Introduction
National park in New South Wales
Dorrigo National ParkIUCN category II (national park)View from the Skywalk, Dorrigo National ParkDorrigo National ParkLocationNew South WalesNearest cityDorrigoCoordinates30°20′53″S 152°49′19″E / 30.34806°S 152.82194°E / -30.34806; 152.82194Area119 km2 (46 sq mi)Established1 October 1967 (1967-10-01)Governing bodyNational Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)WebsiteOfficial website
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
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Dorrigo National Park lies within Gumbaynggirr country and has great significance to the Gumbaynggir people.
The park is part of the New England Group of the World Heritage Site Gondwana Rainforests of Australia inscribed in 1986 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[update] construction had not begun.
Geography
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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
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As a rainforest, Dorrigo National Park has high biodiversity. There are approximately 30 mammals, 128 birds, and 44 reptiles and amphibians.
Marsupials such as the red-necked pademelon can be found there.
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.
Features
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One of the main entrances to the National Park is the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and the adjoining Canopy Cafe. 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.
