Oxley Wild Rivers

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is a spectacular and vast escarpment park on the New England Tableland of northern New South Wales, protecting the dramatic gorge systems where the northern tributaries of the Macleay River plunge from the tableland to the coastal lowlands. Covering approximately 182,565 hectares, the park is the largest national park in New South Wales and one of the largest in eastern Australia. The park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area and encompasses extraordinary gorge scenery, waterfalls, and diverse plant communities ranging from sub-alpine heath to subtropical rainforest.

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park supports exceptional wildlife diversity across its dramatic elevation range. The spotted quoll has been recorded in the remote gorge country. Yellow-bellied gliders and greater gliders inhabit old-growth forest. The platypus occurs in permanent streams. Powerful owls and masked owls hunt the forest. The park's large size and diverse habitats support viable populations of many threatened species. Rock wallabies inhabit the gorge cliffs. The koala is present in woodland communities. Peregrine falcons nest on the escarpment cliffs.

The vegetation ranges from subalpine snowgum woodland on the New England Tableland through wet sclerophyll forest, warm temperate rainforest with coachwood and sassafras, to subtropical rainforest in the deep gorges. The vegetation communities include some of the finest examples of their type in northern New South Wales. Hanging swamp communities on the tableland are of high conservation significance. The gorge walls support diverse lithophytic plant communities.

The park encompasses the dramatic escarpment where the New England Tableland breaks to the coastal lowlands. The Macleay River tributaries have carved some of the deepest and most rugged gorges in Australia. The rocks range from Permian sedimentary and volcanic rocks to Triassic sandstone to metamorphic rocks near the gorge floors. The dramatic topography reflects the long geological history of the escarpment.

The climate ranges from subalpine on the tableland to subtropical in the deep gorges. Annual rainfall varies from approximately 800 millimetres on the tableland to 2,000 millimetres on the wet escarpment faces. Tableland winters are cold with snow. The gorge floors are hot in summer and mild in winter.

The Dunghutti, Gumbaynggirr, and Anaiwan peoples are the traditional custodians of the Macleay River headwaters. The gorge systems were important travel routes between the coast and the tableland. European pastoral settlement of the New England Tableland from the 1830s resulted in clearing of the tableland vegetation.

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park was gazetted progressively, with major additions in the 1980s and 1990s. The park's inclusion in the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area recognised its outstanding universal value. The park is among the most significant protected areas in New South Wales.

Wollomombi Falls is one of Australia's highest waterfalls, accessible by a short walk from a lookout area. Dangars Falls near Armidale provides accessible waterfall viewing. The Chandler River wilderness walk provides a multi-day gorge experience for experienced walkers. The tablelands lookouts provide dramatic views into the gorge systems.

The park has several campgrounds including Dangars Gorge, Budds Mare, and Tia Falls. Access is from Armidale, Walcha, and Kempsey. Armidale is the most convenient service town, approximately 50 kilometres from Wollomombi Falls. The park is approximately 500 kilometres north of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Managing the large and diverse park is a significant challenge. Feral goat management in the gorge country is important. Invasive weed control focuses on lantana and blackberry in accessible areas. The park's World Heritage values require ongoing monitoring and protection.