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Goobang National Park

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Overview

Goobang is a national park located in New South Wales, Australia, 296 kilometres (184 mi) northwest of Sydney. It protects the largest remnant forest and woodland in the central west region of the state, where interior and coastal New South Wales flora and fauna species overlap. Originally named Herveys Range by John Oxley in 1817, the area was reserved in 1897 as state forest because of its importance as a timber resource, and was designated a national park in 1995. The park contains a camping ground and a hiking trail, Burrabadine Peak Walking Track, a 3.6 km round trip moderate hike.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,058 words

WBP editorial3

Seasonal rhythms for walkers

The park’s position on the inland‑coastal transition means spring brings a burst of wildflowers that bridge the arid western palette with the softer hues of the east. Early morning walks in September and October are rewarded with cooler air and active birdlife before the summer heat settles in. By late autumn, the eucalyptus canopy turns a muted gold, and the lower humidity makes the Burrabadine Peak track far more comfortable for the moderate‑grade trek. Planning a visit around the shoulder months not only avoids the school‑holiday crowds but also aligns with the most vivid natural displays the region can offer.

Beyond the main trail: local perspectives

While the official walking track showcases the park’s geological spine, long‑time bushwalkers from nearby Parkes often venture onto unmarked fire‑breaks that skirt seasonal wetlands. These informal routes reveal hidden waterholes that attract wallabies at dusk and provide quiet observation points for nocturnal owls. Engaging a local guide or joining a community walk can open these lesser‑tread corridors, offering a deeper sense of the land’s seasonal pulse and a glimpse of the subtle interplay between the park’s inland and coastal species.

What guidebooks miss: the night sky

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The remote location of the park, far from urban light pollution, creates an unusually clear canvas for stargazing. On clear winter nights, the Milky Way stretches overhead, and the Southern Cross becomes a reliable navigational marker for late‑hour campers. Portable low‑impact lighting, such as red‑filtered headlamps, preserves night‑time darkness for both wildlife and astronomers. Pack a simple star‑map or a stargazing app and allocate an evening to drift under the Southern Hemisphere’s constellations – an experience that extends the park’s appeal beyond daylight hours.

Introduction

National park in New South Wales, Australia This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Goobang National Park" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Goobang National ParkIUCN category II (national park)The view south-west from Caloma lookoutGoobang National ParkLocationNew South WalesNearest cityParkesCoordinates32°41′08″S 148°20′10″E / 32.68556°S 148.33611°E / -32.68556; 148.33611Area421 km2 (163 sq mi)Established22 December 1995 (1995-12-22)Governing bodyNew South Wales National Parks and Wildlife ServiceWebsiteOfficial website Goobang is a national park located in New South Wales, Australia, 296 kilometres (184 mi) northwest of Sydney. It protects the largest remnant forest and woodland in the central west region of the state, where interior and coastal New South Wales flora and fauna species overlap. Originally named Herveys Range by John Oxley in 1817, the area was reserved in 1897 as state forest because of its importance as a timber resource, and was designated a national park in 1995. The park contains a camping ground and a hiking trail, Burrabadine Peak Walking Track, a 3.6 km round trip moderate hike.

Flora

[edit] There are 459 species recorded in the park, several that are threatened. Tylophora linearis is listed as vulnerable according to the TCS ACT 1995 and endangered according to the EPBC ACT 1999. Eriostemon ericifolius is vulnerable based on TCS ACT 1995 and Astrotricha linearis only known record west of the Great Dividing Range. Pomaderris queenslandica endangered TSC ACT 1995 and Philotheca ericifolia vulnerable EPBC ACT 1999. There are 135 ecological communities in the South West Slope bioregion, most are considered poorly protected.(4) There are 11 ecological communities in the park, five of which are only protected at Goobang. These include red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) woodland found on siliceous hillslopes of the Hervey Range. Red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha), long leaved box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx) black cypress pine (Callitris endlicheri), hummock grass (Triodia scariosa), shrubby low woodland found on siliceous volcanic and sedimentary ranges. Red ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa) in association with black cypress (Callitris endlicheri) shrubby woodland found on shallow sandy soils derived from sandstone. Red ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa), red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) tumbledown gum (Eucalyptus dealbata) heathland found on siliceous ridges and scribbly gum (Eucalyptus rossii) dominated open forest in association with black cypress pine and red ironbark. A further four communities that are protected in Goobang are considered to be of significance. Mugga ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon), black cypress, red stringybark, Blakely's red gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) and red ironbark woodland which are found on hillslopes and in valleys on the ranges. Buloke (Allocasuarina leuhmannii) and white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla) woodland is found on alkaline soils. Riparian Blakely's red gum, apple box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana), yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora) and occasionally inland grey box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa), with shrub, sedge and grass tall open forest in valleys. White box (Eucalyptus albens), with black cypress and red gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) shrubby woodlands in the hills.

Fauna

[edit] There are 31 species of reptiles, 14 species of frogs and 31 species of mammals recorded in the park including echidnas, wallaby, kangaroos, possums and bats as well as exotics such as rabbits, cats, foxes, goats, sheep and dogs. Threatened species include carpet python (Morelia spilotes), Sloane's froglet (Crinia sloanei), koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), brush tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale pencicllata), grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), yellow-bellied sheathtail bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris), Corben's long eared bat (Nyetophilus corbeni) and New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae).

Avifauna

[edit] It is becoming evident that due to clearing of eucalyptus forests that woodland birds are on the decline. Birds of significance that have been sighted at Goobang are varied sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta), black-chinned honeyeater (Melithreptus gularis), regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), scarlet robin (Petroica boodang), flame robin (Petrocia phoenice), hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata), Gilbert's whistler (Pachycephala inornata), diamond firetail (Emblema guttata) grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis), speckled warbler (Chthonicola saggitatus), brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus), glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami), superb parrot (Polytellis swainsonii), little lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla), turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella), spotted harrier (Circus assimilis), barking owl (Ninox connivens), black falcon (Falco subniger), and little eagle (Heiraaetus morphnoides).

Environmental threats

[edit] Feral animals[edit] Feral animals pose a huge threat to native species due to predation, disease and competition. Feral cats for example have been responsible for reduced numbers and extinction of small mammals and birds.) Rabbits pose a threat to the survival of tree seedlings competition with native herbivores. Environmental weeds[edit] Weeds such as blackberry are significant as far as causing havoc within the natural environment forming large thickets blocking creeks suppressing native ground covers and providing a hiding spot for feral animals such as rabbits. Exotic grasses, pastures and weeds have replaced native undergrowth in most of the scattered white box communities. Agriculture practices[edit] Grazing in and around remnant vegetation is a general threat to Australia's woodlands, suppressing natural regeneration Clearing of native vegetation that might act as connective corridors between the park and nearby woodland fragments is a threat to Goobang identified in the NP Plan of Management. Human – induced climate change[edit] Species that require specialized niches and or cannot disperse and effectively colonize suitable habitat will be affected if this current trend of human induced climate change continues. It is estimated that 52% of the already declining population of frogs and 35% of birds will be affected. Koalas are listed by the IUCN as one of the top 10 species to become extinct. Koala populations are already at risk because of habitat modification and chlamydia. Increasing CO2 levels will affect the nutrient availability of eucalyptus leaves further weakening koala populations, increased frequency of droughts and bushfire will force koalas to seek new habitats, exposing them to the dangers of predation and injury from traffic.