Namadgi National Park

Namadgi National Park Australian Capital Territory
IUCN category II (national park)
Namadgi National Park
Nearest town or city	Canberra
Coordinates
Established	1984
Area	777.80 km2 (300.3 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Territory & Municipal Services
Website	Namadgi National Park
See also	Australian Capital Territory protected areas

Namadgi National Park is a protected area in the south-west of the Australian Capital Territory, bordering Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. It lies approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of Canberra, and makes up approximately 46% of the ACT's land area.

The national park protects part of the northern end of the Australian Alps with its spectacular granite mountains. Its habitat ranges from grassy plains over snow gum forests to alpine meadows. The fauna is also varied: Eastern Grey Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, magpies, rosellas and ravens are commonly seen. The water catchment area of the park supplies approximately 85% of Canberra's water.

In this sub-alpine region the weather ranges from cold winter nights to warm summer days, and it can change very quickly. Snow normally falls on the Bimberi and Brindabella Ranges during winter, and is not uncommon throughout most of the park. The highest mountain is Bimberi Peak at 1,911 metres (6,270 ft) which is the highest peak in the Australian Capital Territory.

The national park is classified as an IUCN Category II protected area.

Traditional custodians of the land

Yankee Hat Artwork featuring a Kangaroo, Dingos, Emus, Humans and an Echidna or Turtle

Namadgi is a local Aboriginal name for the mountains situated to the southwest of Canberra. Aboriginal presence in the area has been dated to at least 21,000 years. There are numerous Aboriginal sites in the national park including paintings at Yankee Hat dating from at least 800 years ago. The area is one of cultural significance to indigenous Australian people of the Australian Alps region, and in particular the Ngambri, and the national park's management plan is exercised with their consultation. In April 2001 representatives of the Ngambri communities entered into an agreement with the ACT government which recognised their traditional association with the national park's lands and their role and duty to their ancestors and descendants as custodians of the area, and established a system of cooperative management.

The area has a European history dating back to the 1830s when settlers moved into the area and cleared the valleys for farming. The mountains and ridges remain forested. Namadgi National Park was created in 1984.

The Visitor Centre is located 2 km south of Tharwa on the Boboyan-Naas Road.

Australian National Heritage List

On 7 November 2008, the national park was one of eleven protected areas added to the Australian National Heritage List under the title of the Australian Alps National Parks and Reserves.

Panoramic view from the top of Mount Ginini, Namadgi National Park.

Gallery

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• Eucalyptus niphophila - Mount Ginini - Namadgi National Park.jpg

See also

• Protected areas of the Australian Capital Territory
• Tharwa
• Bendora Arboretum, located within the park
• Booroomba Rocks
• List of national parks of Australia

Further reading

• "Nationale Parken in Australië" (2000) (Dutch translation of "Discover Australia National Parks" by Ron and Viv Moon)

External links

• Namadgi National Park official webpage
• Entry for Namadgi National Park on protected planet