Hat Head National Park
| Hat Head National Park New South Wales | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Hat Head National Park | |
| Nearest town or city | South West Rocks |
| Coordinates | 31°04′49″S153°01′49″E/ 31.08028°S 153.03028°E |
| Established | 28 July 1972 |
| Area | 74 km2(29 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Hat Headis anational parkon theMid North CoastofNew South Wales,Australia, 461.7 kilometres (286.9 mi) north-east ofSydney.It lies within theHastings-Macleay Important Bird Area.[1]Within the park is the eponymous village of Hat Head, with about 320 inhabitants.[2]
Geography
[edit]Location
[edit]Hat Head National Park is located on theMid North CoastofNew South WalesnearSouth West RocksandKempsey.The park consists of beaches, sand dunes, rocky headlands, rainforest and wetlands.[3]The average altitude is eight metres.[4]
History
[edit]For the Dunghutti people some parts of the park remain a significant place as of their traditional land. The different areas of the park and the sea provided a rich source of food like fish and shellfish. The park is culturally important to Aboriginal people as it contains ceremonial grounds, burial sites, shell middens and campsites.[5]
Biodiversity
[edit]Hat Head National Park is rich with birdlife such askookaburra,black swans,egrets,herons,fantails,andhoneyeaters.Also hawks, falcons or eagles likewhite-bellied sea eaglesoaring above the cliffs. Wildlife at Hat Head includesblack sheoak,grass trees,glossy black cockatoo,red-necked and swamp wallabies as well aseastern grey kangaroos,sugar gliders,grey-headed flying foxandshort-beaked echidna. Theregent skipper(butterfly) is only found in Hat Head National Park and Limeburners Creek National Park.[6]
Leisure
[edit]Several walking tracks, fishing and whale watching can be done or just relax at the rocky headlands. Birdwatchers can look for black swans and spoonbills in the park's wetlands, hawks and eagles soaring above beach cliffs and shorebirds like curlews and plovers around the beach.[7]
See also
[edit]- Protected areas of New South Wales
- Smoky Cape,within the park
References
[edit]- ^BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hastings-Macleay. Downloaded fromhttp:// birdlife.orgon 06/07/2011.
- ^"Map of Hat Head in New South Wales showing Smithtown-Gladstone (highlighted in purple) - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia".bonzle.Retrieved27 September2021.
- ^Website of National Park
- ^"Hat Head National Park topographic map, elevation, relief".topographic-map.Retrieved27 September2021.
- ^Information about Aboriginal cultureNSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
- ^Description National ParkNSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
- ^Website of National Park
External links
[edit]
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