Rainforest Slopes and Rocky Pools on the Border Ranges

Overview

Koreelah National Park sits in the far north-east of New South Wales along the Queensland border, on the ranges west of Woodenbong. It protects 5,270 hectares of steep country where rainforest and eucalypt forest meet, with parts of the park included in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

This is a park shaped by escarpments, forested gullies and clear creeks rather than broad open landscapes. Its setting on the McPherson Range and the Great Dividing Range gives it a strong sense of elevation and remoteness, with a mix of subtropical, warm temperate, dry and cool temperate rainforest alongside wet and dry sclerophyll forest.

Highlights

The big draw here is the contrast between lush forest and rugged stone country. Steep slopes carry patches of World Heritage-listed gondwana rainforest above eucalypt-covered hills, while Koreelah Creek cuts through rocky ground to form pools, waterfalls and a narrow gorge.

Across the wider park landscape, nearby peaks and high country features including Mount Ballow, Mount Clunie, Jirramun and the Acacia Plateau help define the skyline along the border. Together they give this part of the ranges its dramatic scenic character.

Best Time to Visit

Cooler months are often the most comfortable time to spend time in this part of the Border Ranges, especially if you want clear air and milder daytime temperatures. After good rain, the creek, waterfalls and gorge scenery are usually at their most appealing, while warmer months bring thicker shade and a greener feel through the rainforest sections.

Birdwatching can be rewarding at any time of year thanks to the mix of rainforest and eucalypt habitats, so the best season often comes down to whether you prefer crisp walking weather or richer, greener conditions.

Plants and Animals

Koreelah packs a lot of ecological variety into a relatively small area. Rainforest is a major part of the picture, but there are also wet and dry sclerophyll forests with tallowwood, Sydney blue gum, brush box, flooded gum, white mahogany, red mahogany and New England blackbutt among the characteristic trees.

The park supports the western extent of the endangered White Gum Moist Forest community in the NSW North Coast Bioregion. It also contains five threatened plant species and a long list of threatened animals, including Albert’s lyrebird, glossy black-cockatoo, spotted-tailed quoll, koala, long-nosed potoroo, brush-tailed rock-wallaby and red-legged pademelon.

Culture and Heritage

Koreelah is part of the traditional Country of the Githabul People and is co-managed with the local Githabul People following recognition of native title rights. The surrounding forests, waterways and cliffs hold ongoing cultural associations, and there are recorded Aboriginal sites within the park.