The access road and car parks at the Gara Gorge visitor area which includes the Blue Hole and Threlfall day use areas in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park have been given a seal of approval with a new bitumen coat and car parking facilities.
NPWS Ranger Christine Lehmann said the works included sealing the access road and existing car parks as well as construction and sealing of two new car parks.
“The Gara Gorge visitor area is one of the most popular visitor areas in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park for the local community because of its proximity to Armidale, with visitor use doubling since 2000,” MsLehmann said.
The Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is a World Heritage listed park located south-east of Armidale, with dramatic gorges and waterfalls, extensive wilderness, scenic rivers and rare plants and animals.
“The sealing of the access road and car parks at the Gara Gorge visitor area means that all high use visitor areas in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, including Apsley, Wollomombi and Dangars Falls now have sealed access roads.
“The high visitation was putting increasing pressure on the road network and on the existing parking available; and maintenance grades were becoming more frequent.”
Ms Lehmann said sealing the road, along with the new car parks, will reduce erosion and dust in the area, reduce maintenance costs and will allow increased parking.
“We completed the works at the end of May and both the NPWS and recent visitors have been very pleased with the results.”
For more information about visiting Oxley Wild Rivers National Park contact the NPWS in Armidale on ph: 02 6738 9100.
