Visitor Guide Border Ranges National Park

Copyright OEH Brindle Creek, Border Ranges National Park

Forest Tops Camping Area is another smaller camping area Red Cedar can be found along the creeks and sheltered gullies set in a grassy forest clearing. throughout the park. In the spring the new leaves glow golden- red in the sun - this made them an easy target for the cedar- Camping fees apply at Sheepstation Creek and Forest Tops getters of the last century. camping areas. This is a self-registration system and sites cannot be pre-booked. Campers are advised to pack a gas or Cool temperate rainforest is confined to small patches at higher fuel stove as moist conditions often make the firewood damp elevations where mists and soaking rain are frequent. This type and difficult to light. of forest is close to its northern limit here. Antarctic Beech are direct descendents of genetic stock going back 80 million years, Brindle Creek Picnic Area provides picnic facilities when Australia was part of the ancient, rainforest-clad super- in the rainforest besides the beautiful Brindle Creek. continent, Gondwana. There are no BBQs here. The animal population of the Border Ranges is extremely Antarctic Beech Picnic Area has a northern outlook over diverse, thanks to the great range of habitats. Spot-tailed Quolls 2000 year old Antarctic Beech Trees Grady’s Creek and the NSW/Qld border to the rainforest clad hunt amongst sclerophyll forests and rainforest, Koalas feed ridges of Lamington Plateau. This is a beautiful spot on a sunny on the eucalypts, Brush Turkeys build enormous mound nests day. of leaves on the rainforest floor, and at the cool summits the rare Rufous Scrub bird can be heard calling from the dense The Pinnacle Lookout is reached by a short walk. undergrowth. Over 170 bird species have been identified, many The view from this lofty peak is breathtaking. Help of which are rare and threatened. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au to protect rare plants by staying on the track and not proceeding beyond the lookout platform. features CARING FOR THE PARK Blackbutts Picnic Area provides another impressive Border Ranges National Park, a World Heritage listed rainforest outlook over the caldera and views of Mount Warning. • Leave your pets and firearms at home, as they are not park on the rim of a vast and ancient volcano, adjoins permitted. Lamington National Park in Queensland. Border Ranges Bar Mountain Picnic Area is situated high on the National Park offers spectacular views, pristine rainforests, caldera rim in the misty realm of ancient Antarctic Beech forest. • Enjoy the wildlife but do not disturb plants, animals, waterfalls, sparkling creeks, steep escarpments and rugged bushrock, Aboriginal sites or historic places. All are ridges. More than three-quarters of the park is managed as park fees protected. wilderness. Visitors to Border Ranges National Park need to pay a fee for • Be careful with fire. Use only fireplaces provided. Observe day-use, and an extra fee if using the camping areas. Cash or any total fire bans. getting there cheque at self-registration pay stations. These fees are used The nearest main centres are Murwillumbah and Kyogle. Border locally to help protect each park and maintain its facilities. • Firewood is not provided. Bring your own firewood or better Ranges National Park is 38 kilometres west of Murwillumbah off still use gas stoves. the Murwillumbah-Kyogle Road or 28 kilometres north of Kyogle Regular visitors to parks where day-use fees apply can save time • Firewood collection is not permitted. via Wiangaree on the Summerland Way. Access includes some and money by purchasing an annual pass. Call the National Parks Contact Centre on (02) 9253 0880 within Sydney or 13000 72757 gravel roads. • Drive carefully and keep to public roads. All vehicles must or visit a NSW National Parks visitor centre. be registered and drivers licensed.

a changing view of the land • Keep the park clean and safe for wildlife. Please take your rubbish home. These national parks and reserves belong to country which has held long-standing associations and spiritual connections • Observe all signs, as they are there for your safety and to for Githabul Aboriginal people for thousands of years, help you enjoy your visit. continuing to the present. In November 2007 the Federal Court of Australia recognised the Githabul people’s native title • Keep to walking tracks, as they are designed to have minimal rights and interests over 1120 sg km in 9 national parks and 13 impact. state forests in northern NSW, including these reserves. • Be considerate of other park users – keep your noise to a The earliest Europeans were the cedar-getters who arrived minimum. around 1842. On a sandstone wall adjacent to the Palm Forest Walk at Sheepstation Creek are engravings by cedar- • Please do not feed the wildlife. getters dating from the late 1800’s. • Drinking water is not provided. The area became Border Ranges National Park in 1983 following the efforts of a number of individuals and organisations including the Border Ranges Preservation

Society and the Colong Committee. It was subsequently

listed as a World Heritage area in 1986.

