Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour
Dorrigo National Park
Overview
Experience the rainforest like never before, on a ranger-guided walk through World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. It's only 1hr from Coffs Harbour, but you'll feel worlds away.
- When
Tours run Monday to Saturday in NSW school Holidays. No tours on Wednesdays or public holidays.
April 2024:
Monday 15 April to Saturday 20 April 2024.
Monday 22 April to Saturday 27 April 2024. No tour on Thursday 25 April (Anzac Day).
July 2024:
Monday 8 July to Saturday 13 July 2024
Monday 15 July to Saturday 20 July 2024
Tour times:
10.30am to 11am; 11.30am to 12pm; 12.30pm to 1pm; 2pm to 2.30pm
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Grade
- Medium. Suitable for adults and children 5 years and over. There is a steep ramp descent to the rainforest floor.
- Price
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Adult $10 per person. Child (5 to 16 years) $5 per person. Family $25 for 2 adults and 2 children. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Accompanying adults need to book and pay.
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- Meeting point
- Adjacent to the mosaic at entrance to Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
- What to
bring - Sturdy shoes, drinking water, raincoat, hat
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online. It's best to book ahead to secure your ticket, but you can book at the Rainforest Centre Information desk on the day.
- Please note
This tour runs in all weather. The rainforest is the place to be in the rain, so come prepared.
This tour is an essential introduction to understanding the significance of Dorrigo National Park as a World Heritage-listed protected area.
Walk alongside an NPWS ranger, as we traverse this Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest. We'll delve into this incredible world of ancient living fossils. Hear stories of how unique plants and animals of this World Heritage rainforest have survived and thrived. It's been millions of years in the making and is a place where time itself is captured.
Your tour will commence at the entrance of Dorrigo Rainforest Centre where a wall mosaic tells the story of how this vast continent of Gondwana broke up over millions of years. You’ll learn about the raft of plants and animals that followed, whose ancestors survive today in Dorrigo National Park.
From here your guide will lead you from the edge of the escarpment, down a steep ramp to the rainforest floor. The path winds through low canopy before coming to the Balaminda platform. Here, you’ll be invited to take time to stop, breathe and listen. This hotspot of biodiversity gives us a glimpse into the past and a portal to the future.
Come and experience this stunning subtropical rainforest. This short tour finishes at the Gondwana Junction. You’ll have the option to continue self-guided to the cascading Crystal Shower and Tristania Falls, the nearby Walk with the Birds boardwalk or return to the rainforest centre.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/guided-tours/dorrigo-rainforest-ranger-guided-tour/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Park info
- in Dorrigo National Park in the North Coast region
Dorrigo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour.
Getting there and parking
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre is in the western precinct of Dorrigo National Park. To get there:
From Armidale:
- Drive east along the Waterfall Way for about 90min
- Turn left into Dome Road approximately 2km after you pass through Dorrigo
From Coffs Harbour:
- Travel south along the Pacific Highway
- After crossing the Bellinger River, take the Waterfall Way exit to Dorrigo via Bellingen.
- Turn right at Dome Road and continue for approximately 1.6km to Dorrigo Rainforest Centre.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Free parking is available at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, including several designated disabled spots.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Some assistance may be required to access this area. Paths are sealed but there are some gradual slopes and uneven ground. Accessible toilets are available.
Visitor centre
-
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
142 Dome Road Dorrigo Mountain NSW 2453 - 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 6657 5913
Learn more
Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour is in Dorrigo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A wide range of animals
Dorrigo National Park plays home to many different animals, including 30 types of mammals, more than 128 kinds of birds and 44 species of amphibians and reptiles. The dense forest is the ideal hiding place for reptiles, so you'll need to be very quiet and patient in order to catch a glimpse. Look for the southern angle-headed dragon clinging to the trunks of trees along the Wonga walk and the red-necked pademelon on the lawn by the Rainforest Centre.
