Over
the past three decades the Foundation has acquired more than 350,000 hectares
of land.
Places of natural beauty, cultural significance or habitat for threatened
species became protected and created or extended 22 National Parks and
Nature Reserves. Discover one Foundation Park in each PAWS issue. (See
previous issues for reports on Bouddi
NP, Willandra NP, Cathedral
Rock NP and World Heritage listed Mungo
NP).
In this edition we look at Morton National Park. Two recent bequests of more than $1 million in total allowed us to buy 2,087 hectares of previously unprotected wilderness land for this park. Previously Foundation funding secured 30 hectares of the western side of the beautiful Clyde River Gorge.
Foundation Executive Officer Leonie Gale visited Morton recently to inspect wilderness properties to purchase through these bequests.
Morton National Park
 |
Fitzroy
Falls one of Morton's many spectacular waterfalls. Photo Hank Vandepol |
Waterfalls cascade from Morton National Parks’ majestic sandstone cliffs, feeding crystal clear creeks in the rugged canyons below. It is this contrast of the towering colourful walls and the deep, secluded gorges at their base that attracts so many nature lovers to this vast park in Southern New South Wales.
The descent from the sandstone escarpment into the steep, cool valleys of the park takes bushwalkers into a dim, green world, filled with bird voices and the smell of moist soil and eucalypts.
Birds, kangaroos, possums, wombats and other wildlife are plentiful in the open forests and woodlands. In and near the creeks and rivers live long-necked tortoises, platypus and eastern water skinks.
Nature
experiences for all
Morton offers opportunities for all kinds of outdoors activities, including
walking, fishing, swimming, camping, cycling and picnics. From visitor
cafes and car accessible lookouts to self reliant wilderness bushwalking
there are opportunities for all tastes and abilities.
A range of walking tracks to suit all fitness levels and ambitions lets you extend your expeditions into the park for days. Easy tracks, some suitable for wheelchairs, take you to spectacular lookouts, including George Boyd lookout, Little Forest Plateau and Pigeon House Mountain, from which you can see the ocean and the Budawang wilderness. At Fitzroy Falls lookouts spoil visitors with magnificent views of waterfalls cascading 80 metres into the gorge below.
Outdoors
Adventures
 |
Ferns
in Morton NP Photo Hank Vandepol |
Steep and rocky tracks take experienced walkers to magical places with clear swimming holes, hidden in the depth of the valleys. There are extensive areas of untouched wilderness, where you will navigate your way through thick vegetation and creek crossings. Wilderness walking is only for the hardy and fit who can find their way without tracks, signage or facilities.
With a written permit in your backpack you can explore the cliffs and gorges on extended rock climbing, canyoning and caving adventures.
Camping
wild or in style
If you want to stay more than just one day there is a campground at Bundanoon,
with drinking water, toilets, hot showers, picnic tables and wood barbecues.
There is a fee and bookings are essential.
Bush camping for the self reliant camper is generally permitted throughout the park, as long as you stay at least 500m off any access road, picnic area or car-based camping area in the park.
Now is a great time to visit. Days in March and April are still warm, while autumn rain makes for impressive falls and ideal canoeing on the Shoalhaven River for both beginners and the more experienced.
For more information
on Morton contact the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre on 02 4887 7270.
In
future issues read about:
Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve
Coturaundee Nature Reserve
Crowdy Bay National Park
Davis Scrub Nature Reserve
Dural Nature Reserve
Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
Mallee Cliffs National Park
Maroota Historic Site (Devil's Rock)
Mutawintji National Park
Myall Lakes National Park
Nombinnie Nature Reserve
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
Sturt National Park
Warrabah National Park
Washpool National Park
Yathong Nature Reserve
Yuraygir National Park
