Scheyville National Park
Scheyville National Park in north western Sydney unites the best of the outdoors – birdwatching, easy walks, cycling and horse riding – with a diverse cultural setting.
Read more about Scheyville National Park
Some national parks are about more than just the natural environment; they’re about us. Scheyville is one of those parks.
This gem of a park also has a rich and surprising cultural history that touches more than a quarter of a million Australians. Within its current boundaries, a visitor will find the remnants of everything from a cooperative farm to a famous migrant camp. For many, this was the first stop on their journey to becoming an Australian. You might be a descendant of a Dreadnought Boy or of somebody who trained here to fight in the Vietnam War. Indeed, the cultural significance of the park is so wide-reaching that it has been placed on the NSW State Heritage Register.
Spend a morning birdwatching or wandering the grasslands on your own horse, then explore the ruined and restored buildings clustered in the southern precinct of the park. Visiting Scheyville is a varied experience, uniting the best of the natural world with the history of our social world.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/scheyville-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Sydney and surrounds region
Scheyville National Park is open 8am to 6pm from May to August and 8am to 8pm from September to April. The park may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Scheyville office
02 4580 2750
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Closed public holidays. - 71 Memorial Drive, Scheyville 2756
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Email: npws.cumberland@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Scheyville office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Scheyville National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Parramatta:
- Travel north-west on Windsor Road to Boundary Road, Vineyard (6km east of Windsor)
- Turn north onto Boundary Road , and then west on Old Pitt Town Road.
- Turn north-east on Scheyville Road
From Windsor:
Take Windsor Road and turn east onto Pitt Town Road, then onto Saunders Road, then Scheyville Road.
There are numerous gates where walkers can enter the park, with the entrance for vehicles being on Scheyville Road.
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Scheyville National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Ride a horse around the central precinct of the park, where several trails thread over and around Longneck Creek.
Spring
Discover the area's fascinating heritage with a visit to the historical Scheyville Camp Precinct.
Summer
Take a morning stroll around Longneck Lagoon to observe the many bird species that call the wetland home, or drop in on their long migrations.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
11.2°C and 29.1°C
Highest recorded
42.5°C
Winter temperature
Average
4.1°C and 17.9°C
Lowest recorded
-7.2°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
309.4mm
Facilities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Drinking water
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Nearby towns
Windsor (11 km)
Explore Windsor's historic buildings, including St Matthew's Anglican Church (1817), Windsor Court House (1822), and the Macquarie Arms Hotel (1815). Bring a picnic or your boat and enjoy the beautiful riverside parks in Windsor including Howe Park and Governor Phillip Park.
Parramatta (33 km)
Parramatta offers a fascinating insight into early colonial life in Australia. Don't miss a visit to Old Government House, now one of 11 Australian Convict Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Sydney City Centre (57 km)
No trip to Sydney is complete without spending some time in the city’s beautiful parks. Whether it’s in central areas like Hyde Park or the Royal Botanic Gardens or further out in Centennial Parklands, there’s plenty of green space to go out and enjoy.
Learn more
Scheyville National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
The Australian story
Scheyville has a rich heritage that gives us a great insight into the past 175 years of Australian history. It has played host to a government cooperative farm and an agricultural training facility. In World War I, it was an internment camp, in World War II, a training base for the First Australian Parachute Battalion. It’s also been a migrant camp for new Australians and an officer’s training unit in the Vietnam War. Scheyville has seen it all. And its remarkable life continues too: around a quarter of a million Australians are linked to the Scheyville site through their ancestors. Because of this, Scheyville is recognised by the NSW State Heritage Register.
- Migrant Heritage walk Migrant Heritage walk offers an easy stroll around original structures from the post-WWII migrant camp of Scheyville, with interpretive panels detailing the site’s heritage.
- Scheyville Camp precinct Take an easy walk around Scheyville Camp precinct in Scheyville National Park and explore the area's fascinating heritage. See restored buildings, remnants of structures long fallen, and uncover their unique history through interpretive signs.
Putting down roots
Scheyville National Park protects a large area of the Cumberland Plain Woodland, an endangered ecological community. There’s also a small area of Casltlereagh scribbly gum woodland and shale transition forest. Strolling through Scheyville has much to interest naturalists – and animal enthusiasts, for that matter. The native thorn bush is an important understory habitat for birds. There are over 140 types of waterbirds, offering superb birdwatching opportunities. There are horse riding tracks and places for cycling. There is even an education centre focusing on plants and animals.
- Longneck Lagoon walking track A small freshwater wetland, Longneck Lagoon walking track allows visitors to see the startling array of birds that frequent the area. Perfect for walking with children.
Feathered migrants
The park sustains an impressive population of permanent and migratory birds, including several precious species like the vulnerable swift parrot and turquoise parrot, and the endangered regent honeyeater. Bring some comfortable shoes and a pair of binoculars to get the most out of this quiet landscape, which changes throughout the year as different species come and go.
- Longneck Lagoon walking track A small freshwater wetland, Longneck Lagoon walking track allows visitors to see the startling array of birds that frequent the area. Perfect for walking with children.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Cumberland Plain land snail (Meridolum corneovirens)
The endangered Cumberland Plain land snail is only found on the Cumberland Plain, west of Sydney. During drought it digs deep into the soil to escape harsh conditions. Its brown shell is thin and fragile.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Scheyville National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Contact
- in the Sydney and surrounds region
Scheyville National Park is open 8am to 6pm from May to August and 8am to 8pm from September to April. The park may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Scheyville office
02 4580 2750
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Closed public holidays. - 71 Memorial Drive, Scheyville 2756
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Email: npws.cumberland@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Scheyville office