Warrumbungles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Warrumbungles is the name of a mountain range and National Park located in northern New South Wales, Australia. The nearest town to the Warrumbungles is Coonabarabran. The area is easiest accessed from the Newell Highway which is the major road link directly between Melbourne, Victoria and Brisbane, Queensland and cuts across inland New South Wales from the north to the south.
The Warrumbungles is the remnants of a large, heavily eroded shield volcano that was active from 18 to 15 million years ago. The first European to site and explore the area was John Oxley in 1818.
The range lies between the moist eastern coastal zone and the dryer plains to the west. Due to this position the mountains have provided protection for flora and fauna suited to both habitats. There are over 120 different bird species that have been identified on the range, including Lories and lorikeets, rosellas and parrots.
The main features of the Warrumbungle mountains are a series of huge, jagged outcrops, surrounded by hilly bush and woodland forest. The Grand High Tops is a section of the range where volcanic remnants are especially clustered. These vents and rocky formations are all named - Belougery Spire, Belougery Split Rock, Crater Bluff, Bluff Mountain, The Breadknife and Mount Exmouth. The Breadknife, a straight wall of jagged rock nearly 100 metres high, is particularly rare.
There is an extensive network of nine walking tracks across the central peaks. The Siding Spring Observatory is situated on an eastern peak. The area has little light pollution to disturb astronomical viewing. The Warrumbungles hosted the 2006 World Rogaining Chapionships.
In the centre of the range has served as an area of protection for a healthy and content colony of grey kangaroos. These animals have become fairly tame due to constant visitor attention and are easily approached.
[edit] Physiography
This area is also known as the Warrumbungle-Liverpool Basalt Ranges, which is distinct physiographic section of the larger Hunter-Hawkesbury Sunkland province, which in turn is part of the larger East Australian Cordillera physiographic division.
