Families can now pick their favourite Christmas holiday guided discovery tour from 4 sweet themes offered by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Hunter Central Coast branch.
‘Choose your kids’ flavour of fun from ‘Junior ranger’ tours, ‘Aboriginal cultural’ tours, ‘Coastal adventure and ocean rockpool rambles’ and ‘Twilight adventures’,’ NPWS Hunter Central Coast Director Kylie Yeend said.
NPWS hosts guided discovery tours right across the region during school holidays to encourage people to get outdoors, connect to nature and learn more about our national parks.
Remember to bring water, a sun hat and sturdy walking shoes. Taking pics? We’d love you to post to Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #NSWParks.
The 4 types of tours are:
1. Junior ranger tours
Kids aged 5 years or over and adults can sign onto junior ranger tours at coastal or inland parks right across the Hunter region, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast. Led by NPWS discovery rangers, tours explore the natural and cultural values of our national parks.
‘Hands-on experiences like junior rangers are fantastic fun and help kids to grow into adults who enjoy the outdoors and value the environment,’ Ms Yeend said.
2. Aboriginal cultural tours
NPWS cultural tours are hosted by Aboriginal discovery rangers in Glenrock State Conservation Area, Blue Gum Hills Regional Park and Copeland Tops State Conservation Area.
‘Join an NPWS Aboriginal cultural tour these holidays and experience and appreciate our national parks from an Indigenous perspective.’
3. Coastal adventure and ocean rockpool rambles
Who doesn’t love a good rockpool? Popular with children of all ages, NPWS discovery rangers share shoreline stories to enthral budding marine scientists and beachgoers on these tours.
This summer NPWS offers two new coastal tours in Tomaree National Park, taking in short sections of the newly opened 27 km Tomaree Coastal Walk.
4. Twilight adventures
Bring a small torch to guide you and get excited for a night-time tour! Spot nocturnal wildlife and experience national park landscapes while the sun is down. This family-friendly twilight adventure is fun for all ages.
Additionally, twice each week an NPWS guided tour of Mountain Maid gold mine tour takes place in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area.
To book online or find out more go to the NPWS Kids’ and family activities page.
Tour summary
1. Junior ranger tours
Mid-North Coast
Junior ranger: Wingham Brush wildlife walk
Junior ranger: Mountain Maid gold mine tour
Junior ranger: Booti Booti coastal adventure tour
Port Stephens
Junior ranger: Tomaree coastal adventure tour
Newcastle
Junior ranger: Glenrock coastal adventure tour
Central Coast
Junior ranger: Bouddi coastal adventure tour
Junior ranger: Wyrrabalong coastal adventure tour
2. Aboriginal cultural tours
Mid-North Coast
Copeland Tops Aboriginal cultural tour
Newcastle
Blue Gum Hills Aboriginal cultural tour
Glenrock Aboriginal cultural tour
3. Coastal adventure and ocean rockpool rambles
Port Stephens
Ocean rockpool nature tour: Tomaree
Newcastle
Ocean rockpool nature tour: Glenrock
Central Coast
Wyrrabalong coastal walking tour
