Bushwalking NSW is the umbrella group that represents clubs and bushwalkers in NSW, and can help put you in touch with the right club to help get you started in the bush, and also has some great information online.

Splendour Rock, Blue Mountains NSWAlbert Chetcuti

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In 1931 there was a threat to the Blue Gum Forest in the Blue Mountains. A Sydney Bushwalkers group discovered that the Grose Valley forest had trees believed to be hundreds of years old that were about to be destroyed by a local farmer to plant walnut trees. A famous protest action took place in 1932, with conservation groups raising £130 to buy out the lease and save the forest for posterity. This was the genesis of Bushwalking NSW, with just 10 bushwalking clubs in 1932 evolving to become one of Australia’s foremost outdoor recreation groups, representing 69 clubs and around 12,000 bushwalkers.

While many bushwalking clubs are based in major cities of Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and Wollongong, Bushwalking NSW affiliated clubs extend state-wide to country areas including the Shoalhaven, northern and southern NSW, Blue Mountains, Bathurst and as far west as Broken Hill.

Bushwalking in NSWBushwalking in NSW has something for everyone. We have rugged coastlines, lush gullies and canyons, cool, crisp alpine areas (with or without rainforest), towering cliffs, knife-edge traverses, panoramic summits, and secluded rivers and waterholes. You can go for an hour or two or a week or two. The possibilities are endless.

The only thing missing from a NSW bushwalking holiday is an active volcano – however this is made up for by the Burning Mountain, where a deep coal seam has been smouldering away for thousands of years, and the spectacular remains of extinct volcanoes at the Warrumbungles and nearby Mount Kaputar.

According to Destination NSW, the state’s tourism body, NSW is officially Australia’s most popular bushwalking destination with more than 5.5 million visitors on the State’s bushwalking tracks every year.

The Castle and Pigeon HouseAlbert Chetcuti

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Royal National ParkJust a short distance to the South of Sydney, the Royal NP is one of the world’s oldest national parks. It hugs the rugged coastline broken up by spectacular beaches and lagoons. The Royal NP makes an excellent escape for the day from Sydney.

South CoastFrom the spectacular cliffs of Morton NP to the windswept coastline of Nadgee, the South Coast of NSW offers fantastic walking with a genuine remote and wild feel.

Western NSWOtherwise known as “most of NSW”, there are outstanding bushwalking opportunities right across the state. These include the ancient landscapes of Mutawintji NP, north-east of Broken Hill; volcanic remnants of the Warrambungles near Coonabarabran and Mt Kaputar near Narrabri; Aboriginal heritage and spectacular sandscapes of Mungo NP;

and the majestic river red gums and Ramsar-listed wetlands in the Murray Valley NP in the Riverina.

North CoastNorthwest of Newcastle lies Barrington Tops and Gloucester Tops - a high, sub-alpine plateau with an abundance of rivers and rainforest. It offers great day and multi-day walking in a spectacular and varied setting. Further north you have wonderful rivers, beaches, waterholes and rainforest, just waiting to be explored.

The high country – Kosciuszko National Park and surroundsCommonly known as The Snowies – this alpine area is covered by snow in winter, and gives rise to broad, rolling grassy plains, beautiful snow gum stands, and a myriad of sparkling streams. A premier destination for multi-day summer bushwalking.

This is barely even making a start on places to go bushwalking. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter where you go in NSW, you will be amazed by the scenery and the bushwalking opportunities. The only problem is how to choose between them all!

Alpine walking in Kosciuszko National ParkAlbert Chetcuti