Werrikimbe

Werrikimbe National Park is a remote and outstanding World Heritage-listed rainforest park on the Liverpool Range of northern New South Wales, located in the ranges between Walcha and Wauchope. Covering approximately 35,356 hectares, the park protects exceptional areas of warm temperate and subtropical rainforest, subalpine woodland, and tall wet sclerophyll forest on the dramatic escarpment between the New England Tableland and the Manning Valley. The park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

Werrikimbe National Park supports outstanding wildlife diversity across its dramatic elevation range. The spotted quoll has been recorded. 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 superb lyrebird is abundant. The park provides habitat for diverse threatened species dependent on old-growth wet forest and subalpine communities.

Warm temperate rainforest with coachwood and diverse ferns fills the sheltered gullies and moist slopes. Subtropical rainforest elements occur at lower elevations. Subalpine snow gum woodland occupies the highest plateau terrain. Tall wet sclerophyll forest with alpine ash dominates the broad mid-elevation zones. The vegetation ranges from subalpine to subtropical across the dramatic elevation gradient.

The park occupies the Liverpool Range escarpment where Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks have been faulted and tilted to create the dramatic topography. The escarpment has been deeply incised by rivers draining to the Manning Valley.

Ranges from subalpine on the plateau to subtropical in the lower gorges. Annual rainfall approximately 1,200 to 2,000 millimetres on the escarpment. Cold winters with snow on the plateau. Mild summers.

The Biripi people are the traditional custodians of the Manning Valley hinterland. The escarpment ranges were significant seasonal territory.

Werrikimbe National Park was established in 1987 and became part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area. The park is one of the finest examples of the Liverpool Range escarpment ecology.

Remote wilderness walking through diverse forest communities from subalpine to subtropical. The Plateau camping area provides access to the subalpine woodland. The park's remote character and diverse vegetation attract experienced walkers.

Very limited facilities with basic camping. Access requires 4WD in many sections. Access from Walcha and Wauchope. Walcha provides visitor services. Approximately 440 kilometres north of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

The park's World Heritage values require ongoing protection. Feral deer management is a growing priority. Invasive weed control in accessible areas. Fire management to protect the rainforest communities.