Sunday, July 24, 2011

AUSTRALIA-GONDWANA RAINFORESTS

GENERAL (formerly known as Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves)
Regions – 8 distinct regional groups scattered between Brisbane and Newcastle: (1) Barrington Group; (2) Border Group; (3) Focal Peak Group; (4) Gibralter Range Group; (5) Hastings-MacLeay Group; (6) Iluka Group; (7) Main Range Group; and (8) New England Group.
Hotels
Palazzo Versace – Sea World Drive; 011-61-7-5509-8000; palazzoversace.com; plush; well-situated for all Gold Coast has to offer; white beaches; ideal base for entering parks.



DORRIGO NATIONAL PARK (New England Group)
Hotels
Tallawalla Retreat – 113 Old Coramba Road (Dorrigo); 011-61-2-6657-2315; tallawalla.com; tranquil B&B with panoramic views.
Sights & Sites
Dorrigo National Park – Bellingen; 011-61-2-6657-2309; environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks; make sure to experience "Skywalk," walk above rainforest canopy.



GIBRALTER RANGE NATIONAL PARK (Gibralter Range Group)
Hotels
Tudor House – 139-141 Church Street (Glen Innes); 011-61-2-6732-3884; tudor-house.com.au; beautiful B&B in Glen Innes.
Sights & Sites
Gibraltar Range National Park – Glen Innes ; 011-61-2-6739-0700; environment.nsw.gov.au; diverse flora; lies on Gwydir Highway, 70Kms east of Glen Innes and 95Km west of Grafton; drive has magnificient views of park, with 2 lookouts, Heffrons and Hills; deep gorges carved into granite landscape; sensational rock features, such as Needles and Anvil Rock; park connects directly with Washpool and Nymboida National Parks; camping facilities (with charge) available at Mulligan Hut and 120Km walk through rainforest, sub-alpine heaths, open woodland, and sedgelands; park blooms with waratah during October and November; many creeks and waterfalls to view throughout park.



ILUKA NATURE RESERVE (Iluka Group)
Hotels
Angourie Rainforest Resort – 166 Angourie Road (Yamba); 011-61-2-6646-8600; angourieresort.com.au; pristine.
Sights & Sites
Bundjalung National Park – between Iluka and Evans Head; environment.nsw.com.au;
Iluka Beach – Surfers' Paradise (Iluka); excellent surfing; white beaches; rare flying fox and beach emu populations.



LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK
Hotels
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – Lamington National Park Road (Canungra); 011-61-7-5502-4911; oreillys.com.au; offers “flying fox” tour over creek.



MOUNT BARNEY (Focal Peak Group)
Hotels
Mount Barney Lodge – 1093 Upper Logan Road (Barney View); 011-61-7-5544-3233; mtbarneylodge.com.au; rustic retreat with bush-walking and rock-climbing activities.
Sights & Sites
Mount Barney National Park – Barney View (20 kms outside Boonah); 011-61-13-0013-0372; derm.qld.gov.au; World Heritage site; soars over 4.4K'; rough terrain for serious hikers; peak serves views sweeping over Brisbane to Mount Warning Valley; extinct volcano’s caldera; best climbed in winter months (June-September).



OXLEY WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK (Hastings-Macleay Group)
Hotels
Lindsay House – 128 Faulkner Street (Armidale); 011-61-8-8524-6380; lindsayhouse.com.au; on spacious grounds.
Sights & Sites
Wollomombi Gorge – Armidale; nnsw.com.au/wollomombifalls/index.html; gorges and waterfalls, including 1 of continent’s highest (670').



SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK (Border Group)
Sights & Sites
Natural Bridge – Springbrook; 011-61-13-0013-0372; nighttime displays of Ks of glowworms; rock archway also popular by day, where can visit waterfall cave.
Purlingbrook Falls – Mudgeeraba; can stroll behind 300' cascading falls at gorge bottom below dry eucalypt forest.

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