New England National Park

New England National Park is a place of spectacular beauty and pristine wilderness. Part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, it offers visitors an unforgettable holiday experience or a peaceful weekend getaway.

Discover the ancient world sealed in Gondwana rainforest, wander through snow gum forests dotted with crimson rosellas and see breathtaking views from the Great Escarpment on one of the many walking tracks. Walks range from an easy 200m stroll to multi-day hikes through remote wilderness.

Experience sensational sunrises and breathtaking views stretching over forested valleys all the way to the coast from Point lookout. Pack a picnic and spend a few hours admiring the spectacular view before you.

Visit for the day, or take advantage of the various accommodation and camping options and stay a few days while immersing yourself in this magical world.

Accommodation is available at The Residence, The Chalet or Tom's Cabin. Car-based camping is available at Thungutti campground.

Native vegetation

New England National Park contains a rich flora of over 1000 species of plants in an interesting variety of plant communities.

Cold-tolerant open woodland of snow gum, shining gum and tussocky snow grass dominates the high altitude country around Point Lookout. Over the edge of the escarpment, cool temperate rainforests of Antarctic beech stand draped in hanging moss.

For this part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, imagine walking on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana about 80 million years ago and it may have looked like this. The Antarctic beech relates an important chapter in the story of the development of flowering plants and the break up of Gondwana.

In the lower, warmer parts of the park, the sheltered valleys are occupied by subtropical rainforest of booyong, yellow carabeen and red cedar. Eucalypt forests containing Sydney blue gum, brushbox and tallowwood grow on the ridgetops and spurs.

Areas of heath, swamp and mallee complete the diversity of vegetation within the park.

Rainforests

See ancient Antarctic Beech rainforest on the walking tracks below the escarpment including along the Eagles Nest and Lyrebird tracks. Warmer subtropical rainforest may be seen along Five Day Creek on the Cascades Walk.

Native animals

The richness and variety of animal life here reflects its wide range of habitats. Evening visitors may see kangaroos, wallabies, several species of gliders and possums and the inquisitive spotted-tailed quoll.

Over 100 species of birds have been recorded. Most commonly seen are the white-throated tree creeper, crimson rosella, pied currawong and rufous fantail in the open forests, whilst winter flowering banksias attract Lewins honeyeaters and eastern spinebills. In the rainforests the superb lyrebird reigns supreme, its resonating call and impressive vocal mimicry echoing in the valleys. Meet the resident lyrebird at Banksia Point where an active display mound presents an ideal photographic opportunity.

Landscape and Geology

The precipitous cliffs of the plateau edge are the result of at least five basalt lava flows from the Ebor volcano forming a rim over 300 metres thick. Active until about 18 million years ago this massive volcano was centred around The Crescent, a semi-circular ridge in the Bellinger Valley, visible from Point Lookout.

Subsequent erosion has created the dramatic profile of the escarpment we see today. The Banksia Point circuit provides a close-up view of a basalt flow whilst you can see the layers of cliffs north from Point Lookout.

Killiekrankie Mountain in the remote east of the park is a steep-sided trachyte dyke, a remnant of the Ebor Volcano complex. A walking track to the summit lookout provides views back to the Great Escarpment from over 1000 metres above sea level.

Below the volcanic rocks lie ancient folded sedimentary rocks, almost 500 million years old, which have been carved into a myriad of virtually inaccessible peaks and ridges and are now densely forested.

© State of New South Wales through the Office of Environment and Heritage

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Point Lookout

“Watching the sunrise over the ocean, lighting up the cloud-covered valley below from Point lookout is one of the most spectacular and memorable sunrises I have ever seen.”

Point lookout is the must-see destination for visitors to New England National Park. Perched on the edge of the Great Escarpment, it offers panoramic views across World Heritage rainforest to the ocean in the distance.

At sunrise, the mist in the valley turns from orange to pink as the sun erupts above the distant horizon. It’s no wonder this is one of the most photographed sunrises on the NSW North Coast.

Accessible to all, Point lookout is a 200m walk from the carpark on a wheelchair-friendly track. Pack a picnic, have a barbeque and spend a few hours relaxing and admiring the view. Read about the wonders of the Gondwana rainforest, Aboriginal cultural heritage and the history of this impressive location in the picnic shelter.

While you’re there, why not venture off to discover the rainforest below on the many walking tracks that start here?

Everyone who visits New England National Park should ensure they take a stroll around Point lookout walking track, located 1500m above sea level at the edge of the Great Escarpment. On a clear day, a 180-degree panorama takes in this World Heritage Area right out to Pacific Ocean, 70 kilometres away.

The bushland surrounding the 500m track is dominated by spectacular snow gums, but in summer cast your eyes down into the rainforest valleys to spot the bright red flowers of the flame trees.

As you’re enjoying the view at the lookouts along the way, watch for spine-tailed swifts soaring on the air currents and hunting for flying insects. Grey goshawk can also be seen hovering and seeking out larger prey – listen for their distinctive screeching.

© State of New South Wales through the Office of Environment and Heritage

Click the links for more information about Point Lookout in New England National Park  

Point Lookout viewing platform

On top of Cathedral Rocks

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