The Protected areas of New South Wales include both terrestrial and marine protected areas. there are 225 national parks in New South Wales. A number established since the late 1970s followed campaigns by local residents and environmentalists.

Based on the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD) 2020 data there are 2136 separate terrestrial protected areas with a total land area of (9.61% of the state's area). CAPAD data also shows 18 marine protected areas with a total area of , covering 39.63% of NSW waters.

History New South Wales established the first known protected area in Australia, Royal National Park in 1879. The formation of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in 1967 saw a bid in the conservation of the state's diversity of natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Today New South Wales contains more than 16.4 million acres within 870 protected areas, as well as 225 different national parks, each with their own pristine beauty and tranquil scenery.

New conservation areas In June 2020 the Government of New South Wales acquired , or of private land for a new national park, when it purchased Narriearra station in the state's far north-west, subsequently named the Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park. It is the largest ever purchase of private land for conservation in the state, and provides 90 percent of the habitat of the endangered grey grasswren. The Dingo Fence on the border with Queensland forms the northern boundary of the property.

The second largest acquisition ever was made in October 2021, Avenel/Mount Westwood station, north of Broken Hill, comprising . A further of private land, Langidoon and Metford stations, located 65 kilometres east of Broken Hill was also purchased and gazetted in 2021. Koonaburra station, located between Ivanhoe and Cobar, was also purchased and gazetted in the same year.

In the 2023, 2019 and 2015 New South Wales state elections, the state Labor party proposed the creation of a Great Koala National Park. At the 2019 and 2023 elections, the Labor party proposed the Great Koala National Park again in addition to a Georges River Koala National Park in south west Sydney. In 2023 they were elected to government with leader Chris Minns and environment minister Penny Sharpe so planning for these projects has been taking place.

In July 2026, Sharpe announced that a new national park to be known as the Gulguer National Park would be created to the west of Bringelly.

Terrestrial protected areas

National Parks National parks are managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment of New South Wales.

Central West & Orana

Abercrombie River National Park Breelong National Park Capertee National Park Conimbla National Park Coolah Tops National Park Drillwarrina National Park Gardens of Stone National Park Garrawilla National Park Goobang National Park Goulburn River National Park Kanangra-Boyd National Park Lachlan Valley National Park Marrangaroo National Park Nangar National Park Popran National Park Turon National Park Warrumbungle National Park Weddin Mountains National Park Wollemi National Park

Far West

Brindingabba National Park Culgoa National Park Gundabooka National Park Kalyarr National Park Kemendok National Park Kinchega National Park Koonaburra National Park Mallee Cliffs National Park Mungo National Park Mutawintji National Park Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park Paroo-Darling National Park Sturt National Park Toorale National Park Yanga National Park

Hunter & Central Coast

Barakee National Park Barrington Tops National Park Belford National Park Ben Halls Gap National Park Biriwal Bulga National Park Booti Booti National Park Bouddi National Park Brisbane Water National Park Coolah Tops National Park Coorabakh National Park Crawney Pass National Park Crowdy Bay National Park Dharug National Park Gir-um-bit National Park Goulburn River National Park Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park Hunter Wetlands National Park Karuah National Park Middle Brother National Park Mount Royal National Park Myall Lakes National Park Saltwater National Park Scone Mountain National Park Tapin Tops National Park Tilligerry National Park Towarri National Park Tomaree National Park Wallarah National Park Wallingat National Park Watagans National Park Werakata National Park Woko National Park Wollemi National Park Wyrrabalong National Park Yengo National Park

Illawarra-Shoalhaven

Bimberamala National Park Budawang National Park Budderoo National Park Bugong National Park Conjola National Park Dharawal National Park Heathcote National Park Jerrawangala National Park Jervis Bay National Park Macquarie Pass National Park Meroo National Park Morton National Park Murramarang National Park Royal National Park Seven Mile Beach National Park

New England-North West

Bald Rock National Park Barool National Park Basket Swamp National Park Boonoo Boonoo National Park Ben Halls Gap National Park Burral Yurrul National Park Butterleaf National Park Capoompeta National Park Carrai National Park Cascade National Park Cataract National Park Cathedral Rock National Park Coolah Tops National Park Cottan-Bimbang National Park Couradda National Park Crawney Pass National Park Cunnawarra National Park Dthinna Dthinnawan National Park Dowe National Park Gibraltar Range National Park Guy Fawkes River National Park Indwarra National Park Kings Plains National Park Koreelah National Park Kwiambal National Park Maryland National Park Mount Clunie National Park Mount Kaputar National Park Mount Nothofagus National Park Mummel Gulf National Park New England National Park Nowendoc National Park Nullamanna National Park Nymboida National Park Oxley Wild Rivers National Park Single National Park Timbarra National Park Tooloom National Park Towarri National Park Wallabadah National Park Warra National Park Warrabah National Park Washpool National Park Watsons Creek National Park Werrikimbe National Park

