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Macquarie Pass National Park

Coordinates: 34°34′10″S 150°39′25″E / 34.56944°S 150.65694°E / -34.56944; 150.65694
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Macquarie Pass National Park
New South Wales
Rainforest in the park
Macquarie Pass National Park is located in New South Wales
Macquarie Pass National Park
Macquarie Pass National Park
Map
Coordinates34°34′10″S 150°39′25″E / 34.56944°S 150.65694°E / -34.56944; 150.65694
Population0 (SAL 2016)[1][2]
Established3 December 1969 (1969-12-03)
Area11 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Managing authoritiesNational Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
See alsoProtected areas of
New South Wales

Macquarie Pass National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 90 km southwest of Sydney. It is located around the pass of the same name, which is on the Illawarra Highway and part of the Illawarra escarpment.

Macquarie Pass National Park was established in 1970 and protects a range of eucalypt forests and rainforest, including one of Australia's most southerly stands of subtropical rainforest.[3] The pass was opened in 1898. It has been a major route into and out of the Illawarra coastal plain ever since. There is a major power line running east–west through the park.

As well as a diverse array of birdlife the park has swamp wallabies and wombats.

History

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The area was heavily logged for cedar in the first half of the 19th century.[4]

Facilities

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Picnic facilities are provided at two sites at the bottom of Macquarie Pass. Barbecues are provided at two other picnic areas.[5]

Walking tracks

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The Macquarie Rivulet track is two kilometres long and easy to medium grade. A track goes along 30 metres to a parking area near a picnic area and rivulet. An old track continues on along the north side of the rivulet which is flat for several hundred metres, then becomes steeper, dropping back to the rivulet by a large boulder. Birds which may be seen here include dollarbird, azure kingfisher, sacred kingfisher, golden whistler, yellow-throated scrubwren, black-faced monarch and rufous fantail.

The Cascade Falls Walk is a one kilometre track, easy grade. It goes beside Cascade Creek at the base of Macquarie Pass to a small waterfall.[5] Birds found here include green catbird, rose robin, red-browed finch, yellow-throated scrubwren, brown gerygone, Lewin's honeyeater, crimson rosella. Fungi are apparent here.

Clover Hill Road is a 3.5 kilometre track, easy grade. It follows a maintenance trail to Macquarie Rivulet and several waterfalls and a large boulder. The track goes to a parking area after 3  kilometres. The track then deteriorates near a Turpentine grove. It then comes to a dilapidated concrete causeway over the rivulet. Crossing it, it goes to Rainbow Falls and a balancing rock. The rock is about 50 metres tall and the waterfall is behind it. Birds here include white-throated treecreeper, large-billed gerygone, Bassian thrush, topknot pigeon, brown cuckoo-dove, wonga pigeon, Australian king parrot, grey goshawk, Lewin's honeyeater, and nocturnal spotlighting may produce a powerful or sooty owl.

The Glenview walk is a two kilometre track, easy grade. It goes through tall forest past power lines and eastwards, ceasing at the park boundary. Birds here include variegated fairy-wren, brush cuckoo, fan-tailed cuckoo, crested shrike-tit, golden bronze-cuckoo.

The Upper Cascade Creek Walk is a two kilometre track of moderate grade.

The Brown Barrel Walk is an easy to moderate grade track half a kilometre in length that goes from Nurrewin past power lines and through rainforest and moist eucalypt forest. Birds here include superb lyrebird, pilotbird, cicadabird, logrunner, rose robin, golden whistler, king parrot, topknot pigeon. Its name derives from Eucalyptus fastigata, or brown barrel.

The Mount Murray Road Track is a one and a half kilometre track of easy grade. It follows the powerline easement in a loop track. Birds include red-browed treecreeper, satin flycatcher, black-faced monarch and rufous fantails in late spring to autumn months.

Locality

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The locality of Macquarie Pass is defined as a suburb of the City of Shellharbour, "containing, more or less, the Macquarie Pass National Park, about 11 km west of Albion Park".[6] At the 2021 census, it had no population.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Macquarie Pass National Park (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Macquarie Pass (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2016 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ Daly, Margo (2003). The Rough Guide to Australia. Rough Guides. p. 240. ISBN 1-84353-090-2.
  4. ^ "Macquarie Pass National Park: Culture and history". NSW Government. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Macquarie Pass National Park: Facilities and activities". NSW Government. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Macquarie Pass". Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. New South Wales Government. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Macquarie Pass". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 1 February 2022. Edit this at Wikidata