Willandra

Willandra National Park is a remote semi-arid wetland and rangeland park in far western New South Wales, located in the Lachlan Valley between Hillston and Griffith. Covering approximately 19,394 hectares, the park protects significant areas of semi-arid woodland, gilgai wetlands, and river red gum communities around the Willandra Creek system, a tributary of the Lachlan River. The park is notable for its significant Aboriginal heritage, its semi-arid wetland communities, and the diversity of arid zone birds and mammals that use the wetland habitats.

Willandra National Park supports arid zone wetland and woodland wildlife. The wetland systems provide productive habitat for diverse waterbirds including brolgas, pelicans, and diverse ducks. Red and grey kangaroos are present. The mallee fowl historically occurred in the park's mallee habitats. Diverse parrots including the Major Mitchell's cockatoo and gang-gang cockatoo are present in season. The park's wetlands become spectacular bird habitats after flooding.

Mallee eucalyptus scrub dominates the drier ridges. Black box woodland occupies the floodplain margins. Gilgai wetland communities feature various aquatic species. Native grasses and chenopod shrubland cover open areas. River red gum gallery forest lines the creek channels.

The park is situated on the Lachlan Valley plains, underlain by alluvial sediments. The gilgai wetlands are formed by the shrink-swell of the clay soils, creating characteristic mound and depression topography. The Willandra Creek is a distributary of the Lachlan River system.

Semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Annual rainfall approximately 300 to 400 millimetres. Flooding events transform the landscape when they occur.

The Ngemba and Mutthi Mutthi peoples are the traditional custodians of the Lachlan Valley. The wetlands provided critical water resources in the arid zone. The pastoral history of the region from the 1840s resulted in widespread clearing.

Willandra National Park was established to protect the semi-arid wetland and woodland communities of the western Lachlan Valley.

Birdwatching at the wetlands is outstanding after flooding. Camping in the semi-arid setting provides an outback experience. Aboriginal heritage sites within the park reflect the long human occupation of the wetlands.

Basic camping facilities. Access via roads from Hillston and Griffith. Those communities provide visitor services. Approximately 600 kilometres west of Sydney. A national parks pass applies.

Environmental flows for the Lachlan system are important for maintaining the wetland ecology. Feral goat management is needed. The park's semi-arid woodland communities are monitored for the effects of drought and climate change.