Dorrigo National Park

Dorrigo protects subtropical and warm temperate rainforest on the escarpment behind Coffs Harbour, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage area, and its most-photographed feature is the Skywalk, a boardwalk that runs out from the rainforest centre and projects over the escarpment so that visitors stand level with the canopy and above the valley. Below, the Wonga Walk descends about six kilometres through the forest past Crystal Shower Falls, where the track passes behind the water, and Tristania Falls. The forest is dense with strangler figs, buttressed trees, vines and epiphytes, and birds include regent bowerbirds, brush turkeys and paradise riflebirds.

What you actually see

• The Skywalk - the boardwalk projecting out over the escarpment canopy.
• Crystal Shower Falls - a fall the track passes behind, on the Wonga Walk.
• The rainforest - strangler figs, buttress roots and epiphytes throughout.
• The birdlife - bowerbirds, brush turkeys and riflebirds along the tracks.

When to go

Year-round; rainforest is at its best in and after rain, though tracks become slippery. Summer is humid with leeches on the walking tracks. Winter is cool and clear. The rainforest centre keeps daily hours.

Honest expectations

Leeches are common on the tracks in wet weather and catch visitors unprepared. The Wonga Walk is a solid two to three hours with a long climb back up. Cloud and rain frequently reduce the Skywalk view to white.

Nearby

Bellingen lies down the mountain east; New England National Park is west along Waterfall Way.