barrington tops wilderness region
Enjoy the splendour of World Heritage Barrington Tops wilderness
Barrington Tops - A Vision Splendid
Carved out of an ancient volcano in the Mount Royal Ranges of NSW, Barrington Tops rises from near sea level to 1586 metres and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. It became a World Heritage site in 1986 and was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2007. It's the highest subalpine area in the country outside the Australian Alps and regularly gets a dusting of winter snow.
Up on the plateau, there are snow gums and alpine meadows perched high above the steep valleys, complete with magnificent sphagnum bogs providing unique and diverse habitat. Six rivers rise from this mountainous region topped by thick Antarctic Beech forests of this splendid national park. In the lower valleys, you'll see subtropical rainforests and those new-born rivers tumbling over rocky cascades and river rapids.
A wilderness of outstanding beauty
Most of the area is unspoilt wilderness and it's a well-known destination for adventurers of all ages. The unique location and topography of Barrington Tops provides the perfect 'edge affect' for many native species: it's the meeting place where southern and northern species find their distribution limits. The park's varied environment protects more than 50 rare and threatened species.
The Barrington River, Manning River and Barnard River are three of the wild and scenic rivers that offer ideal canoeing, kayaking and hiking adventures for outdoor education students. The Barrington River is our favourite, flowing through scenic gorges, forming white water rapids in its upper section, and calm flowing pools in its lower section as it passes verdant farmland. It makes the perfect opportunity to commune with nature and develop life-long skills.
Carved out of an ancient volcano in the Mount Royal Ranges of NSW, Barrington Tops rises from near sea level to 1586 metres and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. It became a World Heritage site in 1986 and was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2007. It's the highest subalpine area in the country outside the Australian Alps and regularly gets a dusting of winter snow.
Up on the plateau, there are snow gums and alpine meadows perched high above the steep valleys, complete with magnificent sphagnum bogs providing unique and diverse habitat. Six rivers rise from this mountainous region topped by thick Antarctic Beech forests of this splendid national park. In the lower valleys, you'll see subtropical rainforests and those new-born rivers tumbling over rocky cascades and river rapids.
A wilderness of outstanding beauty
Most of the area is unspoilt wilderness and it's a well-known destination for adventurers of all ages. The unique location and topography of Barrington Tops provides the perfect 'edge affect' for many native species: it's the meeting place where southern and northern species find their distribution limits. The park's varied environment protects more than 50 rare and threatened species.
The Barrington River, Manning River and Barnard River are three of the wild and scenic rivers that offer ideal canoeing, kayaking and hiking adventures for outdoor education students. The Barrington River is our favourite, flowing through scenic gorges, forming white water rapids in its upper section, and calm flowing pools in its lower section as it passes verdant farmland. It makes the perfect opportunity to commune with nature and develop life-long skills.
