Conservation and heritage

NSW National Parks
and Wildlife Service

NSW National Parks manages 889 protected areas within the state, including historic sites, places of Aboriginal cultural significance and habitats that protect wildlife. Join our journey to conserve these special places for the future.

National Parks Discovery Ranger. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

Conserving Aboriginal culture

A range of sites conserving Aboriginal culture in NSW have been declared historic sites, and we're working to conserve these special places.

Exterior of Great Western Store, Hill End Historic Site. Photo: John SPencer © DPIE

Explore our history

Find out how we're conserving and rehabilitating sites with historic heritage values in our parks.

Nature Nomads clean up Smoky Beach in Hat Head National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin © DPIE

Get involved

You can volunteer with us, join a tour, or make a donation to support important conservation programs.

Sunrise in Mutawinji National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

Our parks

Explore our national parks, regional parks, nature reserves and find out why they're worth protecting.

Landscape views from New England National Park. Photo: Shane Ruming © Shane Ruming

World Heritage

Discover the amazing World Heritage-listed sites of NSW, including the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Flock of emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

Protecting biodiversity

Our parks and reserves help protect our biodiversity, including the habitats of rare and endangered plants and animals.

Waratah flower in bloom in a national park. Photo: Stuart Cohen &copy: DPIE

Native animals and plants in parks

These are just some of the diverse native animals and plants you might see when you visit a NSW national park or reserve.

A family walk a leashed dog along a beach. Phoot: John Spencer © DPIE

Domestic pets in parks

Learn about the important reasons why pets aren’t allowed in most NSW national parks and reserves. See which regional parks do permit dogs.

A wallaby eats a carrot from an NPWS food drop after fire in Wollemi National Park. Photo: John Spencer © DPIE

Fire recovery

The 2019-20 bushfire season was the most widespread and extreme that NSW has ever experienced. Learn more about NSW National Parks' response to the bushfires and our fire-recovery activities.

Australian king parrot (Alisterus scapularis) feeding on bottlebrush flowers. Image © Rosie Nicolai

Native plant and animal licensing

Most activities with native animals or plants need a licence in NSW. You need a licence to keep or trade native animals, or to pick or trade some native plants.