Just four hours north of Sydney will take you millions of years back in time. Confused? Let us explain. Located in New South Wales’
Hunter Valley, Barrington Tops National Park covers over 83,000 hectares of World Heritage Listed wilderness. One of the state’s most popular national parks, you’ll be stunned by the spectacular natural beauty of this ancient place.
The rainforest of Barrington Tops National Park forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia Wold Heritage Area, some of the most diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. The dramatic landscape was carved out of volcanic flows between 300 and 400 million years ago and rises from sea level plateaus to soaring peaks over 1500m high. Even the most ardent city dweller will turn tree-hugger here.
The park is home to a staggering and diverse range of flora, from dense subtropical rainforests to ancient beech forests and woodlands. And that’s just the beginning of the beauty, with many stunning waterfalls, creeks, lookouts and rock formations to explore. There’s also an epic amount of animals here, including over 50 mammals, 280 bird varieties, 40 different reptiles and almost 20 species of frogs.
Barrington Tops National Park offers many walking and hiking tracks ranging in skill level and distance to suit all visitors. Explore the rainforest on the Honeysuckle Forest track, the Rocky Crossing walk or the Antarctic Beech Forest track. For some seriously stunning views, it’s well worth venturing to Careys Peak, Devils Hole and Thunderbolts lookout. Don’t forget to scoop your jaw off the ground when you’re done.
If you’re not much of a hiker, there are other ways to explore the park. Winding 4WD tracks will take you right into the heart of the park, or if you prefer two wheels to four, there are also some good cycling tracks on offer. For something a bit more peaceful (and romantic) take a horseback ride through one of the trails on offer.
So take a look at our range of Barrington Tops accommodation below and get back to nature in this stunning part of the country.