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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
State Conservation Areas, formerly referred to as State Recreation Areas, are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Regional Parks are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Aboriginal Areas are managed by local Aboriginal communities and the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
Historic Sites are managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
State Parks are managed by the Land and Property Management Authority.
Four Karst Conservation Reserves are managed by the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.
Marine Parks are managed by the New South Wales Marine Parks Authority.
Aquatic reserves are managed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.