National Parks – 4 of the World’s Most Beautiful

National parks are created to be treasure troves of nature’s bounties with diverse ecosystems, incredible wildlife and stunning landscapes. These exquisite collections of natural beauty demand to be seen and there’s quite a few of them around the world. It’s not really practical to visit all of them, as nice as that would be, so here’s a couple of great national parks that should go to the top of your priority list.

Plitvice National Park in Croatia 

Within the bounds of Plitvice National Park lie 16 interlaced lakes and forests that make it one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Another contributing factor to that title is the enchanting colouring changing properties of the lakes thanks to certain minerals in the water, from blue to green and the whole spectrum in-between, this little idiosyncrasy is sure to be a great highlight on your trip.

Trekking through the hiking trails in Plitvice will take you along these beautiful lakes and forests and on the way, you’re sure to encounter a variety of the local wildlife which include wild cats, wolves, brown bears and capercaillies to name a few. If you have any fondness for birds, you should be delighted to know that over 126 species have been recorded in Plitvice including the aforementioned capercaillie.

Yosemite National Park in California, USA

This remarkable national park is one of the most well-known parks in the world and boasts stunning granite clifftops, glistening azure lakes, mighty waterfalls, serene streams, massive sequoia groves and over 1,200 kilometres of hiking trails to explore all this incredible beauty. Whatever trail you take, your final destination at Glacier Point will offer you an extraordinary view of Yosemite Valley.  

For those of you who aren’t too keen on hiking, there are still some great ways to spend your time in this gorgeous land, from skiing to rock climbing to horse riding and golfing, you can take your pick in how you wish to enjoy yourself. And, not to forget, the sheer number of animals to admire in their natural habitat.

Kakadu National Park in Australia

This absolutely massive national park boasts such a vast area that you would probably need a week to trek through it all. It’s the largest national park in Australia and provides a fantastic destination to truly engross yourself in the bounty of nature. Within the woodlands, coastal wetlands and wilderness, there’s a rich tapestry of life draped across these stunning vistas for you to uncover and appreciate.

Simply admiring the beauty of nature and its animals isn’t the only activity to engage yourself in at Kakadu. For all you fishing enthusiasts out there, there’s plenty of the buggers to catch and for those more partial to creatures of the air, Kadaku will not disappoint. Another intriguing aspect of the park is the wealth of aboriginal rock art sites such as Nourlangie and Ubirr rock which date back possibly thousands of years. 

Goreme National Park in Cappadocia, Turkey

Goreme National Park is one shaped by countless years of water and wind moulding the landscape into the vibrant, dramatic sight we see today. The impressive rock formations that dot this land are quite the spectacle to witness with things like the rock towers and fairy chimneys. 

Ever since the 4th century, people have lived in this valley, creating tunnels and villages underground in an attempt to stay safe from invaders. Today, seeing these underground tunnels and villages is quite the experience and a unique highlight of Goreme National Park.