8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour

Dorrigo National Park

A view through trees of a waterfall cascading into a pool. Photo: Graeme McGregor © ParkTours

Overview

Join ParkTours for an 8-day walking holiday and discover the spectacular sights of the NSW North Coast and Northern Tablelands. Explore country towns, see stunning landscapes and go wildlife spotting.

Type: Walking tour
When: Contact ParkTours for a tour schedule.
Where: Dorrigo National Park in North Coast
Accessibility: No wheelchair access
Grade: Medium. Previous bushwalking experience is required. You’ll walk 14km per day for at least 2 days, with some longer tour options on offer.
Price: Contact ParkTours for pricing.
Bookings: Bookings required. Book online or email or call ParkTours on 07 5533 3583. Bookings available on request.

Travel through a diverse range of landscapes, vegetation, and geological formations on this 8-day walking tour with ParkTours. Spend 8 nights in Yamba, Dorrigo, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield and experience pristine walks and opportunities to spot wildlife.

Starting from Yamba, you'll walk through the littoral rainforest in Iluka Nature Reserve as well as sections of the spectacular Bundjalung and Yuraygir National Parks. Headlands are the perfect vantage point of spot marine life while the coastal heath is a haven for birds.

Heading south west, you'll explore the forest and waterfalls in Dorrigo National Park and Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Then walk through the nearby New England National Park which protects a wide diversity of forest types, including cool temperate rainforest (with Antarctic beech trees), eucalypt forests and heathlands.

Next you'll travel to Cathedral Rock National Park, where 270 million year old granites of New England batholith dominate the landscape. The on to Bald Rock National Park where you'll climb the largest granite rock in Australia.

ParkTours is a licensed commercial tour operator with a Parks Eco Pass.

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/guided-tours/8-day-nsw-north-coast-tablelands-walking-tour/local-alerts

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Park info

in Dorrigo National Park in the North Coast region
Dorrigo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about 8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour.

Getting there and parking

Contact ParkTours for directions.

Parking

Contact ParkTours for information on parking.

Maps and downloads

8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour factsheet

Accessibility

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

Visitor centre

Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
142 Dome Road Dorrigo Mountain NSW 2453
May to August 9am to 4pm daily. September to April 9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
02 6657 5913

Learn more

8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour is in Dorrigo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

A wide range of animals

The eastern yellow robin at its nest, with dappled sunlight highlighting its yellow body and grey and yellow wings. Credit: Andrew Turbill © the photographer

Dorrigo National Park plays home to many different animals, including 30 types of mammals, more than 128 kinds of birds and 44 species of amphibians and reptiles. The dense forest is the ideal hiding place for reptiles, so you'll need to be very quiet and patient in order to catch a glimpse. Look for the southern angle-headed dragon clinging to the trunks of trees along the Wonga walk and the red-necked pademelon on the lawn by the Rainforest Centre.

14-day coastal tours from Sydney to Cairns Unleash your spirit of adventure on a sweeping East Coast tour with Via Travel Australia. Let each new day bring more enchanting sites to discover and enjoy, from Gondwana Rainforests to cascading waterfalls and sublime surf beaches.
Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide you through the rainforest.
Dorrigo Rainforest birds revealed self-guided audio tour Go on a self-guided audio tour through Dorrigo Rainforest and discover some of the interesting birds that call this place home. As you follow the track, you'll learn about the quirky habits, colourful personalities and unique calls of some of the park’s most prominent birds.
Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour Experience the rainforest like never before, on a ranger-guided walk through World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. It's only 1hr from Coffs Harbour, but you'll feel worlds away.
Junior ranger: Dorrigo Rainforest kids nature play Looking for something for the kids to do these school holidays? Join us for a fun tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Kids aged 5 to 12 years can reconnect with nature through play.
Lyrebird Link track Lyrebird link is an easy walking track in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour. It is a great spot for birdwatching and there are picnic and barbecue areas nearby.
Satinbird stroll Satinbird stroll is an easy access trail through Dorrigo’s World Heritage rainforest, ideal for all the family, and offers birdwatching and a great place to picnic.
Sensing the rainforest at Dorrigo National Park Join us and explore the rainforest in this Stage 3 (Years 5-6) Geography excursion in Dorrigo National Park. Students will experience the diverse features and characteristics of this subtropical Gondwana Rainforest of Australia.

Dramatic waterfalls

Walk with the Birds boardwalk, Dorrigo National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

The area is renowned for its dramatic waterfalls; so much that part of the park was first reserved in 1901 to protect the Sherrard and Newell Falls along the Waterfall Way. Today, there are a number of great rainforest walks in the park, try the Crystal Shower Falls walk for a journey behind the falls, or the longer Casuarina Falls circuit that offers views of Dorrigo Mountain and Rosewood River Valley.

Volunteer at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre Join a fun and passionate team of people when you become a volunteer at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre shop. Help show off Dorrigo National Park to visitors from around world. Explain the park’s activities and offer information about the nearby town of Dorrigo.

Rich Aboriginal heritage

Blackbutt track, Dorrigo National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Dorrigo National Park aims to manage Aboriginal sites, many of which are associated with natural features in the landscape. Involving local Aboriginal custodians in managing their traditional homelands, and continuing their connection to country, is a priority in Dorrigo National Park.

Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide you through the rainforest.

World Heritage rainforests

The Skywalk, Dorrigo National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

The rainforests in Dorrigo National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area; the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. The World Heritage Area is a direct window into the past and the future, providing a link to the ancient pre-human world and a stunning and irreplaceable record of life on our planet. You can explore the rainforest on one of the many walking tracks, like the Lyrebird Link that leaves from the Rainforest Centre.

14-day coastal tours from Sydney to Cairns Unleash your spirit of adventure on a sweeping East Coast tour with Via Travel Australia. Let each new day bring more enchanting sites to discover and enjoy, from Gondwana Rainforests to cascading waterfalls and sublime surf beaches.
8-day NSW North Coast and Tablelands walking tour Join ParkTours for an 8-day walking holiday and discover the spectacular sights of the NSW North Coast and Northern Tablelands. Explore country towns, see stunning landscapes and go wildlife spotting.
Dorrigo rainforest Aboriginal cultural tour Bring the family on this tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Meet a Gumbaynggirr Ranger who will share language and culture as they guide you through the rainforest.
Dorrigo rainforest ranger-guided tour Experience the rainforest like never before, on a ranger-guided walk through World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. It's only 1hr from Coffs Harbour, but you'll feel worlds away.
Junior ranger: Dorrigo Rainforest kids nature play Looking for something for the kids to do these school holidays? Join us for a fun tour in Dorrigo National Park, near Coffs Harbour. Kids aged 5 to 12 years can reconnect with nature through play.
Lyrebird Link track Lyrebird link is an easy walking track in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour. It is a great spot for birdwatching and there are picnic and barbecue areas nearby.
Sensing the Rainforest Sensing the rainforest is a Stage 1 (Years 1-2) school excursion in Dorrigo National Park, focusing on Geography. Students will explore the wonders of Dorrigo Rainforest - observing, listening, touching, smelling and searching to discover this special environment. It is a fun program for all ages, adults included.
Wonga walk Take a walk amongst subtropical rainforest and 600-year-old trees along the Wonga walk in Dorrigo National Park, home to the Tristania and Crystal Falls.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.
Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)

The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.
Wompoo fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)

The wompoo fruit-dove is a marvellously multi-coloured pigeon that makes its home in rainforest along coastal ranges from mid-north NSW to southern Queensland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.

Plants

Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)

Who cares about national parks?, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), Geography