50th anniversary event for Werrikimbe National Park
Werrikimbe National Park
Overview
Join us and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Werrikimbe National Park from the grounds of Mooraback cabin on 29-30 March 2025. Free festivities include Ranger-guided walks, speeches, celebratory cake, and a delicious lunch.
- When
- The 50th anniversary event takes place from 5pm Saturday 29 March through until 5pm on Sunday 30 March 2025.
- Where
- Werrikimbe National Park in North Coast, Country NSW
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Grade
- Easy. The event is suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The guided walks vary in length and difficulty.
- Bookings
- Please RSVP to the local office to help us plan for guided tours and catering. Phone: 02 6777 4700. Email: npws.nea@environment.nsw.gov.au
Join us at this free event at Mooraback cabin celebrating the 50th anniversary of Werrikimbe National Park over the last weekend in March 2025. Enjoy Ranger-guided walks, speeches, celebratory cake, and a delicious lunch.
To start the milestone celebrations we're offering a free nocturnal guided bird walk at 5pm on Saturday. Our knowledgable guide will reveal the park’s birdlife as the sun sets, offering a rare chance to experience the nocturnal environment of Werrikimbe National Park. Spot owls and other wildlife emerging at sunset.
On Sunday morning, join our guided bird walk at 8am and learn about the park’s diverse birdlife. Throughout the day, our Rangers will also provide fascinating insights into the park’s biodiversity and history.
There are 2 different Ranger-guided walks on offer:
- Carabeen walk: Discover the yellow carabeen trees and the stunning Gondwana rainforest of Australia along this 1.8km loop track.
- Platypus Pool walking track: Explore the banks of the Hastings River and its unique features along this 5km loop track.
The formal festivities of the day commence at 11.30am with speeches, celebratory cake, and a delicious lunch. The newly renovated Mooraback cabin will also be open for inspection. Please RSVP to the local Walcha office to help us plan for catering and the guided walks.
Weekend schedule
Saturday
5pm - Bird briefing followed by nocturnal guided walk at sunset. Spot owls and other wildlife.
Sunday
8am - Guided bird walk
9.30am – Mooraback cabin open house
9.30am - Platypus Pool Ranger-guided walk, or, Carabeen Ranger guided walk (run simultaneously)
11.30am - welcome to Country
11.35am - speeches and cake cutting
12.45pm – lunch
2pm - Platypus Pool Ranger-guided walk, or, Carabeen Ranger guided walk (run simultaneously)
3pm – event ends
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/events/werrikimbe-50-anniversary-event/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Walcha office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6777 4700
- npws.nea@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 188W North Street, Walcha NSW 2354
Park info
- in Werrikimbe National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Werrikimbe National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about 50th anniversary event for Werrikimbe National Park .
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Mooraback Cabin is in the Mooraback precinct of Werrikimbe National Park. To get there:
- Follow the Oxley Highway 55km east of Walcha or 150km west of Port Macquarie
- Turn onto Kangaroo Flat Road
- After around 19.5km, turn onto Mooraback Road and follow for 7km to the park entrance.
- After entering the park, Mooraback Cabin is another 7km along Mooraback Road.
Road quality
- Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads
Parking
Free parking is available at Mooraback cabin.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- Accessibility may be impacted by walking across the extensive grass lawn with marquees on the day of the event.
- An accessible toilet inside Mooraback cabin will be available for those who require one.
- Mooraback cabin is fully accessible.
Medium access presents some minor difficulties, such as a grassy surface. You may require a little assistance to get around in some areas.
Learn more
50th anniversary event for Werrikimbe National Park is in Werrikimbe National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Abundant landscapes
You'll find three different rainforest types; cool temperate, warm temperate and subtropical. The park also contains significant endangered ecological communities, like at Bishops Swamp and Racecourse Swamp. Head to Mooraback campground to see the snow gum woodland that is slowly regenerating from over 100 years of grazing.
- 50th anniversary event for Werrikimbe National Park Join us and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Werrikimbe National Park from the grounds of Mooraback cabin on 29-30 March 2025. Free festivities include Ranger-guided walks, speeches, celebratory cake, and a delicious lunch.
Thousands of species
There are close to 1,000 plant species found in Werrikimbe, including nearly 30 that are listed as rare or threatened. The diverse landscapes of Werrikimbe are home to a wide range of wildlife including around 52 species of mammals, over 120 bird species and 48 species of reptiles and amphibians. You'll see bandicoots, eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies including the rare parma wallaby, sometimes seen around Brushy Mountain. You'll also find a range of forest birds such as eastern yellow robins, scarlet robins, grey and rufous fantails. If you're lucky, you might spot rare species such as the olive whistler, rufous scrub-bird and sooty owl.
- 50th anniversary event for Werrikimbe National Park Join us and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Werrikimbe National Park from the grounds of Mooraback cabin on 29-30 March 2025. Free festivities include Ranger-guided walks, speeches, celebratory cake, and a delicious lunch.
- King Fern walking track King Fern walking track in Werrikimbe National Park near Wauchope is a great introduction to World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. A 2km loop, it also offers waterfalls and vibrant birdlife.
Traditional lands of the Dungutti People
When you're exploring the beautiful mountains, rivers and bushlands of Werrikimbe National Park, you're on the traditional lands of the Dungutti Aboriginal People. Aboriginal groups continue to have an active role in the management of the park. There are a number of important sites in the park that show that Dungutti people are the original inhabitants of this land, including several stone arrangements and surface deposits of stone artefacts.
World Heritage wonder
The rainforests in Werrikimbe National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area; the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. This World Heritage Area is a direct window into the past and the future, providing a link to the ancient pre-human world and an irreplaceable record of life on our planet. Explore the rainforest on one of the park's many walking tracks, like King Fern walking track from Plateau Beech campground. Discover ancient Antarctic beech trees and listen for the lyrebird whose mimicking calls ring out through the rainforest.
- Carabeen walk Discover World Heritage Gondwana Rainforest on Carabeen walk, in Werrikimbe National Park. This short, family-friendly walk loops past majestic yellow carabeen trees, near Walcha.
- King Fern walking track King Fern walking track in Werrikimbe National Park near Wauchope is a great introduction to World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. A 2km loop, it also offers waterfalls and vibrant birdlife.
- Platypus Pool walking track Don’t miss Platypus Pool walking track when you’re staying at Mooraback campground in Werrikimbe National Park, near Walcha. You might spot a shy platypus as you walk alongside the Hastings River.