The first laws to protect the country's scenic areas were passed in Tasmania in 1863. In 1879, the Royal National Park was established south of Sydney - Australia's first, and the world's second, national park.

Since then, about 3200 national parks, conservation parks, reserves, and refuges have been set aside in Australia, totalling more than 40 million hectares (99 million acres), 5.3 percent of the Australian land mass. A further 38 million hectares (94 million acres) in 228 marine and estuarine areas have also been set aside.

Most Australian national parks and reserves are within easy reach of main cities and towns; access varies with the park - some are reached by road, some by air, and a few by rail. Many parks contain fragments of Aboriginal culture - paintings, burial grounds and ceremonial sites. These rare, sacred sites are protected and, in some cases, parks are owned by the Aboriginal people. Every year, more than four million people visit Australia's national parks. As a result, almost all parks have good walking tracks and picnic spots; most allow camping in designated areas and some allow bush camps. Where camping is not allowed, suitable camping grounds or accommodation are usually nearby. Visitors also enjoy abseiling, bushwalking, botanical pursuits, and discovering Australia's colourful birds, mammals, and reptiles.

For more information on Australia's National Parks http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/index.html
Surfing and Swimming
Australia is known for its coastline and its water sports. In north Queensland, protected by the Great Barrier Reef, the beaches are generally very calm. Along with whiter sand originating from the coral, as well as tropical vegetation meeting the shoreline, it makes for very beautiful and tranquil scenes. South of the Great Barrier Reef is where the swells start to pick up and if you know where to look you can catch some sick (good) breaks, regarded as amongst the best in the world. Some good spots at or near Oz Experience stops, from Sydney to Cairns include: Bondi and Tarramurra, Palm Beach, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Seal Rocks, Crescent Head, Nambucca Heads, Coffs Harbour, Arrawarra, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise, Noosa and finally Town of 1770. When surfing or swimming on Australian beaches make sure you follow all the rules, such as swimming between the flags, as well as using a bit of common sense. It is currents, rips, dumpers (kinda like when your girlfriend dumps you only you keep your furniture but loose your clothes instead), coral, drugs and alcohol that gets people into danger. Sharks are generally not a problem because the odds that you will be bitten are ridiculous, especially if you're swimming where and when the water is warmer. If you're still worried then just swim with other people and always make sure they are further from the shore than you. The two things you do need to be very careful about are stingers, most notably the deadly box jellyfish found in unprotected beaches north of Rockhampton from November to April, and saltwater crocodiles which live in the far north in tidal rivers and near open water. Locals will be able to give you the best advice about how to stay safe, and tour operators will provide stinger suits if needed. So don’t worry, don’t be shy, and make the most of Australia’s wonderful coast! Surfing As you will learn on the surf camps, the first Australian waves were surfed in 1914. Since then surfing has taken off, and people of all ages, sex and backgrounds are hitting the beach to get some of the action! Australia is one of the world’s best surfing destinations. It boasts a variety of coastlines that offers vast and diverse conditions, and provid surfers with the chance to ride perfect waves at any given time. Not far from the city lights of Sydney, you get straight into it with the likes of Bondi, Manly and Palm Beach in the Northern Beaches region. All the way up the New South Wales coast offer ultimate conditions most of the year round in beaches such as Seal Rocks, Port MacQuarie, Crescent Head, The Pass, The Spit and North & South Stradbroke Island. Not to mention, Byron Bay, the mecca for surfers, which offers a very chilled out lifestyle, very beautiful people as well as wicked waves! Victoria has a strong surfing community and is home to the world’s longest running surf competition in Bell’s Beach. Here at Bell’s Beach you will find perfect waves, and if you can remember that far back, it was the final challenge for Bodhi in surf cult film Point Break. South Australia offers some damn powerful waves, with the most popular spot being Cactus on the ‘Anxious Coast’. It is also popular with large white pointer sharks so do some homework before you go cruising in remote beaches off the SA coast. Western Australia is also another hot spot for surfers searching for the monty wave! Red Bluff is a higlight, situated between the harsh Western Desert and the Southern Ocean. Remember: If you are a learner or if you don’t know the beach area well, stick to beaches that are well patrolled.