Croajingolong National Park
Encyclopedia
Croajingolong is a coastal national park in Victoria
, Australia
, 427 kilometres east of Melbourne
.The name is thought to derive from the aboriginal word Krowathunkooloong, the name of the tribe inhabiting that area of Victoria.
, the western side by Bemm River and the eastern side by the township of Mallacoota. Its northern boundary consists of dense bushland and low hills. The dimensions of the park are approximately 80 km by 20 km, with an area of 875 km2. The 100 km Wilderness Coast Walk stretches the entire length of the park along beaches, through heathland and round rocky headlands.
in New South Wales
, forms one of only 12 World Biosphere areas
in Australia. It contains ecosystem
s, habitat
s and gene pool
s that are managed sustainably
. The park encloses the Sandpatch Wilderness Area and is contiguous with the Cape Howe Wilderness Area
and the Nadgee Nature Reserve.
, so identified by BirdLife International
because it supports populations of Eastern Bristlebird
s and Pilotbird
s as well as other significant fauna.
, Cann River
, Bemm River and Orbost.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 427 kilometres east of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.The name is thought to derive from the aboriginal word Krowathunkooloong, the name of the tribe inhabiting that area of Victoria.
Description
The park is linear in shape and bordered on the southern side by the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, the western side by Bemm River and the eastern side by the township of Mallacoota. Its northern boundary consists of dense bushland and low hills. The dimensions of the park are approximately 80 km by 20 km, with an area of 875 km2. The 100 km Wilderness Coast Walk stretches the entire length of the park along beaches, through heathland and round rocky headlands.
Environment
Croajingolong National Park, with the adjoining Nadgee Nature ReserveNadgee Nature Reserve
Nadgee Nature Reserve is a protected area on the far south coast of New South Wales, to the immediate south of Ben Boyd National Park. Its southern border is the state border with Victoria, where it abuts Croajingolong National Park. Of its total area of , is declared wilderness...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, forms one of only 12 World Biosphere areas
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected...
in Australia. It contains ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s, habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s and gene pool
Gene pool
In population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique alleles in a species or population.- Description :A large gene pool indicates extensive genetic diversity, which is associated with robust populations that can survive bouts of intense selection...
s that are managed sustainably
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
. The park encloses the Sandpatch Wilderness Area and is contiguous with the Cape Howe Wilderness Area
Cape Howe
Cape Howe is a coastal headland in Australia, forming the south-eastern end of the Black-Allen Line, the border between New South Wales and Victoria.-History:...
and the Nadgee Nature Reserve.
Important Bird Area
The eastern section of the park lies within the Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird AreaNadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area
The Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area comprises some 385 km2 of coastal and subcoastal land at the south-eastern corner of the Australian continent, where Cape Howe marks the junction between the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait, as well as the eastern end of the state border between...
, so identified by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
because it supports populations of Eastern Bristlebird
Eastern Bristlebird
The Eastern Bristlebird is a species of bird in the Bristlebird family Dasyornithidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, and temperate grassland...
s and Pilotbird
Pilotbird
The Pilotbird is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pycnoptilus. The exact taxonomic placement of this species is disputed, as it bears some resemblance to the bristlebirds. The species is endemic to south east New South Wales and east Victoria in...
s as well as other significant fauna.
Visitor attractions
Popular destinations within the park include:- Point HicksPoint HicksPoint Hicks, formerly called Cape Everard, is a coastal headland on the eastern coast of Victoria, Australia, located within the Croajingolong National Park.- Name :...
and its lighthouse - Tamboon Inlet resort town
- Spectacular sand dunes at Thurra RiverThurra RiverThe Thurra River is a river of Gippsland in southeastern Victoria, Australia. It enters Bass Strait through the Croajingolong National Park.The Thurra River catchment area is managed by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.-References:...
- Lake Elusive near Wingan InletWingan InletWingan Inlet is an inlet within the Croajingolong National Park, in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It features a ranger-managed camping ground, about an hour's drive from the nearest town, Cann River, along a notoriously rough stretch of dirt road...
- Mount Everard.
- Rame HeadRame Head, VictoriaRame Head or Ram Head is a coastal headland in eastern Victoria, Australia, within the Croajingolong National Park. Little Rame Head lies to the east, past Wingan Inlet....
Facilities
Popular camping spots exist at Thurra River, Mueller Inlet and Wingan Inlet. Nearby towns are Mallacoota, GenoaGenoa, Victoria
Genoa is a town in Eastern Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is close to the New South Wales border where the Princes Highway crosses the Genoa river. The town is an important access point to the Croajingolong National Park...
, Cann River
Cann River, Victoria
Cann River is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Cann River at the junction of the Princes Highway and Monaro Highway, in the Shire of East Gippsland. At the 2006 census, Cann River had a population of 223...
, Bemm River and Orbost.
External links
- Croajingolong National Park page, at Parks VictoriaParks Victoria-Department:Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Parks Victoria Act 1998 makes Parks Victoria responsible for managing national parks, reserves and other land under the control of the state,...
- Hand made artist's book of etchings inspired by a bushwalk in Croajingolong National Park. Book created by Sandi Rigby and copy no.5 held by the Australian Library of Art, State Library of Queensland