Tarlo River

Tarlo River National Park is a remote sandstone gorge and woodland park in the southern tablelands of New South Wales, located south-west of Goulburn near the town of Taralga. Covering approximately 19,150 hectares, the park protects the rugged gorge of the Tarlo River as it cuts through Hawkesbury Sandstone country on the southern edge of the Sydney Basin. The park provides habitat connectivity between the Morton National Park landscape and the Abercrombie River catchment, contributing to the conservation of the southern tablelands sandstone ecosystem.

Tarlo River National Park supports wildlife typical of the southern tablelands sandstone system. Eastern grey kangaroos and common wombats are common. The yellow-bellied glider and greater glider inhabit old-growth forest. The platypus occurs in the Tarlo River. Glossy black-cockatoos are present. Rock wallabies inhabit the gorge terrain. The park's remote character provides refuge for wildlife.

Hawkesbury Sandstone heath with banksias and diverse wildflowers covers the plateau. Dry sclerophyll forest transitions to wet sclerophyll forest in sheltered gorge environments. Warm temperate rainforest elements occur in the deepest gorge sections. The diversity of communities reflects the range of moisture conditions.

The park is underlain by Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone that has been deeply incised by the Tarlo River to create the gorge system. The sandstone terrain creates the characteristic shallow sandy soils of the heath communities.

Cool temperate climate of the southern tablelands. Annual rainfall approximately 700 to 900 millimetres. Cool winters with frosts. Mild summers.

The Gundungurra people are the traditional custodians of the southern tablelands. The gorge country was difficult terrain for European settlers.

Tarlo River National Park was established to protect the sandstone gorge and associated wildlife of the southern tablelands.

Remote walking through the sandstone gorge. The Tarlo River gorge is accessible to experienced bushwalkers. Birdwatching for sandstone heath species.

Very limited visitor facilities. Access via roads from Taralga. Goulburn provides visitor services. Approximately 220 kilometres south of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Managing feral deer in the southern tablelands is an increasing priority. Protecting the sandstone heath from invasive weeds. The gorge ecosystem requires protection from grazing pressure.