Naturescapes - NSW National Parks e-Newsletter

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Welcome to the winter edition of Naturescapes. In this edition we're proud to announce a host of new visitor initiatives across the state.

Signalling a new approach to the way we promote our parks, this special edition of Naturescapes profiles phase one of our brand new website, an iPad app, the reprisal of a much loved marketing campaign, and new developments in WilderQuest our fun children's program.

Find your national parks adventure online

National parks' visitors can now experience their amazing parks and reserves online with the launch of phase one of our brand new website. In the biggest ever overhaul of the NPWS website, the first phase was launched on 31 May by the Hon. Robyn Parker MP, Minister for the Environment.

850 unique new webpages, 1500 new images along with 40 video clips have been loaded onto the new website and showcase 72 of our state’s most popular or unique parks. Work will continue and the new website will eventually expand to cover 180 parks.

The new online initiative is all about motivating visitors to find out more about the spectacular parks and natural attractions before they visit. So why wait, head on over and start planning your next national parks trip.

You can also watch a short video explaining it all.

Grab your copy of our first magazine

The first edition of our Naturescapes magazine is hot off the press. Featuring spectacular park images and inspiring content for more than 50 of our parks, the travel-style magazine responds to what our visitors said they wanted more of - great journeys and spectacular images..

Naturescapes Edition 1 includes a diverse range of travel itineraries from short family getaways to extended meandering journeys. Try picnicking on the islands in Sydney Harbour, bush tucker experiences on the north coast, or even waking up to the sounds of seals after a night in a lighthouse cottage on Montague Island on the far south coast.

You can pick up your guide from your local NPWS visitor centre, or visit the website where you can download or order your own copy.

New iPad app profiles the best

Our brand new Apple iPad app Naturescapes: The Collection, features some of the best national parks accommodation offerings from across the state - seven locations have been hand-picked to represent the most unique overnight stays on offer.

Naturescapes: The Collection app includes lighthouse cottage accommodation, a four-star lodge in our outback and heritage locations right on Sydney Harbour.

It also allows you to view availability or book your favourite instantly. For more information or to download the app, visit the Apple App Store.

Join the epic adventure and go wild about whales

London’s not the only place you’ll find Australia’s long-distance swimmers making their mark over the next couple of months. The whales are back and this year, they’ll be taking part in the largest, longest whale migration NSW has seen for half a century.

NPWS’ whale expert, Geoff Ross, says 2012 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year for whale sightings from our coast, with a 10 to 20 per cent increase in migrating whales expected – if you’re ready to share in the epic adventure of these amazing creatures, all the signs are pointing to a great year.

This year’s migration is also likely to bring growing numbers of fur seals, dolphins and even orcas to our coast, making winter an excellent time to head to NSW’s coastal national parks, where you’ll find some of the state’s best headlands and vantage points for spotting the whales and other marine life. There’s plenty more to see and do in our coastal parks too, so while you’re there, be sure to check out the many nature-based tours and activities on offer.

Check out the interactive whale sightings maps and plan your own epic coastal adventure at www.wildaboutwhales.com.au. Also, share your photos and experiences on facebook, and tweet your own sightings using #whaleon to @wildaboutwhales.

WilderQuest Discovery

Have you discovered the wonders of WilderQuest, our new website for kids between five and eight years old? Join Ranger Sam and Pug on their adventures along our coastline and rainforests.

Following the success of our WilderQuest themed Discovery tours last school holidays, we’ve once more brought back our real-live WilderQuest experiences for the coming Winter School Holidays – with nature experiences including “Who Eats in the Rainforest”, "Humpback Heroes" and “WilderQuest Warriors”, kids can bring their online experiences to life in our national parks.

We expect to roll out two exciting new environments, Town and Alpine, to explore soon so keep an eye out for them – and if you’ve registered online at WilderQuest, we’ll alert you when they’re launched.

Muttonbird Island up for top Architecture prize

Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve in Coffs Harbour, is gaining a reputation for excellence in showcasing its significant Aboriginal cultural values and extraordinary wildlife.

As the home base for the Coffs Coast Aboriginal Discovery program, it was recently awarded the Indigenous Tourism category at the Australian Tourism Awards earlier this year. And now the island’s education space has been nominated for the prestigious Premier’s Prize for Architecture.

Comprised of a meeting place, a walkway to the island and fascinating display panels, the Giidany Miirlarl Education Space provides a place for social interaction and learning. In the upcoming spring months the space will play host to a Gumbaynggirr Elder’s storytelling event. More information will be made available on the Wild Wild World website closer to the date.

In the meantime, you can meet up with Aboriginal Discovery ranger Mark Flanders for whale watching from the island’s lookout platform during the upcoming school holidays.

What's On

1-8 Jul	NAIDOC Week
30 Jul	Planet Ark Tree Day
9 Aug	International Day of the World's Indigenous People
11-19 Aug	Science Week
18-19 Aug	International Lighthouse Weekend
20 Aug	Keep Australia Beautiful
24-26 Aug	Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney - Hawkesbury to the Harbour

Great Places to Stay

Nestled amongst the mountains and valleys of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park lies one of our best hideaway accommodation offerings – East Kunderang Homestead.

Dating from the 1890s, and once the centre of an extensive grazing empire, this majestic red cedar homestead in country NSW has been carefully restored over the last few years to offer guests modern facilities including a fully equipped kitchen and renovated bathroom.

The scenic riverside setting is ideal for swimming, fishing and canoeing or exploring the nearby hills and rainforests, or you can simply relax on your own private verandah, rediscover the peace and solitude of the bush and enjoy fireside evenings in the warm ambience of the cedar lined living room.

This is just one of the amazing properties in our new Naturescapes Collection App. Book or find out more at the Apple App Store or on our website.

Wildlife Spot

Winter’s cooler temperatures means that visitors can keep a keen eye out for seal sightings on various rocky outcroppings along our coastline. While mainly seen on the far south coast, sightings in recent years have been reported around locations in Port Stephens and around Broughton Island.

During the 1800s, the Australian Fur Seal was heavily hunted for its coat and the population dropped from several hundred thousand to only 20,000. But since their protection 1974, numbers have been increasing, and in fact areas not known for breeding, like the “bachelor pad” down in Montague Island has seen seal pups emerge.

Our Australian Fur Seals can be quite tricky to spot, as one of their favourite pastimes is to sleep and sunbake, meaning that their dark brown coats camouflage them into their surroundings – so make sure you look twice next time you make a trip to the coast.

About 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 850 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 5572 E | naturescapes@environment.nsw.gov.au

Images: Banner (OEH/D. Finnegan), East Kunderand (OEH/M. V. Ewijk), Australian Fur Seal (OEH/I. Oeland); WilderQuest (OEH/P. Nicholas); Muttonbird Island (OEH/Fisher Design)

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