Dorrigo National Park

Dorrigo National Park
New South Wales
View from the Skywalk, Dorrigo National Park
Dorrigo National Park is located in New South Wales
Dorrigo National Park
Dorrigo National Park
Nearest town or cityDorrigo
Coordinates30°20′53″S 152°49′19″E / 30.34806°S 152.82194°E / -30.34806; 152.82194
Established1 October 1967 (1967-10-01)
Area119 km2 (45.9 sq mi)
Managing authoritiesNational Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
WebsiteDorrigo National Park
See alsoProtected areas of
New South Wales

Dorrigo National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 580 kilometres (360 mi) north of Sydney on Dome Road off the Waterfall Way, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the town of Dorrigo.

History

Dorrigo National Park lies within Gumbaynggirr country and has great significance to the Gumbaynggir people.[1]

The park is part of the New England Group of the World Heritage Site Gondwana Rainforests of Australia[2] inscribed in 1986[3] and added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2007. The area protected by the park is recognised for its exceptional natural beauty with significant habitats of outstanding value to science and conservation.

Since 2019, the NSW Government is developing a new visitor centre called the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre and a 46km Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk, as of 2023 construction had not begun.[4]

Geography

The park sits on a plateau, and thus, the large number of waterfalls in the area. Parts of the park are more mountainous, more towards the north, with the south only being so slightly hilly.

Biology

As a rainforest, Dorrigo National Park has high biodiversity. There are approximately 30 mammals, 128 birds, and 44 reptiles and amphibians.[1]

Marsupials such as the red-necked pademelon can be found there.[1][2]

Its birdlife is especially of note, the rainforest is home to species such as the wompoo fruit dove, the regent bowerbird, and the superb lyrebird.[1][2]

Features

One of the main entrances to the National Park is the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and the adjoining Canopy Cafe.[2] The Rainforest Centre is a major CERRA interpretation centre. The interactive display, The Rainforest Revealed, explains how the rainforest evolved and gives insights into the animal and plant species that live there.

Several tracks in the park allow hikers to view the park's waterfalls and vistas to the coastal plain. A notable feature of the park is the Skywalk, an elevated walkway through and above the treetops, providing birdwatchers with an excellent view of local bird life.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Dorrigo National Park | Learn more". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dorrigo National Park". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. ^ "The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area". NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. 4 July 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk". NSW Environment and Heritage. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2024.