Dharug National Park
New South Wales
A view from Settlers Road, located adjacent to the national park, looking across the Hawkesbury River.
Map
Dharug National Park
Nearest town or cityGosford
Established1 October 1967 (1967-10-01)[1]
Area148.50 km2 (57.3 sq mi)[1]
Managing authoritiesNSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
WebsiteDharug National Park
See alsoProtected areas of
New South Wales

The Dharug National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 14,850-hectare (36,700-acre) national park is situated approximately 81 kilometres (50 mi) north of the Sydney and 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Gosford.

The park contains the Great North Road, one of the eleven UNESCO World Heritage–listed Australian Convict Sites. These eleven sites present the story of the forced migration of convicts and the ideas and practices of punishment and reform of criminals during this time.[2] The relatively intact Devine's Hill and Finch's Line sections of the Old Great North Road, approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and contained within the national park,[3] were inscribed on the World Heritage register in July 2010.

Location and features

The park is bounded by the Yengo National Park, the Wisemans Ferry and Old Great North Roads, McPherson State Forest, private land along Mangrove Creek and the townships of Gunderman and Spencer.[3] The Popran National Park is located on the eastern bank of Mangrove Creek and the Marramarra National Park is located on the southern shore of the Hawkesbury River; making the Dharug National Park, when combined with adjoining parks, a virtually contiguous area of protected national park stretching from Jerrys Plains in the Hunter Region in the north to Pennant Hills in the Hills District in the south.[4]

The Dharug National Park lies within the Sydney Basin, a major structural unit of Permian and Triassic age (270-180 million years ago) consisting almost entirely of horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks. The park lies on the northern margin of the Hornsby Plateau; a subdivision of the Sydney Basin.[3]

Fauna

The park is full of birds and animals that you can meet during the tour. You will be greeted by satin bowerbirds, gang-gang cockatoos and green catbirds.[5]

Etymology

The park derives its name from the indigenous Darug people, who are the traditional custodians of the area.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Dharug National Park: Park management". Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. ^ "World Heritage Listing - Australian convict sites including the Old Great North Road". Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Dharug National Park: Plan of management (PDF) (PDF). Government of New South Wales. July 1997. ISBN 0-7310-7685-0. Retrieved 11 October 2014. ((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Dharug National Park (Map). NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Dharug National Park". NSW National Parks. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

External links


National parks of New South Wales, Australia
Hawkesbury River region, New South Wales, Australia
Categories