Dorrigo rainforest after dark spotlight tour
Dorrigo National Park
Affected by closures, check current alerts
Overview
Wander through tendrils of mist to spot nocturnal creatures on this after dark expedition through Dorrigo National Park. It’s a rare glimpse into the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest by torchlight.
- When
2026 tour times:
- 10 April 6.30pm to 8pm
- 8 May 6.30pm to 8pm
- 4 September 7pm to 8.30pm
- 2 October 7pm to 8.30pm
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Grade
- Easy. Suitable for adults and kids over 6. We’ll take a 1.5km walk along a sealed path with some gradual slopes. The surface is uneven and may be wet after rain. This tour takes place at night, so visibility is low.
- Price
-
Adults $25 per person. Concession $20 per person. Child $15 per person. Family $70 (2 adults and 2 children).
- Entry fees
- Price includes park entry fee
- Meeting point
- The Glade picnic area.
- What to
bring - Drinking water, insect repellent, torch, suitable clothing, raincoat
- Bookings
- Bookings required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
- Availability
- Available on request. Email us for more information and a quote for private group bookings.
Many visitors experience the majesty of Dorrigo National Park’s rainforests by day. Only a fortunate few get to witness the forest’s hidden world after nightfall.
Join our local park rangers for a unique spotlighting adventure on this 1.5km return journey. We’ll head out after sunset to meander through the rainforest in search of rarely seen creatures who emerge for the night shift.
Keep an eye out for elusive possums, curious pademelons, delicate microbats and an astonishing variety of foraging spiders. If luck is on your side, you may also encounter the forest’s natural light show. Phosphorescent fungi, shimmering glow worms and brilliant flashes of fireflies could colour our trail.
The rainforest after dark is a rich, immersive sensory experience you won’t forget.
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-after-dark-spotlight-tour/local-alerts
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 after dark spotlight tour.
Getting there and parking
The Glade picnic area is in the western precinct of Dorrigo National Park. To get there:
From Armidale:
- Drive east along the Waterfall Way for approximately 90 minutes.
- Turn left into Dome Road approximately 2km after you pass through Dorrigo.
- Continue past the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre along Lyrebird Lane to the end.
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 the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre.
- Continue past the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre along Lyrebird Lane to the end.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Free parking available at The Glade Picnic Area.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Paths are wide and sealed but there are some uneven sections, gradual slopes and a boardwalk. Visibility is low as this is a night tour. You may require a little assistance to get around.
Visitor centre
-
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
142 Dome Road Dorrigo Mountain NSW 2453 - May to August 9am to 3.30pm daily. September to April 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 6657 5913
Learn more
Dorrigo rainforest after dark spotlight 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.
- Birds of the rainforest guided tour These school holidays, join this fascinating guided tour focused on the songbirds of World Heritage-listed Dorrigo Rainforest, near Coffs Harbour. Great for bird lovers, including children aged 5 years and over.
- Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide you through the rainforest.
- Dorrigo rainforest after dark spotlight tour Wander through tendrils of mist to spot nocturnal creatures on this after dark expedition through Dorrigo National Park. It’s a rare glimpse into the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest by torchlight.
- 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.
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 Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide 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.
- Birds of the rainforest guided tour These school holidays, join this fascinating guided tour focused on the songbirds of World Heritage-listed Dorrigo Rainforest, near Coffs Harbour. Great for bird lovers, including children aged 5 years and over.
- Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide you through the rainforest.
- Dorrigo rainforest after dark spotlight tour Wander through tendrils of mist to spot nocturnal creatures on this after dark expedition through Dorrigo National Park. It’s a rare glimpse into the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest by torchlight.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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
School excursions (6)
- Sensing the rainforest at Dorrigo, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography
- Venture to the falls, Stage 4 (Years 7-8), Geography
- Gondwanan rainforests: An ecosystem 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
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.
What's nearby:
Things to do (27)
- 4WD touring (1)
- Birdwatching and wildlife encounters (11)
- Cycling (2)
- Environmental appreciation/study (1)
- Photography (1)
- Picnics and barbecues (3)
- Road trips and car/bus tours (3)
- Sightseeing (13)
- Surfing (1)
- Swimming (2)
- Visitor centres (1)
- Walking (15)
- Waterfalls (11)