Pilliga

Pilliga National Park is a vast forest and woodland park in the semi-arid interior of New South Wales, located between Narrabri and Coonabarabran in the north-west slopes region. Covering approximately 295,270 hectares, the park forms the core of the Pilliga Forest, the largest dry sclerophyll woodland on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range in NSW. The Pilliga is renowned for its ancient cypress pine and callitris woodland, diverse birdlife, and the rolling sandy ridges of the Pilliga Scrub. The park contributes to the conservation of one of Australia's most extensive examples of semi-arid woodland.

Pilliga National Park supports remarkable wildlife diversity for a semi-arid woodland. The Pilliga mouse, a threatened marsupial, is found predominantly in this forest. The koala population, once very abundant, has been impacted by drought and disease. The park is one of the most important sites for woodland birds in NSW, with diverse parrots including the critically endangered regent honeyeater, swift parrot, and varied lorikeet. Red-tailed black-cockatoos, gang-gangs, and diverse woodland species are present. Eastern grey kangaroos and wallaroos are abundant.

White cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla) forms a distinctive woodland community across the sandy ridges, giving the Pilliga its characteristic appearance and scent. White box, grey box, and Pilliga box woodland occupies the more fertile areas. Inland grey box and ironbark occur on the eastern margins. Native grasses and wildflowers form the understorey. After rain, the woodland erupts in everlasting daisies and diverse ephemeral herbs. The Pilliga is one of the finest examples of semi-arid woodland in eastern Australia.

The Pilliga Forest is underlain by the Pilliga Sandstone, a Jurassic sedimentary formation that has been eroded to create the low sandy ridges and plains of the Pilliga Scrub. The sandy soils are free-draining and nutrient-poor, supporting the distinctive cypress pine woodland. The sandstone aquifer is one of the most important groundwater resources in the inland.

The park has a semi-arid continental climate. Annual rainfall is approximately 500 to 600 millimetres, concentrated in summer. Summers are very hot, regularly exceeding 40°C. Winters are cold with overnight frosts. The woodland is adapted to drought stress.

The Gamilaraay people are the traditional custodians of the Pilliga country. The forest provided diverse resources including timber, food plants, and game. European pastoral and timber interests exploited the Pilliga from the 1870s, with cypress pine logging occurring until the late 20th century.

Pilliga National Park was progressively established from 2006, with the national park replacing the former Pilliga State Forest as the primary land use. The transition to national park status continues, with timber operations in adjacent state forests.

The Pilliga Nature Reserve camping areas provide remote camping in the cypress pine woodland. Sandstone caves and overhangs in the forest provide geological interest. Birdwatching for woodland species is exceptional. The Pilliga Hot Bore near Pilliga township provides a unique hot artesian bath.

Camping areas are provided throughout the forest. Access is via roads from Narrabri and Coonabarabran. Narrabri provides visitor services. The park is approximately 560 kilometres north-west of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Managing feral goats and pigs across the vast park is a significant challenge. Invasive weed control focuses on buffel grass and other pasture grasses. Recovery programs for the Pilliga mouse and regent honeyeater are priorities. Managing the transition from forestry to conservation management is ongoing.