things to see and do more information The park section of the Tweed Range Scenic National Parks and Wildlife Service Drive is a 42 km all weather gravel road crossing the Kyogle Area eastern plateau of the park. Much of its way follows the 136 Summerland Way caldera edge of the eroded Mount Warning volcano, providing PO Box 174 incomparable views. Kyogle NSW 2474 The drive can be completed in 4-5 hours, allowing for a leisurely Tel: 6632 0000 Copyright OEH Koalas can be seen at Sheepstation Creek Campground pace with stops to enjoy views, strolls in the rainforest and Fax: 6632 1534 picnic breaks. Due to the steep roads, caravans and buses must Email: [email protected] be left at Sheepstation Creek Rest Area and cannot enter the natural communities Park via the eastern or Murwillumbah Road entrance. The park includes a variety of rainforest types - cool temperate, warm temperate, dry and subtropical - and wet and dry Sheepstation Creek Camping Area is a popular sclerophyll forests. Buttressed booyong forests, Bangalow general inquiries: camping spot suitable for families or larger groups. Palms, Red Cedar trees, Brushbox, Antarctic Beech (some as T: 13000PARKS (1300 072 757) From here a walking track network explores the nearby old as 2000 years) and giant Hoop Pines are just some of the www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au rainforest and creeks. diverse vegetation within the park. Border Ranges

National Park

eastern or Murwillumbah Road entrance. Road Murwillumbah or eastern

Rest Area and cannot enter the Park via the via Park the enter cannot and Area Rest

buses must be left at Sheepstation Creek Sheepstation at left be must buses

breaks. Due to the steep roads, caravans and caravans roads, steep the to Due breaks.

Antarctic Beech forest. Beech Antarctic

enjoy views, strolls in the rainforest and picnic and rainforest the in strolls views, enjoy purchasing an annual pass. annual an purchasing

the caldera rim in the misty realm of ancient of realm misty the in rim caldera the

allowing for a leisurely pace with stops to stops with pace leisurely a for allowing fees apply can save time and money by money and time save can apply fees

is situated high on high situated is Bar Mountain Picnic Area Picnic Mountain Bar

The drive can be completed in 4 - 5 hours, 5 - 4 in completed be can drive The Regular visitors to parks where day-use where parks to visitors Regular

views of Mount Warning. Mount of views

incomparable views. incomparable each park and maintain its facilities. its maintain and park each

impressive outlook over the caldera and caldera the over outlook impressive

Mount Warning volcano, providing volcano, Warning Mount

These fees are used locally to help protect help to locally used are fees These provides another provides Blackbutts Picnic Area Picnic Blackbutts

follows the caldera edge of the eroded the of edge caldera the follows an extra fee if using the camping areas. camping the using if fee extra an

plateau of the park. Much of its way its of Much park. the of plateau

Park need to pay a fee for day-use, and day-use, for fee a pay to need Park the lookout platform. lookout the

weather gravel road crossing the eastern the crossing road gravel weather

Visitors to Border Ranges National Ranges Border to Visitors

staying on the track and not proceeding beyond proceeding not and track the on staying

is a 44 km all km 44 a is Range Scenic Drive Drive Scenic Range

is breathtaking. Help to protect rare plants by plants rare protect to Help breathtaking. is

The park section of the Tweed the of section park The

Park fees Park short walk. The view from this lofty peak lofty this from view The walk. short

is reached by a by reached is The Pinnacle Lookout Pinnacle The

Things to see and do and see to Things listed as a World Heritage area in 1986. in area Heritage World a as listed

Colong Committee. It was subsequently was It Committee. Colong Plateau. This is a beautiful spot on a sunny day. sunny a on spot beautiful a is This Plateau.

Way. Access includes some gravel roads. gravel some includes Access Way. Ranges Preservation Society and the and Society Preservation Ranges border to the rainforest clad ridges of Lamington of ridges clad rainforest the to border

organisations including the Border the including organisations Kyogle via Wiangaree on the Summerland the on Wiangaree via Kyogle outlook over Grady’s Creek and the NSW/Qld the and Creek Grady’s over outlook

efforts of a number of individuals and individuals of number a of efforts Kyogle Road or 28 kilometres north of north kilometres 28 or Road Kyogle has a northern a has Antarctic Beech Picnic Area Picnic Beech Antarctic