North Coast

Arakoon National Park Arakwal National Park Bago Bluff National Park Bellinger River National Park Bindarri National Park Biriwal Bulga National Park Bongil Bongil National Park Border Ranges National Park Broadwater National Park Bundjalung National Park Bungawalbin National Park Carrai National Park Chaelundi National Park Cottan-Bimbang National Park Crowdy Bay National Park Dooragan National Park Dorrigo National Park Dunggir National Park Fortis Creek National Park Gibraltar Range National Park Goonengerry National Park Guy Fawkes River National Park Hat Head National Park Junuy Juluum National Park Kumbatine National Park Limeburners Creek National Park Mallanganee National Park Maria National Park Mebbin National Park Middle Brother National Park Mooball National Park Mount Jerusalem National Park Mount Nothofagus National Park Mount Pikapene National Park New England National Park Nightcap National Park Nymboi-Binderay National Park Nymboida National Park Ramornie National Park Richmond Range National Park Sea Acres National Park Toonumbar National Park Ulidarra National Park Washpool National Park Werrikimbe National Park Willi Willi National Park Wollumbin National Park Yabbra National Park Yarrahapinni Wetlands National Park Yarriabini National Park Yuraygir National Park

Riverina-Murray

Benambra National Park Brindabella National Park Cocoparra National Park Jimberoo National Park Jindalee National Park Kalyarr National Park Kosciuszko National Park Lachlan Valley National Park Livingstone National Park Minjary National Park Murray Valley National Park Murrumbidgee Valley National Park Oolambeyan National Park Willandra National Park Woomargama National Park Yanga National Park

Southeast & Tablelands

Abercrombie River National Park Bangadilly National Park Beowa National Park Biamanga National Park Blue Mountains National Park Bournda National Park Brindabella National Park Budawang National Park Budderoo National Park Clyde River National Park Deua National Park Eurobodalla National Park Gourock National Park Gulaga National Park Kooraban National Park Kosciuszko National Park Mares Forest National Park Macquarie Pass National Park Mimosa Rocks National Park Monga National Park Morton National Park Mount Imlay National Park Murramarang National Park Nattai National Park South East Forests National Park Tallaganda National Park Tarlo River National Park Wadbilliga National Park Yanununbeyan National Park

Sydney & Surrounds

Berowra Valley National Park Blue Mountains National Park Cattai National Park Dharawal National Park Dharug National Park Garigal National Park Georges River National Park Heathcote National Park Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kanangra-Boyd National Park Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Lane Cove National Park Malabar Headland National Park Marramarra National Park Nattai National Park Royal National Park Scheyville National Park Sydney Harbour National Park Thirlmere Lakes National Park Wollemi National Park Yengo National Park

Nature Reserves

Nature Reserves are managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of Environment and Climate Change of New South Wales.

Central West & Orana

Avisford Nature Reserve Barton Nature Reserve Binnaway Nature Reserve Boronga Nature Reserve Carrabear Nature Reserve Coolbaggie Nature Reserve Copperhannia Nature Reserve Dapper Nature Reserve Eugowra Nature Reserve Evans Crown Nature Reserve Freemantle Nature Reserve Girralang Nature Reserve Koorawatha Nature Reserve Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve Pilliga Nature Reserve Quanda Nature Reserve South West Woodland Nature Reserve Tollingo Nature Reserve Wambool Nature Reserve Weetalibah Nature Reserve Winburndale Nature Reserve Woggoon Nature Reserve Wongarbon Nature Reserve

Far West

Kajuligah Nature Reserve Kemendok Nature Reserve Ledknapper Nature Reserve Morrisons Lake Nature Reserve Mutawintji Nature Reserve Narran Lake Nature Reserve Nearie Lake Nature Reserve Nocoleche Nature Reserve Nombinnie Nature Reserve Paddington Nature Reserve Round Hill Nature Reserve Tarawi Nature Reserve Yathong Nature Reserve

Hunter & Central Coast

Awabakal Nature Reserve Bandicoot Island Nature Reserve Berrico Nature Reserve Bird Island Nature Reserve Boondelbah Nature Reserve Bretti Nature Reserve Brimbin Nature Reserve Bugan Nature Reserve Burning Mountain Nature Reserve Bushy Island Nature Reserve Camels Hump Nature Reserve Camerons Gorge Nature Reserve Cedar Brush Nature Reserve Cockle Bay Nature Reserve Coocumbac Island Nature Reserve Coolongolook Nature Reserve Corrie Island Nature Reserve Coxcomb Nature Reserve Darawank Nature Reserve Durands Island Nature Reserve Flat Island Nature Reserve Goonook Nature Reserve John Gould Nature Reserve Karuah Nature Reserve Khatambuhl Nature Reserve Khappinghat Nature Reserve Killabakh Nature Reserve Killarney Nature Reserve Lion Island Nature Reserve Little Broughton Island Nature Reserve Manobalai Nature Reserve Mernot Nature Reserve Mills Island Nature Reserve Minimbah Nature Reserve Moffats Swamp Nature Reserve Monkerai Nature Reserve Monkeycot Nature Reserve Moon Island Nature Reserve One Tree Island Nature Reserve Palm Grove Nature Reserve Pambalong Nature Reserve Pelican Island Nature Reserve Pulbah Island Nature Reserve Regatta Island Nature Reserve Rileys Island Nature Reserve Saratoga Island Nature Reserve Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve Seal Rocks Nature Reserve Snapper Island Nature Reserve Spectacle Island Nature Reserve Stormpetrel Nature Reserve Talawahl Nature Reserve The Glen Nature Reserve