King Fern walking track

Where

Werrikimbe National Park in North Coast, Country NSW

Accessibility

No wheelchair access

Distance

2km loop

Time suggested

30min - 1hr 30min

Grade

Grade 3

What to
bring

Drinking water, sturdy shoes, suitable clothing

Please note

• It's illegal to gather firewood, pick flowers, take vegetation or remove bush rock from NSW national parks. Please use barbecue facilities provided and help us preserve this World Heritage-listed forest by leaving it as you found it.
• Water is limited or not available in this area, so it's a good idea to bring your own for cooking and drinking.

Step from the open grass of Plateau Beech campground onto King Fern walking track and you'll immediately find yourself in cool, lush rainforest. Savour the deep scent of damp soil and the beauty of sunlight playing through trees.

The diversity of rainforest plants here is astonishing. Magnificent king ferns, crepe ferns, birds nest ferns and a variety of tree ferns are just some of the flora on display. If you look up you can see epiphytic orchids, liverworts and lichens adorning tree trunks and branches.

Part of the ancient World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, this area of Werrikimbe National Park also offers babbling streams, cascades and small waterfalls. Be sure to explore the short side tracks leading to King Fern Falls and Filmy Ferns Cascades.

Spring is a great time to visit as the trees burst into bloom, attracting insects and butterflies. This is also a fantastic opportunity to see some of the park's striking birdlife, including eastern yellow robins, crimson rosellas, olive whistlers and superb lyrebirds. In Autumn, after good rains, the park's waterfalls are at peak splendour and vibrant rainforest colours receive an extra boost from lush mosses and fungi.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info