Whether you’re after a scenic drive, an exhilarating hike, or a perfect picnic spot, Dorrigo National Park on NSW’s Mid North Coast is a place of endless natural wonders.
High above the coast of NSW’s Mid North Coast, where the Great Dividing Range rises into a tangle of mist and mountains, is the sprawling ancient wonder of Dorrigo National Park. Within the park are two major areas of sub-tropical rainforest thought to be more than 100 million years old – one along the edge of the basalt-capped plateau and in lower altitude gullies, and the other on the alluvial flats of the Rosewood River.
The entire region is a wonderland of plunging waterfalls, dramatic lookouts, and walking tracks to suit every level of adventurer.
Whether you’re chasing epic road trip stops, quiet picnic spots, or some soul-refreshing forest bathing, Dorrigo delivers in spades. And it’s just an hour’s drive west of Coffs Harbour – making it an easy escape from the everyday.
Where time stands still
The rainforest in Dorrigo National Park has been around since the supercontinent Gondwana broke up some 100 million years ago – long before humans walked the Earth.
These forests survived mass extinctions, volcanic upheaval, and millennia of change, and they still buzz with life today. Towering coachwood and strangler figs reach for the sky, while soft mosses and luminous fungi spread along the forest floor.
Cute red-necked pademelons dart about in the undergrowth while wompoo fruit-doves, with their stunning bright green, yellow and purple feathers, flit through the thickets of trees. If you’re lucky, you might spot a regent bowerbird. With its smooth suit of striking gold and black feathers, it’s the kind of bird that twitchers dream about.
Walking through Dorrigo National Park is like flipping through a living storybook of the planet’s history.
Step into sacred, ancient country
This lush plateau is Gumbaynggirr Country, and its First Nations people have lived here for thousands of years. The rainforest provides everything – food, water, medicine, tools, and a deep spiritual connection to the land.
Stories from the Dreaming are rooted in the cliffs, creeks and towering trees. Today, the Gumbaynggirr people remain closely connected to this land, with ongoing efforts to preserve their culture and language.
When European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, they were lured by the towering red cedars – so prized they were called ‘red gold’.
Logging was intense, but the rugged terrain made large-scale settlement difficult, and in a twist of fate, this helped to preserve the forests. Conservation movements began as early as the 1930s, and Dorrigo National Park was officially declared a park in 1967 – long before national parks were the norm in Australia.
Epic walks and sky-high lookouts
Let’s get to the good stuff – the walks. Dorrigo is a hiker’s paradise, with a track for every level of explorer.
The Wonga Walk is a 6.6-kilometre loop that starts and finishes at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre. It’s classed as easy to moderate, with well-maintained paths and gentle gradients that wind through thick rainforest.
You’ll pass cascading Crystal Shower Falls, where a short detour takes you behind the waterfall’s shimmering veil. Further along, Tristania Falls drops dramatically into a mossy gorge. Allow two to three hours to take it all in – longer if you’re stopping for photos (and you will).
Skywalk Lookout is the park’s showstopper, and you don’t even have to break a sweat to enjoy it. This wheelchair-accessible boardwalk juts out over the escarpment, offering jaw- dropping views across the Bellingen Valley and as far as the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. Come at sunrise or sunset for golden skies and rainforest mists swirling in the valleys. For a shorter stroll, Lyrebird Link Track connects the Rainforest Centre with the Glade Picnic Area – an easy 0.5-kilometre trail rich with birdsong. Watch for the park’s namesake bird, the superb lyrebird, performing its uncanny mimicry.
Want something a little wilder? The Rosewood Creek Circuit is a 5.5-kilometre loop with steeper sections and a few creek crossings, but the reward is well worth the effort: ancient trees, ferny gullies and serene swimming holes.
Picture-perfect spots for a picnic
After an invigorating walk, find a patch at The Glade Picnic Area, just a kilometre from the Rainforest Centre. It’s a picture-perfect spot with lush lawns, barbecues, undercover tables, and nearby amenities.
Turkeys scratch in the undergrowth and wallabies graze nearby – it feels more like a nature film set than a park. Best of all, The Glade is elevated, giving you sweeping views over the rainforest canopies.
Bring supplies for a picnic lunch, or swing by the Canopy Café at the Rainforest Centre for coffee, cake or a bush-tucker inspired bite.
The Waterfall Way road trip
If you’re keen on hitting the road, Dorrigo National Park is one of the highlights along Waterfall Way – a spectacular 185-kilometre stretch of road between Armidale and Coffs Harbour. It snakes through cool-climate tablelands, misty forests and plunging valleys, with lookout after lookout tempting you to pull over and soak it all in.
Take your time and stop at Dangar Falls just outside the township of Dorrigo – a postcard-perfect waterfall framed by basalt cliffs that is best viewed after rain. There’s a viewing platform and a short walk to the base for those wanting to cool off with a swim. Nothing beats the sense of rejuvenation that comes from a rainforest swim
Diving into a true national treasure
Dorrigo National Park is open year-round and it’s free to enter. The Rainforest Centre is open daily, and has maps, exhibits, and helpful staff to point you in the right direction. Summer sees more rain (and this means leeches and mozzies, so pack repellent!), while winter brings clear skies and crisp mountain air that make for perfect walking conditions. Accommodation is available in Dorrigo township, just five minutes away, or you can stay in nearby Bellingen for a more bohemian vibe with cafes, art galleries and river swimming spots galore.
Dorrigo National Park isn’t just a place to visit – it’s a place to feel. Breathe in the ancient air, walk among the giant trees and reconnect with nature in its purest form. Whether you’re taking a hike, soaking up a sky-high view, or tucking into a picnic as wallabies graze nearby, it’s easy to see why this park is considered one of Australia’s true natural treasures.
To read about Bellingen and other amazing small towns in NSW and Victoria, click here.
