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Black Perry lookout

Tumut area in Kosciuszko National Park

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Learn more about why this area is special

Black Perry lookout is in Tumut area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Explore by water, wheels or walking

Tumut Visitor Centre, northern gateway to Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Elinor Sheargold © OEH

If you need some inspiration, stop by the Tumut Visitor Centre, for tips on top experiences, where to stay, and spot a corroboree frog in the display. Learn more about Kosciuszko National Park’s plants, animals and landscapes on an Aboriginal ranger-led tour (contact the visitor centre). Boat ramps on Blowering Reservoir, Talbingo Dam wall, and at O’Hares campground provide easy access for boating and paddling. There are also plenty of scenic drives, walking tracks and bike trails to tempt you away from the water. If you’re well-prepared, explore the remote Goobarragandra Wilderness or hike part of the 425km Hume and Hovell walking track.

  • Black Perry lookout Black Perry lookout, near Talbingo Mountain in Kosciuszko National Park, offers scenic views over the Snowy Mountains region, and is close to Tumut and Yarrangobilly Caves.
  • Tumut Visitor Centre Tumut Visitor Centre, on Snowy Mountains Highway, is the ideal starting point for a visit to northern Kosciuszko National Park, offering information, booking services, and souvenirs.

World-class wilderness

A woman stands next to a sign at Black Perry lookout, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer/OEH

In recognition of Kosciuszko's unique value as a conservation area, it’s been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. More than half of the park, over 350,000ha, has been declared wilderness, including the Bogong Peaks and Goobarragandra wilderness areas. Black Perry lookout is an excellent place to get a sense of the expansive wilderness areas in Kosciuszko's north.

Snowy Mountains history

Tumut 3 Power Station, Talbingo, near Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: E Sheargold

Tumut area’s more recent history can be seen at Blowering Reservoir, and just outside the park at Talbingo. The Snowy Hydro Scheme is recognised as one of the civil engineering wonders of the modern world. Its vast network of dams and power stations includes Blowering, Jounama and Talbingo reservoirs, and Tumut 3 Power Station, at Talbingo.

Unique landscapes

Landers Falls lookout, Kosciuszko National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer © OEH

The change in scenery is noticeable as you drive along Snowy Mountains Highway. The road climbs over 1000m from the Tumut River Valley, through woodland of mountain gum and narrow-leaf peppermint, to the treeless plains surrounding Kiandra.

  • Black Perry lookout Black Perry lookout, near Talbingo Mountain in Kosciuszko National Park, offers scenic views over the Snowy Mountains region, and is close to Tumut and Yarrangobilly Caves.
  • Landers Falls lookout walk Landers Falls lookout walk, tucked into the forest between Tumut and Kiandra, wows you with dramatic views of Landers Creek waterfall plunging into the rocky gorge above Talbingo Reservoir.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

    The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

  • Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Photo: Peter Sherratt

    Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

    The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

  • Brush tail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

    One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

  • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    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.

  • Bare-nosed wombat. Photo: Keith Gillett

    Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

    A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

  • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

    The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

  • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

    Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

    One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

  • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

    One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

  •  Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    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.

  • Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo: Kelly Nowak

    Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

    With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

Look out for...

Platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus

A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

Environments in this area

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