Croajingolong National Park
| Croajingolong National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
 One of many beaches in the Croajingolong National Park; looking north towards Rame Head. | |
  Croajingolong National Park | |
| State | Victoria |
| Nearest town or city | Mallacoota |
| Coordinates | 37°43′S 149°28′E / 37.717°S 149.467°ECoordinates: 37°43′S 149°28′E / 37.717°S 149.467°E |
| Area | 875 square kilometres (338 sq mi) |
| Established | 1979 |
| Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
| Official site | Croajingolong National Park |
Croajingolong National Park is an 875 square kilometres (338 sq mi) coastal national park in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. The park is located approximately 427 kilometres (265 mi) east of Melbourne.
The name is thought to derive from the aboriginal word Krowathunkooloong, the name of the tribe inhabiting that area of Victoria.[citation needed]
Location and features
The park is linear in shape and bordered on the southern side by the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean, the western side by Bemm River and the eastern side by the township of Mallacoota. Its northern boundary consists of dense bushland and low hills. The dimensions of the park are approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) by 20 kilometres (12 mi), with an area of 875 square kilometres (338 sq mi). The 100 kilometres (62 mi) Wilderness Coast Walk stretches the entire length of the park along beaches, through heathland and round rocky headlands.
Croajingolong National Park, with the adjoining Nadgee Nature Reserve in New South Wales, forms one of only twelve World Biosphere areas in Australia.[1] It contains ecosystems, habitats and gene pools that are managed sustainably. The park encloses the Sandpatch Wilderness Area and is contiguous with the Cape Howe Wilderness Area, the Nadgee Nature Reserve and the Cape Howe Marine National Park.
Important Bird Area
The eastern section of the park lies within the Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet Important Bird Area, so identified by BirdLife International because it supports populations of Eastern Bristlebirds and Pilotbirds as well as other significant fauna.[2]
Visitor attractions
Popular destinations within the park include:
- Point Hicks and its lighthouse
- Tamboon Inlet resort town
- Spectacular sand dunes at Thurra River
- Lake Elusive near Wingan Inlet
- Mount Everard
- Rame Head
Facilities
Popular camping spots exist at Thurra River, Mueller Inlet and Wingan Inlet. Nearby towns are Mallacoota, Genoa, Cann River, Bemm River and Orbost.
Gallery
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A view of Wingan Inlet, 2007.
-
Thurra River as seen from the top of the largest of the sand dunes in the Croajingolong National Park.
See also
- Protected areas of Victoria (Australia)
References
- ↑ Department of Sustainability: Australia's Biosphere Reserves, retrieved 8 May 2011
- ↑ "IBA: Nadgee to Mallacoota Inlet". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 2011-08-27.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Croajingolong National Park. |
- Croajingolong National Park page, at Parks Victoria
- Hand made artist's book of etchings inspired by a bushwalk in Croajingolong National Park. Book created by Sandi Rigby and copy no.5 held by the Australian Library of Art, State Library of Queensland
- Croajingolong featured in the song Croa-jingo-long by Harold Williams (as Geoffrey Spencer) in 1923.