Where

Kwiambal National Park in Country NSW

Distance

4km return

Time suggested

1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min

Grade

Grade 4

What to
bring

Drinking water, hat, sunscreen

Please note

• The weather in the area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching

For sensational gorge views and fantastic river fishing, Slippery Rock walking track is a great introduction to the dramatic landscape of Kwiambal National Park. About an hour’s drive from Inverell, it offers great birdwatching and abundant wildlife. It’s an ideal nature escape for independent travellers and adventurous walkers who love getting ‘off the beaten track’.

As the name implies, this rough track involves several short steep climbs and some clambering over rocks. However, the effort is well worth it as you gaze across the fast flowing waters of Macintyre River, with its deep granite gorges, thundering waterfalls amid tranquil bush surroundings.

Keep an eye out for eastern grey kangaroos and red-necked wallabies, and an ear out for the raucous chatter of sulphur-crested cockatoos. Head back to Macintyre Falls picnic area and make use of the free barbecues for a well-earned lunch, and be sure to check out the nearby lookout.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Visitor info

Maps and downloads

Learn more

Aboriginal cultural heritage

Kwiambal takes its name from the aboriginal people of the Ashford district. Rich in food, water and materials, the area provided a year-round living environment for their ancestors, with sacred sites and hunting grounds spread throughout the park.

Animals

There are five rare or threatened plant species in the park: severn wattle, Rodd’s star hair, caustic vine, daisy bush and toadflax. Feel free to look, but please be careful not to damage the plants. In the warmer months of September to March, the wildflowers bloom throughout the bush. Like its flowers, Kwiambal is home to dozens of notable animal species, including 32 types of reptile, 11 frogs, and 30 species of mammal. Some 18 species are threatened or endangered, including koalas, squirrel gliders, and five-clawed worm skinks. There are also an astonishing 101 types of bird, making the park a hot spot for avid birders. Keep an eye out for painted honeyeaters, barking owls, hooded robins, and diamond firetails.

Historic heritage

The flat areas of the park have been subjected to farming of tobacco, giving way to cereal crops and the mining of various minerals and sapphires. Unsurprisingly then, there are a number of historical landmarks within the park, including tobacco-drying sheds, woolsheds, fruit trees, storage sheds, and the remains of a house. History enthusiasts will want to seek these out on a visit.

Native rainforest

Kwiambal contains 15 per cent of the native dry rainforest left in NSW. The vegetation is dominated by white cypress pines, silver-leaved ironbarks, and tumbledown gums. Unfortunately, much of the planning area has been subjected to logging in the past, though considerable regeneration makes it a worthy destination for nature-lovers.