Naturescapes - NSW National Parks e-Newsletter

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Relax and unwind this autumn in one of the state’s spectacular national parks. This is the perfect time to escape to nature and enjoy the milder weather while the days are still a little bit longer.

This issue we profile our family-friendly First Time Camping experience in Bents Basin; a great volunteering initiative tackling bitou bush on the north coast with an overnight camp stay; and lots of fun, interactive Discovery activities taking place around the state. For history buffs, we also have a living history theatrical production on the Old Great North Road in April. Read on to find out how you can win two tickets to experience it for yourself.

Book your campsite online this season

If you're planning a camping holiday, why not book online at our new website?

More than 76 campgrounds and accommodation venues can be booked online – with more to come.

Online booking for camping and accommodation in our national parks has come about in response to feedback from you, our customers. Though if you prefer to give us a call, we're still available on 13000PARKS (13000 72757) seven days a week between 9am and 5pm.

Of course bookings can still be made in person on arrival at the area you wish to visit. Due to the popularity of many of our sites however, we encourage you to call or book online, as many sites book out in advance. For further information please visit our website or call 13000PARKS.

WilderQuest adventures in autumn

Ready to go on an adventure with the kids this school holidays? There are more than ten great WilderQuest adventures on offer throughout the state over the school holidays.

There’s the ever popular WilderQuest bush detectives “whose poo is it”? at Brisbane Water National Park; our adventurous seaside WilderQuest rockin’ rockpools at Tomaree National Park; the culturally inspired WilderQuest Aboriginal tribes and tracking quest at Coffs Coast Regional Park; and the natural scavenger hunt that is the WilderQuest special sea creature treasure hunt at Munmorah National Park.

To get the kids excited, our WilderQuest website is now home to four fun and interactive environments spanning Coastal, Alpine, Woodlands and Town. Stay tuned for more environments to come this year, with Desert due for release very soon.

Biggest Beach Bitou Bash

Volunteers across the state are invited to join local bush regenerators, scouts and schoolkids to help limit the spread of bitou bush on the Macleay Coast, near Kempsey, as part of the Biggest Beach Bitou Bash in May 2013.

Starting from Goolawah Regional Park to Crescent Head, Hat Head National Park, Smoky Cape, Arakoon National Park and north to Grassy Head, you can get involved in the effort to eradicate the environmental threat of the introduced weed bitou bush.

Spectacular scenery, good company and doing great things for the environment add up to a fun and rewarding experience.

Although in its inaugural year, we’re hoping this may become a yearly event, encouraging participants to enjoy a winter weeding holiday, with free camping for registered volunteers in local national parks in return for volunteer hours. To find out more or to book, visit our website.

Immerse yourself in history

OGNR play convicts - actors Matt Rose, Ryan Clifford and Adam Penklis

An outdoor, on-site play will be staged at Devines Hill, on the World Heritage listed Old Great North Road in April. Matinee and evening sessions will see park visitors explore the road through a living history theatrical production.

The audience will experience what it was like to visit the road when it was being constructed back in 1830, and hear stories of the labourers retold by the actors as they ‘tour’ up the road.

Audiences will meet the overseer, witness convicts at work, hear stories about their hardships and see fascinating features of this amazing road. Tickets are limited to 50 per performance, and will take place on 14, 20 and 21 April. To find out more visit our website or to book click here.

Your chance to win two tickets!* We’re giving you the chance to win two tickets to any one of the shows available by simply answering this question, “Name the original ascent built for the Old Great North Road from Wisemans Ferry that was abandoned and later replaced by Devines Hill because it was too steep?” Send your answers through to central.coast@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Catch us on Sydney Weekender

Channel 7’s Sydney Weekender team has been on a journey of discovery through NSW national parks over the last few months, experiencing some of the great family activities on offer in our parks.

There have been whale watching adventures, stories of Aboriginal heritage and opportunities to see inside some of the State’s most unusual and beautiful accommodation offerings.

Coming up throughout the year, the Sydney Weekender team will share some more great inspiration, including road trips through the outback of NSW, school holiday activities, great camping spots, plus we’ll be providing some great special offers to viewers.

So, be sure to catch the show on Channel 7 every Saturday night at 5.30pm, and on repeat on 7TWO at the same time the following Saturday.

If you miss the show, don’t worry, just check out our website to watch the national parks segment, and claim some of the great offers available, or like us on facebook, so you will receive reminders when national parks are on the show.

