William Howe Regional Park

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Overview

Walk your dog, enjoy a family picnic or go for a rejuvenating walk or jog in this lovely green space near Campbelltown in Sydney’s southwest.

Read more about William Howe Regional Park

Discover a beautiful big back garden at William Howe Regional Park, a lovely oasis in the heart of south-western Sydney. Take a walk along the Loop trail, play hide and seek with the kids among the trees and let everyone get their fill of fresh air.

Head to Turkeys Nest picnic area for a tasty feast and enjoy the view, stretching southwest over the Razorback Mountains and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Property.

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/william-howe-regional-park/local-alerts

Map


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Contact

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about William Howe Regional Park.

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    From Campbelltown, take Narellan Road towards Narellan Vale and turn left onto Waterworth Drive at Mount Annan. Turn left onto Welling Drive, then left onto Mary Howe Place.

    By bike

    Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.

    Best times to visit

    William Howe Regional Park is a great place to visit all year round. Head to the park for an early morning jog in spring, a weekend picnic in the winter sun or an evening stroll during summer.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    18°C and 28°C

    Highest recorded

    45°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    3°C and 19°C

    Lowest recorded

    –6°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    February

    Driest month

    July

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    156mm

    Facilities

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    However you discover NSW national parks and reserves, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Our park and reserve systems contrast greatly so you need to be aware of the risks and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    Permitted

    Pets

    You can walk your dog on-lead at this location. See other regional parks in NSW that have dog walking areas.

    Prohibited

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Nearby towns

    Campbelltown (10 km)

    For nature lovers, the Macarthur region has plenty of natural attractions. Explore nature reserves and wildlife trails or see spectacular native flora and fauna at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the largest botanic garden in Australia.

    www.sydney.com

    Parramatta (57 km)

    Parramatta offers a fascinating insight into early colonial life in Australia. Don't miss a visit to Old Government House, now one of 11 Australian Convict Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

    www.sydney.com

    Sydney City Centre (65 km)

    No trip to Sydney is complete without spending some time in the city’s beautiful parks. Whether it’s in central areas like Hyde Park or the Royal Botanic Gardens or further out in Centennial Parklands, there’s plenty of green space to go out and enjoy.

    www.sydney.com

    Learn more

    William Howe Regional Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

    Ancient landscapes

    Turkeys Nest picnic area and lookout, William Howe Regional Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    William Howe Regional Park is within the traditional lands of the Sweet Water Dharawal Aboriginal People. The park's prominent and elevated setting was important for communication, camping and spotting animals. The park's landscapes features Aboriginal storylines and continues to be an important place for Aboriginal people today.

    Nature in the suburbs

    Loop trail, William Howe Regional Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Whether you're heading out for a run, a walk with the dog or a weekend picnic with the kids, it's great to have a local park where you can get back in touch with nature. Listen to the birds, check out the views and enjoy the feeling of space that comes with getting out and about in nature.

    Extend your backyard

    Loop trail, William Howe Regional Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Situated at the end of several suburban streets, you can enjoy William Howe Regional Park any time you feel like a good dose of fresh air. Walk after work, take the kids for a ramble to burn off some energy, head out with your dogs or find a quiet spot to take time out from a busy day - you'll feel all the better for it.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Brown-striped frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

      Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)

      One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.

    • Peron's tree frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

      Peron's tree frog (Litoria peroni)

      Peron’s tree frog is found right across NSW. These tree-climbing and ground-dwelling Australian animals can quickly change colour, ranging from pale green-grey by day, to a reddish brown with emerald green flecks at night. The male frog has a drill-like call, which has been described as a 'maniacal cackle’.

    •  Blue Tongue lizard. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

      Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

      The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

    • Cumberland Plain land snail (Meridolum corneovirens)

      The endangered Cumberland Plain land snail is only found on the Cumberland Plain, west of Sydney. During drought it digs deep into the soil to escape harsh conditions. Its brown shell is thin and fragile.

    Education resources (1)

    What we're doing

    William Howe Regional Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents. Here is just some of the work we’re doing to conserve these values:

    Managing weeds, pest animals and other threats

    Pests and weeds have a significant impact to the ecosystems within William Howe Regional Park. NPWS carries out risk assessments for new and emerging weeds to protect biodiversity in this park.

    Developing visitor facilities and experiences

    NPWS is committed to providing high-quality facilities for visitors to enjoy in all its parks. William Howe Regional Park works to ensure park visitors are well catered for. It regularly reviews and maintains its visitor policies and facilities, and examines opportunities for amendments. Displays and signage are upgraded as required, and conservation is a fundamental consideration in all management decisions.

    Conserving our Aboriginal culture

    William Howe Regional Park sits within the traditional lands of the Sweet Water Dharawal Aboriginal People. Aboriginal heritage sites within the park are identified and recorded, and conservation programs are in place. NPWS involves the local Aboriginal community in managing and interpreting the park’s cultural values, and works to minimise any negative impacts upon this.

    Managing fire

    NSW is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world as a result of our climate, weather systems, vegetation and the rugged terrain. NPWS is committed to maintaining natural and cultural heritage values and minimising the likelihood and impact of bushfires via a strategic program of fire research, fire planning, hazard reduction, highly trained rapid response firefighting crews and community alerts.