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Natural places to relax and revitalise

It's a magic moment, breathing the fresh air, soaking up the peaceful setting, feeling the everyday stresses slip away.

Our national parks provide natural settings for activity and retreat, places where you can improve your health as well as your mind and spirit. And research tells us that being active in parks can help to lower your stress levels and blood pressure, boost your immunity, promote healing and enhance your quality of life.

Get your muscles working on a bike ride

From easy, flat cruises to more challenging mountain trails, you'll find a wealth of cycling experiences on the extensive network of roads, tracks and fire trails in many of the state's national parks. Contact local park offices to find out about cycling opportunities. Look out for the bicycle symbol on park pages to find out where you can go riding.

Cleanse your lungs on an invigorating bush walk

Whether you're after a short nature stroll or an all-day hiking challenge, walking tracks provide all kinds of opportunities to build your physical fitness and explore the wonderful parks and reserves of NSW. You can search for walking tracks and look out for the tent symbol on park pages to find out where you can camp.

Recharge the batteries with a revitalising ocean swim

Nothing gets your blood pumping and your skin tingling like a swim in the sea. With more than 345,000 hectares of ocean and coast protected as NSW marine parks, there's a little piece of ocean serenity just waiting for you. Check out our coastal parks and keep an eye out for the swimming symbol to see where you can take to the water.

Feel your stress ebb away with the tide on a morning kayak ride

Leave your worries behind as you feel the floating freedom of a kayak or canoe; there are a host of estuaries, rivers and other waterways you can explore in NSW's national parks. Keep an eye out for the canoe symbol on the park pages to see where you can kayak and canoe.

Rise above the pressures of daily life and enjoy the serenity of a lookout

Some of our spectacular national parks are best viewed with a bird's eye. There are walk-to and drive-to lookouts in parks around the state where you can take five and simply absorb the beauty and grandeur. Watch out for the lookout symbol on the park pages to locate the great views.

Wake to the sound of nature on a camping trip with friends or family

What better way to escape the daily grind and truly appreciate the calming influence of nature with family and friends than on a camping trip? Whether you heft a pack and set off into the wilderness or pitch a tent in a site with modern facilities, your mind and body will thank you for the time out. Search for a campsite that suits your style of camping.