With so much unique scenery and many rare animals and plants, it's not surprising Australia is full of national parks crisscrossed with hiking trails. You're never far from a park with a bushwalk, whether it's an easy stroll, or a 6-day odyssey on the Cape-to-Cape trail in Western Australia.

A good Australian bushwalking Web page is at www.bushwalking.org.au. However, the best place to get information about bushwalking is the National Parks & Wildlife Service, or its equivalent in each state; sources include:

Environmental Protection Agency (QLD Parks & Wildlife Service; tel. 07/3227 7111; www.epa.qld.gov.au).

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (tel] 02/9585 6444 administration; www.npws.nsw.gov.au). It has a visitor information center at 110 George St., The Rocks, Sydney (tel. 02/9247 5033).

Parks & Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (tel. 08/8999 5511; www.nt.gov.au/ipe/pwcnt). The Northern Territory Tourist Commission is the official dispenser of information on parks and wildlife matters.

Parks Victoria (tel. 13 19 63; www.parkweb.vic.gov.au).

South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage (tel. 08/8204 1910; www.denr.sa.gov.au).

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (tel. 1300/135 513; www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au).

Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM; tel. 08/9334 0333; www.calm.wa.gov.au).

Some parks charge an entry fee, often ranging from A$6 to A$18 (US$3.90-US$12).