From Opus

The Three Sisters, a famous tourist spot in the Blue Mountains National Park, NSW, Australia, Oct. 2009
Photo by HelenB

[edit] Overview

New South Wales is bordered in the south by Victoria, in the north by Queensland, in the west by South Australia, and in the east by the Pacific Ocean. It is 802,000 square km in size and is the most populous state in Australia. There are over 780 national parks and reserves which cover outback deserts, rugged bush, rainforests, waterfalls and marine wonderlands.

The Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia, Sept. 2006
Photo by birdboybowley

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

Malleefowl, Flame Robin, Black Honeyeater, Pied Honeyeater, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Regent Parrot, Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrub Robin, Hooded Robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush and Gilbert's Whistler

[edit] Rarities

Freckled Duck, Radjah Shelduck

[edit] Check-list

NSW bird list - Feb 2013 edition

Grand Canyon, Blue Mountains NP, NSW, Australia, Sept. 2006
Photo by birdboybowley

[edit] Other Wildlife

Wildlife list (including birds)

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

In 1770, Captain James Cook arrived in Australia and decided that what is now Botany Bay, would be a good place to establish the first settlement. However, when the first settlers arrived in 1788, they chose Port Jackson as a better harbour and this became the site of modern day Sydney. Prior to Cook’s arrival, Australia had been inhabited by Indigenous Australians for at least 40,000 years.

Fitzroy Falls, Morton National Park, NSW, Australia, Oct. 2009
Photo by HelenB

[edit] Areas of Interest

• Blue Mountains National Park - part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Visited by more than three million people every year, this park has more than 140 km of walking tracks of all grades, a diverse range of wildlife, vegetation, mountains and rivers. The name of this range of mountains comes from the blue haze produced by oils given off by the abundant eucalyptus trees throughout the area.
• Lord Howe Island - 700 km north-east of Sydney in the Pacific Ocean. The island can be reached by a regular air service from Sydney.
• Budderoo National Park - about 40 minutes (50 kms) drive south of Wollongong, and home to the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre
• Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens - near Jervis Bay, on the South Coast of NSW between Nowra and Ulladulla, about three hours drive from Sydney or Canberra
• Royal National Park - between Helensburgh and Sydney, 32 kms south of Sydney
• Morton National Park - about 2 hours drive south of Sydney, 1 hours drive from Wollongong, and home to the Fitzroy Falls
• Hunter Wetlands Centre - Newcastle

[edit] Access and Facilities

See the individual Opus pages for information or links to that park's website or download the "Visitor Guide to NSW National Parks" here

[edit] Contact Details

NSW National Parks

• 59-61 Goulburn Street, Sydney
• PO Box A290, Sydney South NSW 1232
• Phone: +61 2 9995 5000
• Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au

[edit] External Links

• Visit New South Wales
• NSW Parks and Reserves
• Birding NSW
• Birdwatching in the Blue Mountains
• Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens
• Bird list for NSW, including Lord Howe Island
• Wildlife (including birds) list for NSW