New England National Park

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New England National Park
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
New England National Park
Nearest town/city: Dorrigo
Coordinates: 30°35′34″S, 152°27′30″E
Area: 736 km²
Managing authorities: New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service
Official site: New England National Park

New England National Park is a national park in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, 391 km north of Sydney. It is just 65 km east of Armidale which is the biggest city in the region. Ebor is the closest settlement to New England National Park.

Contents

[edit] History

The national park was officially opened by the Governor General Lord Gowrie in 1937, [1] although the wilderness area was recognised for it's beauty as early as the 1920s.

New England National Park was World Heritage listed as part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves in 1986.[2]

[edit] Geography

Along the escarpment there are a number of lookouts providing expansive views.
Along the escarpment there are a number of lookouts providing expansive views.

To the west the Nymboida, Guy Fawkes and Styx Rivers drain across the tablelands. [3] To the east is the thickly forested Bellinger River valley.

Public access to the park focuses on the Point Lookout area (1563 m above sea level), from where on a clear day the Pacific Ocean is visible. This lookout is located 14 km east of Waterfall Way in the New England National Park. Point Lookout is the second tallest mountain in the region and one of the highest places north of the Snowy Mountains. Other notable peaks in the park include Round Mountain and Barren Mountain.

[edit] Fauna and Flora

The park is noted for the wide variety of plant and animal species. The diverse vegetation in the park includes sub-tropical, warm temperate and cool temperate rainforest in the higher altitudes. There are also areas of sclerophyll forest, sub-alpine woodland, heathland and swampland. [3] Heathland is found at Wrights Lookout and in other patches.

Snow gums and coral ferns on the Lyrebird Walk.
Snow gums and coral ferns on the Lyrebird Walk.

Estimates of the number of different plant species in the park place the figure at 500 and there are at least 100 species of birds that have been recorded.[2] This includes the Antarctic Beech and among the birdlife the larger species include the wedge-tailed eagle, white cockatoo, whipbird and the lyre bird.[4] The greater sooty owl, rufous scrub-bird, eastern bristlebird, crimson rosellas, australian king parrots, flycatchers and honeyeaters also inhabit the park.[2][3]

Dingos, koalas, tiger quolls, bent-winged bats, brown antechinus, bush rats and the bridled bandicoot are some of the other notable species in the park.

[edit] Facilities

Limited accommodation is available in the park at Banksia Point. If visiting in winter it is a good idea to bring warm clothes because at such a high altitude the region experiences frequent snow falls and cold temperatures.

[edit] See also

New South Wales Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ New England National Park: A brief history. 1982. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service
  2. ^ a b c Hema Maps (1997). Discover Australia's National Parks. Milsons Point, New South Wales: Random House Australia, 144. ISBN 1975992472. 
  3. ^ a b c (1991) New England National Park Plan Of Management. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. ISBN 0730523144. 
  4. ^ New England National Park Information brochure. 1984. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service
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