| Hacking River | |
|---|---|
Hacking River, midway through its journey in the Royal National Park, Australia |
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| Origin | New South Wales |
| Mouth | Port Hacking |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Mouth elevation | sea level |
The Hacking River is a stream in the state of New South Wales in Australia.[1] It rises near the Princes Highway west of Stanwell Tops, and flows through the Royal National Park before emptying into Port Hacking. Within the park at Audley, visitors have enjoyed picnic and boating facilities for more than a hundred years.
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Most of the river flows through the Royal National Park, before entering the sea at Port Hacking. It is named after the colonial figure, Henry Hacking. Its upper reaches lie adjacent to the Garawarra State Conservation Area, where it is a small stream in a gully within rainforest.[2] The river passes through a variety of plant communities, such as dry eucalyptus forest, tall wet eucalyptus forest and rainforests. Significant rainforest plants growing by the river banks include White Beech, Citronella,[3] Supplejack, Bangalow Palm, Jackwood and Golden Sassafras. The Blackbutt, Grey Ironbark and Sydney Blue Gum are common eucalyptus trees. As it moves downstream, it flattens and widens before it reaches the estuary at Port Hacking.[2]
A variety of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds live in and around the river. Long Finned Eels migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as elvers. As adults they mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park, sometimes to be seen in the river pools. Jollytail are common small fish. Platypus may occasionally be seen in the river,[4] and Azure Kingfishers nest in the river banks. The land snail Meridolum marshalli is restricted to Royal National Park; its main habitat is wet areas near the river.[2]
A causeway, built in 1899, crosses the Hacking River at Audley within the Royal National Park. Here, mangrove flats were cleared to make way for boat-sheds and accommodation in the late 19th century.[5] A boatshed and picnic grounds remain at Audley, having been used continuously since.[2] Visitors can canoe and kayak further upstream along the Hacking River or its tributary Kangaroo Creek.
The soft soils are vulnerable to erosion, which is exacerbated by bushwalking. Erosion is facilitated by relatively high rainfall in the Garrawarra State Conservation Area. Furthermore, runoff from the towns of Helensburgh, Otford and Stanwell Tops (which lie above the catchment) has also impacted on water quality in the river, resulting in increased turbidity and algal growth.[2]