Coffs Coast Ambassadors

Ever wanted to experience the Coffs Coast through the eyes of a local? Discover the region’s best kept secrets on a tour with the Coffs Ambassadors.

This award-winning program has been developed through a unique training, mentoring and tour assessment program undertaken by the North Coast region’s National Parks Discovery Ranger team and run by Coffs Harbour City Council. This innovative partnership has resulted in community volunteers gaining the skills and confidence to deliver quality interpretative tour experiences that showcase the natural and cultural values of their favourite parts of the Coffs coast.

Coffs Ambassador tours are being held across the Coffs Coast almost every weekend in autumn 2013. To book your place or obtain further information on any of the tours listed below, go to www.coffsambassadors.com.au. Tours can also be booked by ringing the Visitor Information Centre on (02) 6648 4990.

What's On

21 Mar - 2 Apr	Sydney Royal Easter Show
14, 20, 21 Apr	Convict Footprints on the Old Great North Road
18 Apr	World Heritage Day
13 - 19 May	National Volunteer Week
13 - 21 May	Biggest Beach Bitou Bash
1 Jun	Official start of whale-watching season

The whales are coming!

The chill in the air means the whales are coming, and in 2013 they’ll be making one of the largest migrations we’ve ever seen. While we can usually keep track of what these guys are doing, it’s our human visitors that are a bit harder to predict. It’s sure to be a massive year for whale sightings, and we’d love to get to know your interests as whale lovers.

Not only will you be helping us understand your whale watching habits, you’ll also go into the draw to win an awesome eco pack valued at $200 from Biome, complete with a Keep Cup, glass drink bottle, reusable veggie bags, LED flashlight and more!

All the products are environmentally friendly and will have you feeling closer to nature in no time. Tell us what you think and win. Terms and conditions apply*.

Wildlife Spot

Following the discovery by scientists late last year that a pair of vulnerable Gould's Petrels were incubating an egg on the island, the first ever sighting of a Gould's Petrel chick was recorded this year at Montague Island Nature Reserve.

This is the result of extensive pest and weed eradication programs on the island targeting goats, rabbits and rodents, as well as introduced kikuyu grass and runner grass.

A member of the gadfly group of Petrels, the Gould's Petrels can grow up to 30cms and weigh approximately 180g. Feeding on surface fish, small squid and krill they can be more commonly found around Cabbage Tree Island, off shore from Port Stephens.

Gould's Petrels lay a single egg and, if lost, the egg is not replaced in that laying season. Gould’s Petrel are monogamous and pair bonds appear to be longstanding.

Great Things To Do

First time camping at Bents Basin State Conservation Area

Camp with the family and let us do the work for you this school holidays. Grab the kids and head to Bents Basin State Conservation Area this Easter to try out our First Time Camping experience.

Let us prepare your spot and pitch the tent for you, so that all you have to bring is pillows and bedding, towels, toiletries, torch, swimmers and your sense of adventure!

Catering options are available (or you can BYO), to make your overnight stay as straightforward as possible. For more information or to book, visit our website.

Sustainability Tip

Did you know that insulating your house properly can keep you home around ten degrees warmer in winter and seven degrees cooler in summer? You can save some $150 on bills a year.

Existing homes can have insulation installed in the ceiling and under timber floors if there's space and access. It's easiest to insulate walls during recladding or replastering or when you're renovating.

When choosing your insulation, one of the most important factors to consider is the ‘R-value’. This measures a material's capability to resist heat flow, and the higher in value the better resistance it has to heat transfer.

NSW National Parks

NSW's national parks and reserves are cared for and managed by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. There are more than 860 national parks and reserves across the state, taking in four World Heritage Areas and four National Landscapes. There are also 11 sites on the National Heritage List, while more than 300 parks form part of the extensive Great Eastern Ranges. NPWS is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

For further information: T | 02 9995 5538 E | Naturescapes@environment.nsw.gov.au

Images: Banner (OEH/D.Finnegan), Camping (OEH/D.Finnegan), Hat Head NP (OEH/D.Finnegan), Convicts (OEH/L. Ackland), WilderQuest (OEH/B.Peters), Coffs Ambassadors (Coffs Advocate), Humpback whale breaching (OEH/W. Reynolds), Gould's Petrel (OEH/A. Harris), First Time Camping (OEH/D. Finnegan)

*For full terms and conditions for our competition, visit our website.

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