Volunteer at Copeland Tops
Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
Overview
Are you interested in local history and the environment, and live in the Gloucester area? Volunteer to be a tour guide at Mountain Maid gold mine and other areas in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area.
- Work
- Visitors, events, education, tour guides
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday weekly, or the first Friday of the month.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Medium. Moderate fitness required. You’ll be leading tour groups over unsealed fire trails and a moderately steep boardwalk. Guides need to be over 18 years.
As a volunteer tour guide, you’ll bring history to life and help us share the fascinating story of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. You’ll lead and support guided tours, including:
- weekly Mountain Maid gold mine history tours
- rainforest boardwalk tours
- twilight spotlighting experiences
- cultural tours
This is an ideal opportunity if you're enthusiastic about face-to-face contact and guiding visitors of all ages. You'll also need to be free to volunteer at least once a month.
We’ll give you full training so you can lead guided tours with confidence. You’ll learn about local history and the park environment. You'll also gain valuable experience and new skills, especially in public speaking. Being a volunteer guide is a great way to make new friends and improve your fitness in a beautiful area.
You can look forward to guiding visitors through an area that is home to koalas, lyrebirds, glow worms and other wildlife. Our volunteer guide program has been running for over 10 years, and now is a perfect time to join us. Help us raise awareness of the gorgeous natural environment at Copeland Tops.
It’s a good idea to wear sturdy shoes, suitable clothes, a hat and sunscreen when you volunteer. Bring drinking water, snacks, lunch, insect repellent and a raincoat.
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/volunteer-activities/volunteer-copeland-tops/local-alerts
Park info
- in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area in the North Coast region
Copeland Tops State Conservation Area 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 Volunteer at Copeland Tops .
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Not wheelchair-accessible.
Learn more
Volunteer at Copeland Tops is in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
From little things big things grow
From the delicate epiphytes, only one cell in width, to the gnarled sprawling branches of the ancient grey myrtles, each plant has its place within the ecosystem of the rare dry rainforest. The tract within Copeland Tops is the largest accessible section in the district of Gloucester. Take a walk through the green corridors overhung by strangler figs, shatterwood and grey myrtle. On the ground between mossy rocks and on the sides of trees grow birds nest ferns, staghorns, elkhorns and orchids. The rare stuttering frog is commonly heard around these parts, its call emitting from a preferred habitat of stream-side leaf litter. Its repetitive song is often joined by the screech of glossy black-cockatoos, the "wollack-wa-hoo" of the wompoo fruit-dove and the unpredictable calls of lyrebirds. At night, the masked, powerful and sooty owls come out to hunt and hoot.
- Basin loop track Basin loop track continues from Hidden Treasure track to form a longer walk with scenic views of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area via historic Old Copeland Road.
- Copeland Tops twilight tour Experience the magic of Copeland Tops at twilight. Explore Hidden Treasure track and the historic buildings of Mountain Maid gold mine on this evening tour near Gloucester.
- Exploring the rainforest Join us and explore a unique rainforest environment on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Geography excursion at Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. Students will conduct field exercises and learn what makes rainforest areas so special.
- Hidden Treasure track Take a walk through the rainforest along Hidden Treasure track in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. You'll pass remnants of the area's mining heritage, including a historic boiler and disused mine entrance.
- Junior ranger: Mountain Maid gold mine tour Step back in time this school holidays and uncover the hidden treasures of Mountain Maid gold mine at Copeland Tops.
Land of plenty
This is the traditional lands of the Worimi and Biripi people who live in the area and previously moved around in response to the seasonal availability of food. Such a broad ecosystem would have provided many resources for medicinal, ceremonial and cultural purposes. It is very likely that people travelling from the coast to Barrington Tops area would have passed through Copeland Tops. Their history will forever be an integral part of this landscape.
- Copeland Tops Aboriginal cultural tour Join an Aboriginal guide on a cultural tour you won’t forget! Discover the traditional lands of the Worimi and Biripi people in the foothills of Barrington Tops at Copeland Tops State Conservation Area.
Striking it rich
It was the red cedar cutters who, battling to log 'red gold' in this unforgiving terrain from the early 1800s, first discovered gold here in 1875. The area soon became known as Copeland and over the next 60 years more than 50 gold mines were dug in the area. According to the records, over 1800kg of the valuable metal were extracted during that time. Many relics of this mining heritage remain in the form of historic sites and derelict equipment. However, the bushland and rainforest now dominate once again.
- Basin loop track Basin loop track continues from Hidden Treasure track to form a longer walk with scenic views of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area via historic Old Copeland Road.
- Copeland Tops twilight tour Experience the magic of Copeland Tops at twilight. Explore Hidden Treasure track and the historic buildings of Mountain Maid gold mine on this evening tour near Gloucester.
- Hidden Treasure track Take a walk through the rainforest along Hidden Treasure track in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. You'll pass remnants of the area's mining heritage, including a historic boiler and disused mine entrance.
- It's gold! Stage 3 History students will learn about the critical role national parks play in preserving our unique native plants, animals and rich cultural heritage. Learn about the long history of mining in the area and see where gold-hungry souls toiled in Mountain Maid gold mine – one of New South Wales’ longest-running operational gold mines.
- Junior ranger: Mountain Maid gold mine tour Step back in time this school holidays and uncover the hidden treasures of Mountain Maid gold mine at Copeland Tops.