National and nature parks

A national park protects largely unspoilt natural landscapes in which nature develops with as little human intervention as possible. It is subject to strict protection regulations, but is accessible for recreation, education and research.

A nature park is a protected natural and cultural landscape that has been shaped by humans over a long period of time. The aim is to preserve these landscapes through sustainable use, to develop them further and to make them an experience.

There are two national parks in Lower Austria: the Donau-Auen National Park and the Thayatal National Park. There are also over 20 nature parks in Lower Austria - meaning that a large proportion of Austria's 47 nature parks are located in Lower Austria.

National parks are generally freely accessible at any time of year. Nature parks and the respective visitor centres sometimes have limited opening hours or are closed in winter (such as Sparbach Nature Park). In addition, the Ötschergräben and Hintere Tormäuer in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park are closed in winter.

Regardless of the season, it is advisable to check the current conditions in advance and observe the rules of behaviour when hiking.

National parks and open nature parks in Lower Austria also offer special guided tours and nature experiences in winter.

These include guided hikes in the footsteps of beavers, observations of winter-active animals such as white-tailed eagles, songbirds and owls as well as themed excursions with rangers in the Donau-Auen National Park. Winter hikes in the Thayatal National Park are still a real insider tip. Tracks of foxes, deer and hares can be discovered in the snow and, with a bit of luck, special animal sightings such as the white-tailed eagle. The Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park offers guided snowshoe hikes. In winter, you can also discover the moor landscapes covered in frost and snow in the Schrems Upland Moor Nature Park and the Heidenreichstein Moor Nature Park.

Yes, guided hikes and special programmes are offered in both the national parks and the nature parks.

Selected highlights in Lower Austria's national parks:

• Donau-Auen National Park: Wildlife spotting such as sea eagles, owls, bats or beavers, boat tours on the Danube as well as themed walks on alluvial forests and river dynamics
• Thayatal National Park: Wildcat feedings, guided hikes to viewpoints, cross-border or individual ranger tours in the Thayatal-Podyjí region

Selected highlights in Lower Austria's nature parks:

• Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park: On the way with nature mediators through the Ötschergräben, special guided tours on poisonous plants or yodelling
• Blockheide Nature Park: Herb tours, bird watching and forest bathing
• Schrems Upland Moor Nature Park: Exclusive otter programme, guided hikes through the moor landscape
• Leiser Berge Nature Park: Wild and medicinal herb hikes, stargazing at the Leiser Berge observatory
• Hohe Wand Nature Park: Guided hikes to viewing points and insights into the flora and fauna of the nature park
• Heidenreichsteiner Moor Nature Park: Guided tours of the moor, morning mood or night hike in the nature park
• Sparbach Nature Park: Out and about with forest educators on topics such as poisonous plants, climate change, hunting or forest bathing

The Donau-Auen National Park is particularly well connected to public transport, for example via train and bus connections from Vienna to places such as Orth an der Donau or Eckartsau. The Thayatal National Park can also be reached by train and bus, for example via Retz or Znojmo with connections to Hardegg. The Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park is easily accessible via the seven nature park stations on the Mariazell railway.

Many other nature parks in Lower Austria are close to railway lines or can be reached via regional bus connections. Hikes often start directly in places with public transport connections or at visitor centres and nature park houses.