Find your nature crew

Thought bushwalking and camping was where it stops in a national park? Think again. National parks are the perfect place to take an existing hobby, or try something completely new you didn’t know you’d love. Don’t know where to start? We’ll give you some ideas.

Top tips to get started:

• Are you someone who doesn’t know what their hobbies are? Take a moment to remember what you used to like doing before you were as busy as you are now. Did you like looking for lizards in your backyard as a kid? Did you and your friends love to spot constellations in the night sky as teenagers on school camp? Chances are you might still enjoy those things! 
• The internet is the place every good research task begins, but how do you narrow down what to look for? Social media can be your best friend here. You can search by location to see what activities are happening in national parks near you, or follow some outdoorsy influencers who can inspire you to try something new.
• Don’t just sit there and scroll for too long. If you want to get a feel for what activities are popular in your area you need to get out into nature and see for yourself. Visit your local national park at different times of day (try early morning and sunset) and observe what people are doing.

Ready to hit the join button? Here are six nature clubs just waiting for their newest member.

Walking’s cooler cousin, run clubs are popping up everywhere right now. Up the ante and take it into the challenging gradients and uneven surfaces of a bush track with like-minded adventure joggers and you’ve got a trail running club.

Check out: Local trail running groups like Byron Bay Runners, who host the annual ‘Byron Rainforest Run’ in Nightcap National Park through the World Heritage rainforest of the NSW North Coast.

There’s no shortage of clubs to help you get up close with native animals, at a safe distance so you don’t disturb them, of course. Wildlife watching crews are a great online community for those spotting creatures solo to share photos to identify species they’ve seen, as well as join IRL group events to get the binoculars out and spot together.

Check out: Birdwatching clubs and associations in your local area. 

There’s no better place to perfect the art of photography than with nature as the backdrop. There are plenty of free meet ups to start experimenting with your lenses, or join a paid tour to really hone your landscape or wildlife photography skills and learn from a professional.

Check out: Photography groups and nature photography meetups. Or try a NPWS-accredited photography tour with a guide to show how to get the shot at locations as varied as the moon-like dunes of Mungo National Park or the cliffs and valleys of Blue Mountains National Park.

Want to get your head in the stars and embrace the mindfulness that comes with focusing on something way, way bigger than yourself? Becoming part of a stargazing society means you’ll be able to connect with more experienced gazers to guide you through the galaxy as you start to learn your Orion’s Belt from your Big Dipper, as well as having friendly faces to keep you company on long, dark nights outside.

Check out: Amateur stargazing groups are great places to meet fellow astro-nerds before heading out to explore the magical dark skies of NSW national parks.

If a giant scavenger hunt through the bush sounds like your idea of fun, then orienteering is your new thing! Orienteering is using map-reading and navigational skills and putting them to the test with a series of checkpoints to make your way through, all while competing with a group of rivals/mates to see who can complete the course fastest.    

Check out: Orienteering NSW groups and events to join all over NSW, including in Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast.  

If you’re less of a ‘relax in the peacefulness of nature’ and more of a ‘get the blood pumping’ type, you’ll be seeking a playground of cliff faces, river rapids and rocky trails. Rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, kayaking and mountain biking groups are full of adventure enthusiasts like you to swap stories with.

Check out: There are loads of guided tours you can book to learn the skills and safety 101s of your new sport before you rush out and buy all the gear. Australian School of Mountaineering runs an intro abseiling and canyoning tour of Empress Canyon in Blue Mountains National Park, or Snowy River Expeditions will take you paddling down the iconic Snowy River in Kosciuszko National Park.

There’s nothing better than stepping outside your usual social circle and making a new group of friends while getting your nature fix. It feels almost as good as doing a deep dive into a new, niche interest, posting about it on your social media and finding ways to bring up your favorite topic in every conversation.  

If you still don’t know what new nature crew to choose, joining one of the many volunteer groups in NSW national parks is a one-way ticket to becoming part of a family who care about sharing their passion for conservation with others, and protecting national parks for future generations.