The Royal National Park on the southern border of Sydney, New South Wales Australia, is Australia’s first National Park and after Yellowstone in the U.S.A. was the second National Park to be established in the world.

The park was originally named The National Park but this was changed in 1955 after a quick visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Royal National Park.

It was created as a people’s park in 1879. Only 32km from the city centre of Sydney it is ideally located for Sydney locals and tourists alike to escape the pressures of the big city and relax in natural Australian bush, forest and coastal surroundings. The park covers an area of 132 sq km.

Animal lovers will not be disappointed. 43 species of native mammals have been recorded in the Royal National Park and no less than 241 species of birds of which 140 are resident.

The Royal National Park Sydney is also home to over 70 types of reptiles and amphibians. Care should be taken when walking in the park as the reptiles include brown snakes, death adders, tiger snakes and red-bellied black snakes which are all venomous.