Of all the wonderful National Parks in our region, I rate the 11,732 hectare Dorrigo as the most impressive.  The first time I visited it was in a helicopter.  The scenic flight with pilot Tracy Conry from Precision Helicopters – www.precisionhelicopters.com.au - was a fantastic way of taking in its scale.  From up high you could also get a better sense of how the plateau was formed by lava flows from the enormous Ebor Volcano, active until 18 million years ago, and which once spanned 45 kilometres and rose to a height of 2000 metres.

Very high rainfall over millions of years here behind the Coffs coast has weathered the basalt impressively to form the hefty escarpment and it is now largely covered in rainforest.  Not just any rainforest but a world heritage listed one that’s part of the Gondwana rainforests of Australia.

Once we were on the ground, the Park was no less impressive.  First, we took in another vertiginous view from the 21 metre high Skywalk, which reaches out 75 metres from the cliff-side over the forest canopy.  At the end of the platform you look out across the Bellinger Valley toward the coast, with McGrath’s Hump in the foreground and the Solitary Islands in the distance.

After that we followed three paths through the rainforest, all evocatively named after birds found at Dorrigo – the Lyrebird Link, Wonga Walk and Satinbird Stroll .  There are over 120 bird species in the park so any walk is accompanied by a vibrant soundtrack.

The National Park Rainforest Centre, back near the Skywalk, has excellent interpretive displays on the Gondwana forests, which extend up the east coast’s Great Dividing Range.  You’ll also find the Canopy Café here, a top-quality eatery with a sunny terrace and an accent on organic, locally grown food.

 If you want more information about Dorrigo visit the National Park website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0011