G R E AT A U S S I E T R E K S E R I E S

PICS BY ALL AN WHITING

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There’s plenty of bush camping in the
park including official sites at Silent
Creek, The Beach and The Sink.
t’s very easy to overlook NSW’s Aber-
crombie River National Park, because
it doesn’t have the spectacular natural
features of the nearby Blue Mountains
National Park, but Abercrombie offers
some steep 4X4 driving and magnifi-
cent river-side campsites.
Abercrombie River National Park
was gazetted in 1995, to preserve some of
the last remnants of mountain woodland in
the south-western central tablelands and to
The topography varies from very steep
tree-covered hills to gentler slopes
maintain the pristine quality of the Abercrom-
bie River water catchments.
The topography varies from very steep
tree-covered hills in the north-eastern sec-
tion, with altitudes around 1100m, to gentler
slopes in the south-west and altitudes around
500m.
Almost the entire Park is open woodland,
with the dominant tree being the mountain
gum. Grey-green grass clumps cover the
gravelly ground. The open nature of the
The open woodland dominating the Park
allows good views of the district
forest allows good views of the surrounding
mountains and deep valleys. Casuarina fronds
whistle in the breezes along the river edges.
Near the Park boundaries there are brilliant
views of the surrounding pastoral land.
Abercrombie River National Park offers an
interesting insight into the original appear-
ance of this tableland country, before clearing
for pine plantations and grazing took place.
On a quiet mid-week visit we saw eastern
grey kangaroos and dozens of different bird
species. At night we could hear the pleading
cries of frogs.
The suggested two-day route takes in the
very steep sections first, followed by a drive
down to the flatter regions, where there’s
ample camping available. The return loop to
the Park’s northern entrance passes through
more protected sections, with better soil,
where the trees are larger and logging once
took place.
The Park tracks are kept in good condi-
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