If you’re planning to explore any of our local NSW National Parks this holiday season, be aware of possible closures, which can be announced at short notice.

Fire danger is the main reason for closure at this time of year, and National Parks NSW advises that this can bring about rules and restrictions for the safety of visitors and protection of parks.

This can include full or partial closures of specific areas.

Over Christmas, the weather has been on the boil across the Western Plains.

Currently, the Bureau of Meteorology is warning of a ‘three-day heatwave situation’, that will affect parts of the state from Saturday, December 28 until Monday December 30.

Some Western Plains locations are already sweltering with 40 degrees predicted at Coonamble and 42 degrees at Walgett today.

Bourke is expecting 40 degrees on New Year’s Eve.

With high temperatures, comes extreme fire danger.

Warrumbungle National Park walking tracks and remote campsites are closed today, Friday December 27 and will reopen on Saturday December 28 at 9am.

The following walking tracks will remain open today - White Gum Lookout walking track, Wambelong nature trail and Gurianawa circuit.

The following campsites remain open: Blackman, Walaay, Wambelong.

Camp Blackman in Warrumbungle National Park was still open today, while other parts of the park were closed due to fire danger.

Pilliga National Park is currently entirely closed and is also scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Saturday December 28 at 9am.

This closure affects all Pilliga Forest visitor areas, including popular locations such as Sandstone Caves walking track, Sculptures in the Scrub visitor area, walking track, picnic and camping area, Salt Caves visitor area, picnic and camping area and Pilliga

Forest Visitor Lookout Tower.

The Boonalla Aboriginal Area, which is situated approximately 20 kilometres of Gunnedah is also currently closed and will re-open tomorrow, Saturday December 28 at 9am.

Jasmine Offerman from the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre in Baradine, said the precautionary closure looked on track to be lifted as planned tomorrow, due to a downgrade in fire danger.

“At this stage, fire danger is extreme,” Ms Offerman said.

“Tomorrow, it looks like the fire danger will be downgraded, but will still be high.

"At this stage, we are expecting the Pilliga and Boonalla Aboriginal Areas should reopen as planned tomorrow.”

Conditions change quickly, and Ms Offerman said the best way to be across any closures, was to head to the National Parks NSW website.

“You can search up particular parks or campsites and it will bring up any closure alerts,” she said.

“These are updated as soon as things change, so are very accurate.

“Our parks are really popular, and get busy over the summer period, and any closures are done for good reason.”

To check current National Park closures, visit the website and search for your desired park: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/alerts/alerts-list