Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - Australia’s second-oldest national park, is a recreational favourite for locals and visitors alike. This large park lets you feel at one with nature without leaving the Sydney metropolitan area. A heritage-listed park, it combines important history with scenic beauty. Winding creeks and stretches of ocean meet rainforest and eucalypts, rocky cliffs and mangroves. Northern Beaches - This stunning stretch of coastline spans a staggering 40km, starting at Manly and curving all the way up to the famous Palm Beach, a popular pilgrimage for fans of TV soap Home and Away. Unlike the beaches in the East, their northern cousins have a particularly laid back vibe, thanks in part to their distance from the CBD.