As visitors flock to the state's stunning national parks ahead of the Easter long weekend, people are urged to stay vigilant and safe around water.
NSW national parks offer countless opportunities for swimming, fishing, paddling and boating.
Pristine beaches and tranquil rivers and lakes are natural environments that can be unpredictable and pose serious risks if safety precautions are ignored.
National parks are wild places and most beaches, creeks, rivers and lakes are remote and do not have lifeguards.
Mobile phone service may be limited, which means you may not be able to call for help if you need it.
The safest place to swim is always at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags. Locations are available at beachsafe.org.au.
Visitors are urged to plan ahead and follow these essential safety tips:
- Stop, Look, Stay Alive - it's important to take responsibility for your own safety.
- Patrolled beaches are always the safest option when swimming. If you choose to visit unpatrolled or remote locations, make sure you're aware of the conditions, follow local safety signage, and take extra precautions.
- Check for rips and hazards before entering the water. If in doubt, do not go in.
- When rock fishing, always wear a life jacket, check tides and weather, do not turn your back on the sea, and never fish alone.
- Tell someone your plans and expected return time.
- Check conditions as water levels can rise suddenly after rain or dam releases.
- Beware of fast currents and submerged hazards.
- Enter slowly. Never dive headfirst or jump from heights. Riverbeds can change quickly.
- Never swim alone: always have someone nearby who can help in an emergency.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs around water. These impair judgement and increase drowning risk.
- Cold water alert: even in summer, inland waters can cause hypothermia.
- When boating and paddling, wear an approved life jacket at all times.
- Check weather forecasts and park alerts before heading out.
Following an initial campaign throughout the summer of 2025-26, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is running another campaign targeting Mandarin Chinese-speaking and Indian communities across various channels to increase broader multicultural awareness of beach, water, fishing and rock platform safety in NSW national parks.
With Mandarin being the second most spoken language after English in NSW, safety tips have been translated into simplified Chinese at: nswparks.info/beachsafetychinese and nswparks.info/fishingsafetychinese.
