The
Abercrombie River National Park preserves the largest remaining intact patch of low open forest in the south-west tableland area of New South Wales. Visitors may be lucky enough to spot platypuses and eastern water rats in the Abercrombie and Retreat Rivers, both of which are important habitats for the animals.
When not in drought conditions the park offers the opportunity to swim, fish, and canoes.
The park is suitable to visit all year around, although be well prepared in winter and ensure you take plenty of warm clothing.
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
The park varies widely in altitude and geology. In the north-east, the landscape reaches 1128m above sea level, and you'll find rich volcanic soils. The southern end of the park is much lower - only 500m at the Abercrombie River - and has much poorer soils from sedimentary
rock. This landscape diversity has led to a wide variety of plant communities.
In the high-altitude areas in the eastern section of the park, you'll find mountain gums and peppermint, which is typical of the Southern Tablelands. This type of plant community has been much reduced elsewhere, due to land
clearing for pine plantations and forestry.
At lower altitudes, there are open forests of inland scribbly gum and red stringy bark. Along the rivers and creeks, there are tall river oaks, tea trees and bottlebrushes.
Argyle apple grows in this park. This is close to the northern limit of its distribution.
Wallaroos, red-necked wallabies, swamp wallabies and eastern
grey kangaroos are often seen in the park's eucalypt forests. Wombats and echidnas live on the slopes and river flats.
Up in the trees, there are greater gliders, sugar gliders, brush-tailed possums and ring-tailed possums. Over 60 species of birds are also found in the park - including the peregrine falcon.
Down by the park's rivers, you might be lucky enough to see a platypus. If not, you might spot a Gippsland water dragon, sunning itself on a
rock during the warmer months. You'll also hear the calls of a variety of frog species.
The rivers and creeks are
home to trout cod and Macquarie perch, both of which are protected by law. River blackfish, silver perch and Murray Cray are also found here - all of these species are rare in the region. If you catch a trout cod, Macquarie perch or silver perch, you must carefully return it to the water.
History
The rivers and creeks throughout the park offered food and shelter for local Aboriginal tribes, possibly the Wiradjuri or Gundungarra people. These tribes probably used the Abercrombie River as a trading route for stone tools and even shells from the coast.
The land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture – including recreational, ceremonial, and spiritual and as a main source of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich heritage.
To find out more about Aboriginal heritage in the park, you can get in touch with the local Aboriginal community. Contact the park office for more details.
The area that now forms the national park was prospected during the 19th century gold-rushes, and there are still some diggings, water races and sluice boxes left behind by the miners. There's also an early 20th century wattle-and-daub hut in the park.
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