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The NSW Budget has this week allocated $56.4 million to delivering a spectacular four-day, 46 kilometre Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk within the ancient Gondwana Rainforests on the NSW mid-north coast.

The Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk is anticipated to increase access to one of Australia’s most beautiful rainforests and attract an extra 200,000 visitors to the region.

The starting point of the Dorrigo Great Walk will be the new Arc Rainforest Centre, featuring a hanging boardwalk overlooking the World Heritage rainforest.

The walk will include four low impact walkers’ hut precincts, new camping areas, three suspension bridges and 46 kilometres of walking trails.

It will also become a place for visitors to learn and connect with the culture of the traditional custodians, the Gumbaynggirr people.

Along with the Snowies Alpine Walk, the Wollemi Great Walk, and the Great Southern Walk, NSW signature multi-day walks are providing new experiences across the State while expanding access to national parks.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean advised “through the NSW Budget, we’re investing $56.4 million to offer a new way for people to enjoy the ancient World Heritage environment.       

“This project will drive increased nature-based tourism in NSW, further bolstering the contribution that national parks make to the State economy.”

National park management and visitation generates $18 billion in economic activity annually and supports over 74,000 jobs, with 75% of economic benefit occurring in regional areas.

NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said the project is part of the largest capital investment program ever undertaken in NSW national parks and added “the rainforest at Dorrigo National Park is even more spectacular than the Daintree, and I’m proud to say that with this magnificent new 46 kilometre walk, we’ll be happily tempting domestic and international tourists away from Queensland.”

“I want everyone who comes to our NSW national parks as a visitor to leave as a conservationist, and this world-class Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk helps us achieve that.”

For more information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Images: Concept for the hanging boardwalk (top) and new Arc Rainforest Centre (below) Credit: Environment NSW.

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