Barrington Tops
Barrington Tops is a World Heritage wilderness area with walking trails, white-water canoeing, kayaking, four wheel driving and rafting. Barrington Tops is a plateau rising to 1,500 metre between a series of extinct volcanic peaks in the Mount Royal Ranges. An area of streams, Antarctic beech forests, waterfalls, animals and birds with clear water flowing from sphagnum moss swamps. For the Gloucester River camping area and Gloucester Tops day use area, take the Buckets Way from Gloucester then take Cobark Road, to Gloucester River Road and then Gloucester Tops Road. The Williams River is accessed from Dungog. The Burraga Swamp area is about 1.5 hours drive from the Williams River picnic area, along the Mt Allyn Forest Road. For the Barrington Tops Plateau area, use Barrington Tops Forest Road between Gloucester and Scone. Details for Barrington Tops can be found at the Dungong Visitor Information Centre or the Gloucester Visitor information Centre. Barrington Tops Forest Road, Gloucester (1300 361 967).

Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve is about 6km from Newcastle and an area of Eucalypt forest and pockets of rainforest. Carnley Avenue, New Lambton (02 4957 6436).

Hunter Wetlands Centre
The Hunter Wetlands Centre is about 10 minutes drive from Newcastle and good for walking, bird watching and also has a children's discovery centre. Sandgate Road, Shortland (02 4951 6466).

Lake St Clair
To the north west of Singleton the lake, covering 1540 ha, is named after St Clair homestead, which was covered by the lake. Camping, barbecue areas and a boat ramp are available. (02 6571 5888).

Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie is a large coastal salt-water lake at the south of the Hunter Region and about an hour drive from Sydney. It is four times the size of Sydney Harbour and good for sailing, fishing, swimming, cruising and scuba diving. Walk around the foreshore or swim at one of beaches. Surfing is possible at Blacksmiths, Caves, Catherine Hill Bay and Dudley. Wangi Point, Pelican, Cam 's Wharf and Shingle Splitter's Point are good for swimming. The Watagan Mountains at the back of the Lake Macquarie have hiking and horse back riding trials.

Mount Royal National Park
Mount Royal National Park is adjacent to the south-western edge of Barrington Tops National Park and contains part of the Barrington Tops Wilderness Area. It was declared over former state forest in 1996 and includes rainforest areas that provide habitat for threatened species such as the Hastings River mouse. The park is 50km north of Singleton. Turn right into Bridgeman Road off the New England Highway north of Singleton and follow the signs to Lake St Clair.

Wollemi National Park
A large wilderness area and part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. There are historic ruins at Newnes, across the Wolgan River from the camping area. Dunns Swamp has easy walks and plenty of opportunities for canoeing. Dunns Swamp is 20 km from Rylstone along Narrango Road.

Woko National Park
Woko is about 30km from Gloucester and a steep hillside with two walking tracks in the rainforest. Curricabark Turnoff, Gloucester (02 4987 3108).