Human Interactions
Here are some things, good and bad, that humans have done to the land.
Discovery
In 1818 explorer John Oxley discovered the park which is now one of the biggest national parks in NSW and some parts of it are World Heritage, while all of it is Australian National Heritage.
Pest Animals
Unfortunately with lots of people coming to Australia, lots of unwanted new animals are coming to Australia as well.
Sadly, some of these animals have made their way to OWRNP and are ruining the park's beauty.
These animals are
- Wild horses (Brumbies), they are destroying the native grass by eating it.
- Feral cats, they are destroying the native fauna.
- Wild dogs (hybrids, dingoes and domestics), they are also destroying the native fauna.
- Feral pigs, they are causing ground disturbance and encouraging soil erosion and weed invasion.
- Wild goats, they are competing with the threatened brush - tailed rock - wallabies for food and shelter.
- Wild Cattle, they are threatening native flora by opening the canopy and letting lantana to invade.
Some other pest animals are house mice, black rats, deer, rabbits and hares.
Pest Weeds
Weeds were also introduced to the park. The weeds are a concern because of their detrimental effects to ecological values and agriculture.
These Weeds are
- Lantana
- Blackberry
- Giant Parramatta Grass
- Prickly Pear
Aboriginal People
Thousands of years before John Oxley established the park, the aboriginal Dangaddi people's tribal land was the park.
Sadly, upon founding the park, John Oxley kicked the Dangaddi people out of their land.
Tourism
Some things you may like to do
- See the flowers during summer
- See the beautiful waterfalls, especially during autumn, after the Summer Rains
- Tackle the Green Gully Track during winter, when the air is crisp and cool
- Go camping
- Ride a horse
- Look at the beautiful land at the park's lookouts
- Go on a family picnic
- Tackle one of the park's many walking tracks
- Ride a bike on of the cycling tracks
- Take a car tour
- Take a 4WD car tour
- Go canoeing
- Go fishing
- Go swimming
- Do something from the park's adventure recreation activities
Here are the spectacular walks at Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
- Apsley Gorge Rim Walk
This walk begins at Lions Lookout and continues around the gorge rim passing two other spectacular lookouts, to the main falls viewing platform and stairway (450 m). The River Walk circles back to Lions picnic area along the Apsley River, past the junction of Oxley Walk (500 m).
- Chandler Walks
The first part of the track is to Wollomombi Lookout platform (150 m), then Check's Lookout (1 kilometre return) is easy. The track past this point to the Chandler River is closed as it is unsafe.
- Falls Walk
The Falls walk offers the easiest and best views of the beautiful Tia Falls and Tia Gorge. It’s a short and easy walk, so a good one for taking children along with you. The Falls walk starts from the Tia Falls picnic area, a good place to enjoy a picnic before or after your walk.
- Cassinia Walk
This circular, graded walking track leaves from the picnic shelter at Long Point and provides spectacular views over the Macleay Gorges.
- Oxley Walk
Oxley Walk starts from the River Walk track, crosses the river on a footbridge, then continues around the northern side of the gorge. A lookout offers fine views of the main falls (650 m) and the track continues past another three lookouts, where you can view a second waterfall and the dramatic cliffs of the chasm.
- Wollomombi Walk
This track heads north from the visitor area, through the dingo fence and across the Wollomombi River (2 kilometres return). It continues around the rim of the gorge to Chandler Falls (4 kilometres return).
- Threlfall Walk
This walk at Gara Gorge follows the route of the historic 1894 hydro-electric scheme, along old embankments and through ancient cuttings, to a lookout platform high above the river. It's an easy 5 kilometre circular walking track following the edge of the gorge and returning via woodland to the Blue Hole.
- Tiara Walk
Tiara Walk heads west from the carpark, crosses the Tia River on a footbridge and then continues along the western side of the gorge, passing Tiara View and ending at Tiara Lookout (5 kilometres return).
- Chandler View Circuit Walk
A circular walk from the shelter at Long Point which passes through dry rainforest before entering the dry eucalypt woodland covering the ridge. About half way around a lookout provides a welcome rest with spectacular views over the Chandler River.
- McDirtys Walk
From the carpark at Dangars Gorge, cross the river and follow the track to the lookout above the falls (1.4 kilometres return), and Rock Wallaby Lookout (2.1 kilometres return). The track follows the gorge rim along a ridge to McDirtys Lookout (6.9 kilometres return).
- Budd's Mare to Riverside