Goulburn River - Goulburn River National Park NSW

The Goulburn River National Park was gazetted in 1983 & conserves around 70,000 hectares of sandstone country bordering 90 kilometres of the Goulburn River which meanders between the cliffs honeycombed with caves for much of its length. The easterly flowing river originates around 20 kilometres from the park in the Great Dividing Range & joins the Hunter River below Denman.

The park contains a unique & varied mixture of eastern & western plants as well as providing an invaluable refuge for fauna amongst the heavily cleared & cultivated lands that adjoin it.

Trees commonly occurring along the river banks are river oak (Allocasuarina cunninghamiana), narrow-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra), roughed-barked apple (Angophora floribunda) & narrow-leaved stringybark.

The Goulburn River National Park is rich in wildlife with eastern grey kangaroos, wombats, red-necked wallabies & wallaroos frequently encountered grazing on the grassy river banks. Goannas, water dragons, turtles & platypus may also be seen.

Over 150 species of birds have been recorded in the park including wedge-tailed eagles, emus, lyrebirds, turquoise parrots and glossy black cockatoos.

There are many Aboriginal sites within the park concentrated mainly along the Goulburn River consisting of sandstone shelters containing hand stencils made by spraying red, white or yellow clay pigments from the mouth over a hand held against the rock. Other sites in the park include axe-grinding grooves, open campsites, quarries & scarred trees.