Dorrigo National Park
Overview
Dorrigo National Park is 1 hour from Coffs Harbour yet if feels worlds away. Visit this World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest on a day trip or school excursion, for breathtaking waterfall walks, picnic spots and excellent birdwatching.
Read more about Dorrigo National Park
Dorrigo National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, offers stunning scenery that's been millions of years in the making. The park has a range of forest environments that protect an enormous variety of animals and birds. You might spot red-necked pademelons, the vibrantly coloured wompoo fruit-dove, or the spectacular regent bowerbird.
A great day trip from Coffs Harbour, you can go birdwatching, relax at scenic picnic and barbecue spots, explore secret waterfalls and rainforest walks, and be amazed by the views from the elevated walk which looks all the way from the forest to the sea. Be sure to stop in at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and Canopy Cafe.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/dorrigo-national-park/local-alerts
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Contact
- 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.
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Coffs Harbour office
02 6652 0900
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - 4/32 Edgar St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
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Email: npws.coffscoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Coffs Harbour office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Dorrigo National Park.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Armidale, drive east along the Waterfall Way for about 90 minutes. You'll see the park turnoff on the left, about 2km past Dorrigo.
From Coffs Harbour:
- Travel south along the Pacific Highway, cross the Bellinger River and take the Waterfall Way exit to Dorrigo via Bellingen.
- Approximately 2km before Dorrigo township, turn right at Dome Road and continue for approximately 1.6km to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre.
Parking
- Canopy Cafe See on map
- Never Never picnic area See on map
- Skywalk lookout See on map
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
The weather at Dorrigo National Park can vary from warm to mild to cool, depending on the time of year you visit. The summer months usually have the highest rainfall.
Spring
The rainforest is alive with birdlife - walk the Lyrebird Link for a close up view.
Summer
Escape the summer heat along one of the waterfall tracks and feel the coolness envelop you.
Facilities
Amenities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Cafe/kiosk
Drinking water
Wireless internet
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Flying drones for recreational purposes is prohibited in specific parts of Dorrigo National Park including:
- near Dorrigo Rainforest Centre,
- Skywalk lookout,
- Pademelon and the Glade picnic areas,
- Walk with the Birds walking track, and all of the Wonga walk including Crystal Shower and Tristania Falls.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Visitor centre
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Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
142 Dome Road Dorrigo Mountain NSW 2453 - 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 6657 5913
Nearby towns
Dorrigo (9 km)
Dorrigo is a serene country town and the gateway to Dorrigo National Park. Its close to the edge of the escarpment above the Bellingen Valley.
Bellingen (34 km)
Bellingen is a laid-back, tree-lined town with a New Age vibe. It's set in a luxuriant valley beside the Bellinger River.
Coffs Harbour (69 km)
Coffs Harbour is a coastal city on the North Coast, packed with things to do. It's surrounded by lush forests and national parks.
Learn more
Dorrigo National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
What we're doing
Dorrigo National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents. Here is just some of the work we’re doing to conserve these values:
Preserving biodiversity
Dorrigo National Park takes pride in and values the biodiversity in the area with strategies in place to ensure ecological communities are adequately mapped and conserved. Managing the protection of rare, endangered or threatened species is of particular significance in this park and a priority. Educational research into the habitat requirements of the wildlife in Dorrigo is an ongoing contribution to the conservation of native animal communities.
Managing weeds, pest animals and other threats
Pests and weeds have a significant impact to the ecosystems within Dorrigo National Park. Risk assessments for new and emerging weeds are carried out as an ongoing initiative within the park. Pest management of invasive weeds is a priority and an important part of the work NPWS does to protect the integrity of biodiversity which exists within Dorrigo.
Developing visitor facilities and experiences
Dorrigo National Park provides visitors with an ecologically sustainable experience, presented specifically to foster environmental and cultural understanding, awareness and appreciation. The Dorrigo Rainforest Centre welcomes visitors from around the globe to experience and learn about this precious rainforest heritage through its friendly staff, gift shop and cafe, Ranger-guided tours, interpretive displays and network of walking trails. The park's Skywalk and boardwalks make it one of Australia's most accessible World Heritage areas.
Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is undertaking a range of projects to enhance visitor facilities and create iconic, new visitor experiences in Dorrigo National Park and Bindari National Park.
Significant infrastructure funding will create a new Rainforest Visitor Centre with an accessible boardwalk, and a new multi-day walk along the escarpment edge through Gondwana World Heritage rainforests, with hut and camping accommodation.
These infrastructure projects aim to increase nature-based tourism in NSW, boost regional visitor economies, and improve environmental and cultural understanding among the community.
Conserving our Aboriginal culture
Dorrigo National Park aims to manage Aboriginal sites with guidance from the Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites for the conservation of significant cultural places in the area. Ongoing research and maintenance of an Aboriginal sites register within the park is a priority in Dorrigo.
Managing fire
NSW is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world as a result of our climate, weather systems, vegetation and the rugged terrain. NPWS is committed to maintaining natural and cultural heritage values and minimising the likelihood and impact of bushfires via a strategic program of fire research, fire planning, hazard reduction, highly trained rapid response firefighting crews and community alerts.