjha Creek. The return uphill is strenuous: not for the faint-hearted, but definitely worth it!

The park offers ample scope for wilderness walking, protecting some of the most diverse and least disturbed forest in NSW, including the world's largest stand of coachwood trees. Washpool is also rich in bird life, with more than 140 species. The dry forests provide the richest habitat for birds, with flower nectar supporting many honeyeaters.

Washpool National Park is located around 78km north-east of Glen Innes and 93km north-west of Grafton. Access into Washpool National Park is via Coombadjha Road, which runs from the highway for a short distance to the camping areas. For more information visit our website.