7 Natural Reserves In Australia For Nature Lovers

Being home to plenty of natural reserves, Australia is a paradise for nature lovers. Right from bushlands to lush parklands, the continent is stunningly beautiful from the outset. If you are looking to explore these nature reserves down under, simply book coach hire in Australia for a comfortable ride to these incredible spots.

Alpine National Park

Known to be the largest national park in Victoria, the Alpine Park is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes in a stunningly beautiful alpine topography with open grasslands, high plains, snow gum forests, wild rivers and impressive escarpments. Alpine ash and snow gum trees dominate the mountains while moss beds, snow plains, herb fields, heathlands and wildflowers grow in exposed areas. Driving past the Great Alpine Road is the best way to explore this natural reserve, with some expansive views to soak up.

There is a range of outdoor activities to carry out, including snow sports during winter and bushwalking during the warmer months. Fly fishing for trout is also a popular choice, and if you are seeking something more adventurous, go for horse riding and mountain biking through the mountain trails or choose white water rafting and paragliding through the waters.

Cape Conran Coastal Park

With its banksia woodlands, expansive coastal headlands and powerful surf beaches, the wild beauty of the Cape Conran Coastal Park is inexplicable. Take a thrilling dive into the surf at Yeerung Beach, while strolling along the rocky outcrops and wide sandy beaches. Explore the dazzling rock pools, inlets and sparkling rivers as you cast a line from the shore.

Take a self-guided walk to discover the vast landscapes and quiet corners leading to a unique coastal environment. Spot some rosellas and ground parrots on a heathland walk or check out the huge expanse of freshwater at the Dock Inlet. The Pearl Point is a wonderful site to witness the rock formations. The traditional owners of this reserve are known to be the aboriginal groups including Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero, Gunaikurnai and the Bidawal people.

Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve

Situated in the northern outskirts of Canberra in the Gungahlin district, the Mulligans Flat nature reserve stretches across an area of 781 hectares with a scattering of dams, open grassland and grassy woodland. Growing among stands of yellow box and red gum trees, there are as many as 150 species of wild flowers, making it the most eminent natural reserve in the south-eastern NSW.

The area reflects a rich history of colonial and aboriginal times, when the native people maintained a gathering lifestyle for thousands of years in this region. Variety of animal and plant species provided food to them, while the swamps and springs supplied fresh water. Recently in 2008, construction of a 12 km fence was initiated to exclude dogs and cats from entering, in order to develop a balanced ecology.

Mornington Sanctuary

For most of the 20th century, Mornington Sanctuary was a pastoral lease running as a beef cattle station in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Much of the landscape in this region is jagged, containing mesas of the Baulk Face Range, the upper catchment of the Fitzroy River and a section of the King Leopold Ranges. The largest wetland in the Kimberly, Lake Gladstone is nearby, while the vegetation in the area is primarily savanna grassland and woodland with fraction of rainforest communities like Livistona Palm forest.

The reserve has been identified as an important bird area, since it supports population of threatened species such as Gouldian finches and red goshawks, along with other populations including rosellas, grey falcons, silver-crowned friarbirds, white-browed robins, sandstone shrike-thrushes, Australian bustards bush-stone curlews and white=quilled rock pigeons.

Boondall Wetlands

Tucked neatly on the edge of the Moreton Bay, the Boondall Wetlands cover an area of over 1100 hectares boasting a series of significant wetlands in Brisbane. The southern boundary is marked by the Kedron Brook floodway, while the Cabbage Tree Creek outlines the norther fringes. Gateway Motorway and Budgee Creek passes through the wetlands, providing access to environment centre. Facilities in the park includes bird watching lookouts, bikeways and elevated walkways.

Various vegetation communities thrive in this region including rainforest, woodlands, grasslands, melaleuca swamplands, casuarina forests, salt marshes, freshwater lakes, mangrove and tidal flats. The diverse wildlife includes over 190 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fishes. It also forms a part of an Important Bird Area, with most birds migrating during the summer months. Some of the migratory species include bar-tailed godwit, grey-tailed tattler, eastern curlew and Mongolian plover.

Blue Gum Forest

Situated in the Grose Valley of the Blue Mountains, the Blue Gum Forest nature reserve is one of the best bushwalking sites in the country. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been survived over the years by serious efforts of national conservationists. You can only access the forest through several trails from different parts of the adjacent canyons and valleys. It mainly consists of blue gum trees, Eucalyptus deanei and shrubs. Camping is not permitted in the Blue Gum Forest itself, but the nearby Acacia Flat.

Smaller shrubs and trees in the area include orchids, vines, acacias, Yellow Pittosporum and paperbarks. The diverse wildlife includes mammal species like rock wallabies, spotted-tail quoll, eastern grey kangaroos, greater gliders and brushtail possums. You can also spot parrots such as yellow-tailed balck cockatoo and crimson rosella.

Western Sydney Parklands

The largest parkland in Sydney and one of the largest in the world, the Western Sydney Parklands features walking tracks, sports grounds and picnic areas. A major part of this reserve is surrounded with grassland, woodland and vegetation area. Tree in the park include Stringybark, Corymbia Maculate, Eucalyptus crebra, Forest Red Gum and Eucalyptus Moluccana. Shrubs include Microlaena Stipoides, Themeda Australis, Themeda Triandra, Bursaria Spinose and Blackthorn.

The park is home to both endangered and threatened species including bats, lizards, birds and frogs. Around 80 native species of vertebrate exist in the park, with parrots present all round the year. The common breed includes cockatoos, red-rumped parrots, rosellas and rainbow lorikeets. Grey-headed flying fox, Turquoise parrot, varied sittella and little eagle are some of the threatened species.

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