Heathcote National Park
| Heathcote National Park New South Wales |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Heathcote National Park
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 Heathcote National Park
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| Nearest town or city | Sydney |
| Coordinates | 34°07′49″S 150°58′17″E / 34.13028°S 150.97139°ECoordinates: 34°07′49″S 150°58′17″E / 34.13028°S 150.97139°E |
| Established | January 1943[1] |
| Area | 26.79 km2 (10.3 sq mi)[1] |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| Website | Heathcote National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
The Heathcote National Park is a protected national park that is located in the southern region of Sydney, New South Wales in eastern Australia. The 2,679-hectare (6,620-acre) national park is situated approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest of the Sydney central business district, west of the South Coast railway line, the Princes Highway and Motorway, and the suburbs of Heathcote and Waterfall.
Contents
Description[edit]
The park consists of eucalyptus forest and has no private vehicular access. Access to the park can be gained from Freeman Road, Heathcote.[2] A walking track is located at the rear of the Scout Hall in Freeman Road. Heading south along the track will take you past various watering holes and small waterfalls that can be found all the way along. Following this road all the way to end will eventually lead you to Woronora Dam. Access to the park can be found at several other points around Heathcote and Waterfall.
The main walking track is the Bullawarring Track, which provides a walk from Waterfall to Heathcote.
History[edit]
Aboriginal people are known to have lived in the area and have left their mark at a number of known sites.[3] In addition, a number of Europeans lived in rough huts in the park during the Great Depression, leaving behind meager ruins at places like Myuna Creek.[3]
Before this bush area became a park of any kind, a bushwalking group had a lease on much of the land in the area. They may have been responsible for the creation of some of the early tracks and camp sites. Later, the area became a state park and, later still, a national park.
Features[edit]
Landscape[edit]
The park consists of a deeply dissected Hawkesbury sandstone plateau, part of the Woronora Plateau The creek gorges include Heathcote Creek, a tributary of the Georges River. The sandstone was formed 200 million years ago, and periods of uplift began about 94 million years ago. Each period of uplift caused stream erosion, which cut more deeply into the plateau surface. Heathcote Creek cascades down a number of rock pools and small waterfalls to the Woronora River at the northern end of the park.
Flora[edit]
The ridges and drier slopes are covered in forest dominated by angophoras and eucalypts such as bloodwood, greygum, Sydney peppermint, and scribbly gum. Grass-trees are common. Low heath growth consists of shrubs, including ti trees, banksias, hakeas, and waxflowers. Gymea lilies and forest oaks grow on the moister slopes. Blackbutts and grevilleas grow in the Heathcote Creek Valley.[4]
Fauna[edit]
Sugar gliders, ring tail possums, and possibly eastern pygmy possums inhabit both Mirang Creek and Minda Gully. Swamp wallabies are also present. Honeyeaters are often seen, as well as Superb Lyrebirds.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Heathcote National Park: Park management". Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Google Maps
- ^ a b Paton, Neil (2004). Sydney and Blue Mountains Bushwalks. Kangaroo Press. pp. 132, 137–139.
- ^ a b "Heathcote National Park - Natural environment".
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heathcote National Park. |
- "Heathcote National Park". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Government of New South Wales.
- NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Government of New South Wales. Heathcote National Park (PDF Map). http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/media/Visitor/Files/PDF/Maps/heathcote-pdf-map.ashx.
- "Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area: Plan of management". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 4 February 2000. ISBN 0-7310-0895-2.
- "Amendments to the Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Recreation Area: Plan of management 2000". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 15 September 2010. ISBN 978-1-74232-956-7.
- "Heathcote National Park". Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
- "List of fauna". Wildlife Atlas.
- List of animals recorded in the park