National Park in 1983 following the following 1983 in Park National Murwillumbah off the Murwillumbah- the off Murwillumbah

beautiful Brindle Creek. There are no BBQs here. BBQs no are There Creek. Brindle beautiful The area became Border Ranges Border became area The National Park is 38 kilometres west of west kilometres 38 is Park National

picnic facilities in the rainforest beside the beside rainforest the in facilities picnic Murwillumbah and Kyogle. Border Ranges Border Kyogle. and Murwillumbah

provides Brindle Creek Picnic Area Picnic Creek Brindle the late 1800’s. late the The nearest main centres are centres main nearest The

engravings by cedar-getters dating from dating cedar-getters by engravings

firewood damp and difficult to light. to difficult and damp firewood Getting There Getting Forest Walk at Sheepstation Creek are Creek Sheepstation at Walk Forest

fuel stove as moist conditions often make the make often conditions moist as stove fuel sandstone wall adjacent to the Palm the to adjacent wall sandstone

booked. Campers are advised to pack a gas or gas a pack to advised are Campers booked. wilderness. getters who arrived around1842. On a On around1842. arrived who getters

registration system and sites cannot be pre- be cannot sites and system registration three-quarters of the park is managed as managed is park the of three-quarters The earliest Europeans were the cedar- the were Europeans earliest The

Forest Tops camping areas. This is a self- a is This areas. camping Tops Forest escarpments and rugged ridges. More than More ridges. rugged and escarpments

apply at Sheepstation Creek and Creek Sheepstation at apply Camping fees Camping waterfalls, sparkling creeks, steep creeks, sparkling waterfalls, role in management of the National Park. National the of management in role

spectacular views, pristine rainforests, pristine views, spectacular people who continue to play an active an play to continue who people

camping area set in a grassy forest clearing. forest grassy a in set area camping

Border Ranges National Park offers Park National Ranges Border including the Galibal and Githabul and Galibal the including

is another smaller another is Forest Tops Camping Area Camping Tops Forest

Lamington National Park in Queensland. in Park National Lamington the local Aboriginal community, Aboriginal local the

of a vast and ancient volcano, adjoins volcano, ancient and vast a of identity, spirituality and resource base for base resource and spirituality identity,

network explores the nearby rainforest and creeks. and rainforest nearby the explores network

Heritage listed rainforest park on the rim the on park rainforest listed Heritage amongst a landscape that is part of the of part is that landscape a amongst

or larger groups. From here a walking track walking a here From groups. larger or

Border Ranges National Park, a World a Park, National Ranges Border Border Ranges National Park is set is Park National Ranges Border

