Garigal National Park

Wild bush 20 km north of Sydney center — Guringai rock engravings, kayak routes, and eucalyptus forests

Garigal National Park lies just 20 kilometers north of Sydney's center, offering surprisingly wild nature in the middle of one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest metropolises. The elongated nature reserve stretches along Middle Harbour Creek to Mona Vale Road and is named after the Garigal clan, a group of the Guringai, one of the original peoples of this coastal strip. Dense eucalyptus forests, hidden coves, and waterways make the park a destination for hikers, kayakers, and anyone looking to escape urban life. At several sites, Guringai rock engravings tell of thousands of years of habitation in this landscape.