Wadbilliga

Wadbilliga National Park is a remote wilderness park in the far south coast hinterland of New South Wales, located in the ranges between Cobargo and Dalgety in the Bega Valley. Covering approximately 79,138 hectares, the park protects the rugged ranges of the Wadbilliga Plateau and the deep gorge systems carved by the Tuross River and its tributaries. The park encompasses extensive areas of tall wet sclerophyll forest, subalpine woodland, and warm temperate rainforest, and is one of the more genuinely remote wilderness areas in coastal NSW. The park forms part of the Kosciuszko-to-Sea conservation landscape.

Wadbilliga National Park supports diverse cool temperate forest wildlife. The spotted quoll is present. The long-footed potoroo has been recorded in the dense wet sclerophyll forest. Yellow-bellied gliders and greater gliders inhabit old-growth trees. The platypus occurs in permanent streams. Powerful owls and masked owls hunt the forest. The park's remote character provides refuge for sensitive species.

Tall wet sclerophyll forest with brown barrel, blue gum, and alpine ash covers the moist slopes. Warm temperate rainforest with coachwood and sassafras fills the sheltered gorges. Subalpine snow gum woodland occupies the highest plateau sections. The vegetation communities are representative of the far south coast ranges.

The park is underlain by Silurian and Devonian granite and metamorphic rocks of the Lachlan Fold Belt. The Wadbilliga Plateau is an elevated surface that has been deeply dissected by the headwaters of the Tuross River system.

Cool temperate climate at high elevations. Annual rainfall approximately 900 to 1,200 millimetres. Cold winters with snow events. Cool, moist summers.

The Yuin and Ngarigo peoples are the traditional custodians of the far south coast ranges. The elevated plateau was important seasonal hunting territory.

Wadbilliga National Park was established to protect the wilderness values and diverse forest communities of the far south coast ranges.

Multi-day wilderness walking through remote wet sclerophyll forest and across the Wadbilliga Plateau. The Tuross River gorge provides challenging terrain for experienced walkers. Birdwatching for forest species.

Very limited visitor facilities with basic camping. Access is difficult, requiring 4WD in many sections. Cobargo provides visitor services. Approximately 380 kilometres south of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

The long-footed potoroo and spotted quoll are conservation priorities. Protecting old-growth forest from wildfire is critical. The remote character of the park provides inherent conservation protection.