popular camping spot suitable for families for suitable spot camping popular

is a is Sheepstation Creek Camping Area Camping Creek Sheepstation

Features A changing view of the land the of view changing A

NORTHERN RIVERS REGION walking tracks 1. Falcorostrum Loop (0.75 kilometres, 30 min, easy). This walk 5. Helmholtsia Loop (1.2 kilometres, 1 hour, easy). This loop cedar-getters carved their names. winds its way through one of the largest stands of Antarctic walk takes its name from the rare stream lily that is found only in 10. Border Loop Walk (1.2 kilometres, 30 min, easy). This short Beech in the park. Falcorostrum Orchids can be seen clinging the rainforests of north-east NSW and south-east Queensland. loop walk provides a wonderful opportunity to relax after a long to the trunk and branches of these ancient trees, the only place These large strap-leafed plants are usually found along the banks drive. It starts at the picnic area and initially passes through they’re found. The forest here is cool temperate rainforest, which of creeks and gullies. Lush rainforest, abundant epiphytes, Hoop pleasant grassy wet eucalypt forest dominated by Brushbox, only occurs in the park in small pockets. Albert’s Lyrebirds are Pines and stands of gnarled Antarctic Beech are features of this Sydney Blue Gums and Tallowwood, before entering a very common here and are most frequently seen on misty overcast loop walk. interesting stand of subtropical rainforest. Natural Communities Caring for the park days. 6. Red Cedar Loop (0.75 kilometres, 30 min, easy). The highlight of this short walk is a giant Red Cedar. Measuring 48m in height ● Leave your pets and firearms at home, as they Border Ranges 2. Bar Mountain Circuit (3.5 kilometres, 3 hours, medium The park includes a variety of rainforest difficulty). The Bar Mountain Circuit branches off the and 133cm in diameter, it’s probably about 1000 years old. Cedar types – cool temperate, warm temperate, are not permitted. Falcorostrum Loop and winds its way down the ridge towards the trees often grow close to creek lines. This made them easy dry and subtropical – and wet and dry ● Enjoy the wildlife but do not disturb plants, National Park western escarpment. As you descend the forest changes from pickings for the early cedar-getters, who used flooded creeks animals, bushrock, Aboriginal sites or historic cool temperate rainforest to warm temperate rainforest. Nearer and rivers to float the logs down to waiting ships and sawmills. sclerophyll forests and mallee. Buttressed the escarpment edge where drier conditions prevail you enter Explore the rainforest . . . 7. Booyong Walk (10.5 kilometres, 5 hours, medium difficulty). places. All are protected. an area of wet eucalypt forest dominated by huge New England booyong forests, Bangalow Palms, Red Named after the tall and majestic booyong trees that dominate ● Blackbutt and Brushbox. From the lookout there are spectacular Cedar trees, Brushbox, Antarctic Beech Please do not feed the wildlife, especially the these forests, this track provides an enjoyable introduction to views into Collins Creek and west to Mount Lindsay and Mount goannas the rainforests of the park. The track links Sheepstation Creek (some as old as 2000 years) and giant Barney. Hoop Pines are just some of the diverse ● Be careful with fire. Use only fireplaces Camping Area with Forest Tops Camping Area. It’s best to start provided. Observe any total fire bans. 3. The Pinnacle Walk (0.2 kilometres, 10 min return, easy). This this walk at Forest Tops and avoid a long uphill climb. This walk vegetation within the park. short walk is one of the highlights of the park. No other walk incorporates the Palm Forest Walk and provides access to the ● Use only firewood provided, bring your own, in the region offers such a dramatic encounter with the Mount Rosewood Loop. Red Cedar can be found along the Warning caldera. The first part of the walk is through subtropical or better still use gas stoves. Chainsaws for 8. Rosewood Loop (6 kilometres from Sheepstation Creek, 3 creeks and sheltered gullies throughout rainforest. Closer to the escarpment edge you burst out of the firewood collection are not permitted. hours, medium difficulty). About one-third of the way along the rainforest into a stand of New England Blackbutt. The track the park. In the spring the new leaves Booyong Walk you’ll see signs for the Rosewood Loop. If you ● Drive carefully and keep to public roads. All finishes at a lookout platform with spectacular views of Mount start this loop from the Sheepstation Creek end you will travel glow golden-red in the sun- this made Warning and the Tweed valley 1000m below. Please do not vehicles must be registered and drivers licensed. down to a creek. You can take a swim here but be warned that them an easy target for the cedar-getters go beyond the platform as this can cause serious erosion and Copyright OEH Sheepstation Creek picnic & camping area ● Keep the park clean and safe for wildlife. Take even in summer these waters are cold. The Rosewood Loop is threaten endangered plants. of the last century. your rubbish home. known for its superb rainforest, old growth Flooded Gum and mature specimens of Rosewood and White Beech. Rainforest ● Observe all signs, as they are there for your 4. Brindle Creek Walk (5 kilometres, 3 hours, medium difficulty). Cool temperate rainforest is confined This walk incorporates part of the Helmholtsia Loop and follows fruit-doves, bowerbirds and many smaller rainforest birds are to small patches at higher elevations safety and to help you enjoy your visit. the line of Brindle Creek, linking Brindle Creek Picnic Area with common along these tracks. ● Antarctic Beech Picnic Area. Lush rainforest, stands of Antarctic where mists and soaking rain are Keep to walking tracks, as they are designed 9. Palm Forest Walk (2 kilometres, 1 hour, easy to medium Beech and numerous waterfalls are among the attractions of this to have minimal impact. difficulty). Walk through rainforest and eucalypt forest near frequent. This type of forest is close to walk. A number of endangered frogs breed here so please don’t Sheepstation Creek Camping Area to Brushbox Falls. This track its northern limit here. Antarctic Beech ● Be considerate of other park users – keep your swim in the creek as the chemicals contained in insect repellents follows the line of an old bullock trail and logging road. Closer and sunscreen can harm or even kill local frog populations. You are direct descendents of genetic stock noise to a minimum. to the creek you enter the subtropical rainforest above the falls. will need to have a vehicle at both ends of the walk or retrace ● Drinking water is not provided. Near here you pass a sandstone rockface into which the early going back 80 million years, when your steps. Australia was part of the ancient, rainforest-clad super-continent, Gondwana. More information: The animal population of the Border Kyogle Area, National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranges is extremely diverse, thanks to 136 Summerland Way (PO Box 174) Kyogle NSW 2474 the great range of habitats. Spotted- Tel: 6632 0000 Fax: 6632 1534 tailed Quolls hunt amongst sclerophyll Email: [email protected] forests and rainforest, Koalas feed on the eucalypts, Brush Turkeys build enormous mound nests of leaves on the rainforest floor, and at the cool summits the rare Rufous Scrubbird can be heard calling from the dense undergrowth. Over 170 bird species have been identified, many of which are rare and General inquiries: 43 Bridge Street Hurstville NSW 2220 Phone: 1300 36 1967 or 02 9585 6444 threatened. Department of Fax: 02 9585 6555 Web Site: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Environment and Conservation (NSW) Printed on recycled paper. March 2007

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