Barrington Tops

Barrington Tops National Park covers a high basalt plateau on Worimi and Gringai country, sitting between the Hunter Valley wine region and the Manning River. The park was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1986 as part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, recognising its stands of Antarctic beech forest that have survived here for more than 80 million years since the continent broke away from Gondwana.

The plateau tops out above 1,500 metres and is one of the few places in New South Wales outside the Snowy Mountains that receives regular snowfall in winter. The vegetation changes dramatically with altitude, from warm subtropical rainforest in the lower valleys through cool temperate myrtle beech forest to sub-alpine meadows and snow gum woodland on the ridgeline.

The Antarctic Beech Forest walking track is the most popular short walk, passing through a grove of ancient Nothofagus moorei trees draped in moss and lichen. Longer walks include the Barrington Trail across the plateau and the Rocky River circuit in the lower valleys. The park is also known for its platypus-inhabited rivers and for supporting one of the densest populations of greater gliders in the state.

Access is from Gloucester on the eastern side or Dungog on the southern side, both of which have sealed roads partway into the park before turning to gravel. A 4WD is recommended for the upper plateau tracks, especially after rain.