Eight pram-friendly walks in NSW national parks

Family strolls in the outdoors are the perfect way to explore new environments, share nature discoveries and create special memories.

An outdoor wander in a national park is the ultimate sensory experience, and bub doesn’t even have to leave the stroller to absorb the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. New environments encourage brain development, and all that fresh air and natural light soothes restlessness and fosters sleep. On top of it all, bundling babies into prams and walking outdoors is a terrific break from the ho-hum of parenting duties and develops healthy family walking habits that you’ll enjoy for years to come. 

To help you and your new nature enthusiasts get on your way, we’ve picked eight pram-friendly walks in NSW national parks.

There’s nothing like a wander through a rainforest to have everyone sleeping like a baby afterwards. Including the star attraction of your pram! The Palm Valley Currenbah walking track is a short, sweet little circuit not far from the Byron Bay bustle takes you through the magical, misty worlds of rainforests and back to the café where coffee awaits!

While you’re pram strolling, keep your ears tuned for the sounds of shy red-legged pademelons scurrying. This is a wonderful wildlife and nature walk - Victoria Park boardwalk near Lismore is in the heart of Bundjalung Country. From high in the Morton Bay Figs, Wompoo fruit-doves coo as dappled rainforest light captures your little ones attention. This is nature’s nursery at its best along a flat trail and boardwalk in a lush remnant rainforest. You’ll find information displays about how the local Widjabul Aboriginal people were drawn to the rainforest for supplies and medicines.

The Welcome walk is a gentle little 1km wander through the Hunter River estuary on a sealed track. Add your binoculars to your pram kit for bird-watching and the raised boardwalks through saltwater estuaries are perfect for a peaceful wander. If you’ve got small walkers too, tell the kids to keep all eyes peeled for crabs from the boardwalk.

If you’re up for more exploring, Newcastle’s nearby Rainforest Walk to Riverside Park has a well-formed track between wetlands and rainforest scenery as well.

The Yuelarbah walking track is one of the highlights of Glenrock State Conservation Area and features in the Great North walk that stretches 250km from Sydney to Newcastle. The pram-friendly raised boardwalk gives you just a taste of the gorgeous gullies, cascading waterfalls and coastal rainforest that attract seasoned hikers. However, you can take this at your own pace, and give your little ones a taste of hiking adventures to come, while catching your breath at the ample picnic spots during the 6.8km circuit.

Popular with all ages, the easy and short (0.7km return) Jennifer Street boardwalk in La Perouse, Sydney, follows a gentle slope down hill. Hard to miss is the sound of birdlife playing amongst the trees including new holland honeyeaters, rainbow lorikeets and spangled drongos. Pause with your little ones at the timber benches to admire angophoras, grass trees, grey gums, Sydney peppermint and the eastern suburbs banksia scrub that line the boardwalk. 

The Lyrebird loop walk is a one-hour power pram stroll teeming with rainforest wonder for the whole family. Elevated walkways and viewing platforms have you stepping out into nature with a birds-eye view of this special rainforest eco-system.

Little one sleeping? Tune into the Minnamurra Rainforest self-guided tour to immerse yourself in the sounds, plants, birdlife and history of Minnamurra Rainforest. 

Head for the hills where the smallest of slopes welcome pram walkers. The mountain ranges of Crackenback make impressive backdrops for family photos, and walking kids will love playing 'I spy' of birdlife and peering through the windows of the historic fishing lodge. Open all year around, the Bundilla accessible track is a 1.1km return, mostly flat track that will help everyone build up an appetite for a picnic lunch along the banks for the Thredbo River.  

Freewheel along the Mimosa Rocks walking track boardwalk for breathtaking headland views of beaches, lagoons rocky outcrops and pockets of rainforest. If you rug up and plan your pram stroll for winter, there’s also whale watching rewards. This is a gentle wander along a paved path and boardwalk linking two picnic areas.

Connecting with nature in pram-friendly ways helps you build a special bond with your little ones. All that fresh air and nature views are sure to bring a good night’s sleep your way too.

Still looking for ways to explore nature? Try our access-friendly walking tracks.