Freshwater National Park

Freshwater National Park Queensland
IUCN categoryII (national park)
Freshwater National Park
Nearest town or city	Redcliffe
Coordinates	27°10′32″S152°59′23″E
Established	1973
Area	0.94 km2(0.36 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
See also	Protected areas of Queensland

Freshwateris anational parkinQueensland,Australia,34 km north ofBrisbane.The park is west of Redcliffe, nearDeception Bay,withinCaboolture Shire.

The park's vegetation is a remnant of the OpenSclerophyllWoodland which was once common in this area. The dominanttreesareEucalyptusspecies, notably scribbly gum -Eucalyptus racemosawith smooth white trunks, and someAngophoraspecies, while theshrublayer varies from an Open Heath area dominated by lowgrasstreesin the south of the park to denseCasuarinastands, and smallswampyareas with paperbark trees (Melaleucasp.). A smallcreekruns through the north end of the park. Sighted in the Open Heath area are low growing plants such as the fringed lillyThysanotus tuberosus,tall sundewDrosera peltata,which is a carnivorous plant, flat-stemmed cord rushEurychorda complanataand Wallum grevilleaGrevillea leiophylla,which is a delicate pink flowered grevillea growing to only about 30 cm. This is only a small selection of the numerous beautiful plants to be found in this park. This park is one of the few protected places of Open Woodland/Low Heathland in the area. Much of this type of vegetation has been cleared for development.

Though very small, and surrounded by development, roads and a highway, the park is rich with wildlife. In spring it teams with birds, most noticeable being the many species ofhoneyeaters.Australianfairywrenssuch as the beautiful bluevariegated fairywrenand the brilliant red and blackred-backed fairywrenboth occur here. In a very large oldgum treewedge-tailed eagleshave made a nest, and the adults are often seen soaring over the park. Calls fromwhite-throated gerygones,spangled drongosandrainbow bee-eatersmake a pleasant background sound in the park.

Theinvertebratefauna is rich, with many species ofdragonfliesanddamselfliesbeing quite obvious in summer. The magnificent large dragonflyHemianax papuensishawks through the park all year long, while in summer the beautifulRhyothemis graphiptera,with wings barred with glistening dark purple, waft slowly along the tracks, and deep redDiplacodes bipunctatamales sun themselves on twigs low to the ground.

See also

• Protected areas of Queensland