PARK INFORMATION
NSWNPWS 1300 361 967 NPWS Dorrigo (02) 6657 2309
SIZE
109 582 ha
VISITOR INFORMATION
Dorrigo (02) 6657 2486 www.dorrigo.com Glen Innes (02) 6730 2400 www.gleninnestourism.com.au
LOCATION AND ACCESS
667 km north of Sydney; 100 km north-east of Armidale via Armidale–Grafton Rd; access via unsealed forest roads; some routes into the park are via private property – permission required before crossing private land
CAMPING
Chaelundi Rest Area; bush camping along river
Guy Fawkes National Park in the state’s north-east is isolated, extensive and wild. The Guy Fawkes River winds its way through the rugged landscape of mountain ranges, sheer gorges and narrow valleys. Well-equipped bushwalkers can get off the beaten track but there is also vehicle access to campsites, waterfalls and picnic venues for the less intrepid. Bushwalking, canoeing, rock-climbing and wildlifewatching are key activities.
Open woodland of yellow box, cabbage gum and broad-leaved stringybark covers much of the terrain, with patches of dry rainforest in gullies and some grasslands. Quiet observers may see eastern grey kangaroos, shaggy wallaroos and red-necked wallabies. Although rarely seen, threatened brushtailed rock-wallabies inhabit the park’s higher reaches, and platypus swim in the river pools. More conspicuous is the birdlife, especially glossy blackcockatoos, kookaburras, pied currawongs, spotted pardalotes and crimson rosellas. Large numbers of owls, including the southern boobook, powerful, masked and sooty owl, also find refuge in the park.
Chaelundi Rest Area, nestled beside Chaelundi Creek, has basic facilities (wheelchair access). A short walk downstream leads to Chaelundi Falls; from there it is 1.5 kilometres to the cliff-tops of Chaelundi Bluff, an excellent lookout. Guy Fawkes River Walk (30 km, 2–3 days), off the Lucifers Thumb Track, is quite demanding, including a steep haul out of the river valley and is for fit and experienced walkers. There are a number of other walking trails. In a separate section of the park, the Guy Fawkes River plummets off the tablelands at the breathtaking Ebor Falls; there is a picnic area here.