- 14-day coastal tours from Sydney to Cairns Unleash your spirit of adventure on a sweeping East Coast tour with Via Travel Australia. Let each new day bring more enchanting sites to discover and enjoy, from Gondwana Rainforests to cascading waterfalls and sublime surf beaches.
- Dorrigo kids’ nature play: 5 to 12 years Looking for something for the kids to do these school holidays? Join us for a fun tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Kids aged 5 to 12 years can reconnect with nature through play.
- Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, bring the family to this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Gumbaynggirr Ranger Matt will share his language and culture as he guides you through the rainforest.
- Dorrigo Rainforest birds revealed self-guided audio tour Go on a self-guided audio tour through Dorrigo Rainforest and discover some of the interesting birds that call this place home. As you follow the track, you'll learn about the quirky habits, colourful personalities and unique calls of some of the park’s most prominent birds.
- Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour Experience the rainforest like never before, on a ranger-guided walk through World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. It's only 1hr from Coffs Harbour, but you'll feel worlds away.
Dramatic waterfalls
The area is renowned for its dramatic waterfalls; so much that part of the park was first reserved in 1901 to protect the Sherrard and Newell Falls along the Waterfall Way. Today, there are a number of great rainforest walks in the park, try the Crystal Shower Falls walk for a journey behind the falls, or the longer Casuarina Falls circuit that offers views of Dorrigo Mountain and Rosewood River Valley.
- Volunteer at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre Join a fun and passionate team of people when you become a volunteer at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre shop. Help show off Dorrigo National Park to visitors from around world. Explain the park’s activities and offer information about the nearby town of Dorrigo.
Rich Aboriginal heritage
Dorrigo National Park aims to manage Aboriginal sites, many of which are associated with natural features in the landscape. Involving local Aboriginal custodians in managing their traditional homelands, and continuing their connection to country, is a priority in Dorrigo National Park.
- Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, bring the family to this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Gumbaynggirr Ranger Matt will share his language and culture as he guides you through the rainforest.
World Heritage rainforests
The rainforests in Dorrigo National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area; the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. The World Heritage Area is a direct window into the past and the future, providing a link to the ancient pre-human world and a stunning and irreplaceable record of life on our planet. You can explore the rainforest on one of the many walking tracks, like the Lyrebird Link that leaves from the Rainforest Centre.
- 14-day coastal tours from Sydney to Cairns Unleash your spirit of adventure on a sweeping East Coast tour with Via Travel Australia. Let each new day bring more enchanting sites to discover and enjoy, from Gondwana Rainforests to cascading waterfalls and sublime surf beaches.
- 8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour Join ParkTours for an 8-day walking holiday and discover the spectacular sights of the NSW North Coast and Northern Tablelands. Explore country towns, see stunning landscapes and go wildlife spotting.
- Dorrigo kids’ nature play: 5 to 12 years Looking for something for the kids to do these school holidays? Join us for a fun tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Kids aged 5 to 12 years can reconnect with nature through play.
- Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, bring the family to this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Gumbaynggirr Ranger Matt will share his language and culture as he guides you through the rainforest.
- Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour Experience the rainforest like never before, on a ranger-guided walk through World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. It's only 1hr from Coffs Harbour, but you'll feel worlds away.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.
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Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.
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Wompoo fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)
The wompoo fruit-dove is a marvellously multi-coloured pigeon that makes its home in rainforest along coastal ranges from mid-north NSW to southern Queensland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.
Plants
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Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.
Environments in this park
Education resources (1)
School excursions (6)
- Sensing the rainforest at Dorrigo, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Venture to the falls, Stage 4 (Years 7-8), Geography
- Ecosystems at risk, Stage 6 (Years 11-12), Geography
- Sensing the rainforest at Dorrigo National Park, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), Geography
- Sensing the Rainforest, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), Geography
- Venture to the falls at Dorrigo, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), Geography