Brisbane Water National Park

Introduction

This is one of the state’s oldest national parks, created as a reserve in 1959, and embracing a rugged sandstone landscape known for its beautiful seasonal wildfl owers and Aboriginal sites. The Dharug and Darkinjung people occupied the area for thousands of years and there are outstanding rock engravings at Bulgandry, on the Woy Woy Road. A tangle of rainforest runs through the valleys and along the streams, with patches of low open woodland and open eucalypt forest elsewhere.The rich variety of vegetation supports more than 270 animal species and 150 bird species. Threatened species include the diminutive eastern pygmy-possum and the long-nosed potoroo. You will often hear the distinctive, echoing call of the whipbird, or the carolling of currawongs, and the curious native brush-turkey can sometimes be glimpsed scraping through the leaf litter on the edge of walking tracks. Somersby Falls, hidden in a cool pocket of rainforest, and myriad wildflowers in spring (especially along Patonga Road) are other park highlights.There is a network of walking trails, including part of the Great North Walk (a 250-km trail from Sydney to Newcastle). The Falls Walking Track (3 km, 2 hours return) is quite difficult, being steep with many steps, but leads down to Floods Creek and fi ne views of the silvery, cascading falls. Wildlife-watchers will enjoy the Mooney Mooney Walk (6.5 km, 4 hours return), another difficult trek, which follows the secluded gorge along Piles Creek. Head to Waratah Trig and Staples Lookout for stunning views. Patonga Creek and Mooney Mooney Creek are both suitable for canoeing and Somersby Falls and Girrakool are well set up for picnickers.

Fact file

Camping

Bush camping for walkers on Great North Walk only

Location and access

60 km north of Sydney; 12 km south-west of Gosford via Pacifi c Hwy then turn off at Kariong for access to Girrakool; via Wisemans Ferry Rd for Somersby Falls

Park Information

• NSWNPWS 1300 361 967
• NPWS Gosford (02) 4320 4200
• Camp bookings (02) 4320 4203

Size

11 473 ha

Where to Stay

Gosford 1300 130

This content is from the publication:

Explore Australia’s National Parks

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