Tarra-Bulga National Park

Tarra-Bulga National Park
Victoria
IUCN category II (national park)

Forest near Cyathea Falls, in the national park
Tarra-Bulga National Park
Nearest town or city Yarram
Coordinates 38°26′30″S 146°34′48″E / 38.44167°S 146.58000°ECoordinates: 38°26′30″S 146°34′48″E / 38.44167°S 146.58000°E
Established 17 June 1986[1]
Area 15.22 km2 (5.9 sq mi)[1]
Visitation 80,000 (in 1995)[1]
Managing authorities
Website Tarra-Bulga National Park
See also Protected areas of Victoria

The Tarra-Bulga National Park is a national park located in the south Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, Australia. The 1,522-hectare (3,760-acre) national park is situated approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) east of Melbourne and 24 kilometres (15 mi) north of Yarram in the eastern part of the Strzelecki Ranges. The park is home to one of the last remnants of the indigenous eucalypt forests which once covered the region. The undisturbed Mountain Ash forests, fern gully communities and associated Myrtle Beech stands within the park are of considerable biogeographical significance.[1]

Features

Tarra Bulga forest

The area was first set aside as Bulga National Park in 1904, comprising 20 hectares (49 acres). In 1909 Tarra Valley National Park was designated nearby, with 303 hectares (750 acres) reserved. Over the years the two parks were gradually enlarged and then merged as the Tarra-Bulga National Park, proclaimed on 17 June 1986.[2]

The deeply incised river valleys of the park are dominated by wet sclerophyll tall open forest of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans), with an understorey of blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), hazel pomaderris (Pomaderris aspera) and tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica and Cyathea australis). Pockets of the park feature cool temperate rainforest, including Myrtle Beech Nothofagus cunninghamii. The ridges are dominated by open forest and low open forest of stringybark eucalypts and gums. The park is also noted for its diversity of Fungi species, which are prominent in autumn.

The tourist attractions include a large suspension bridge walk over the valley and many bushwalking tracks, and now provides visitors with an excellent example of the sort of forests which were once widespread in the area. The park has a visitors centre which is open on weekends and school and public holidays. It is staffed by members of the Friends of Tarra-Bulga National Park who also undertake restoration and monitoring activities.

Since 22 October 2010, the national park is jointly managed by Parks Victoria in partnership with the Australian Aboriginal Gunaikurnai people, who are the traditional owners of the land.[2]

The three–to–four day 100-kilometre (62 mi) Grand Strzelecki Track connects the park with the adjacent Morwell National Park.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Tarra-Bulga National Park management plan" (PDF). Parks Victoria (PDF). Government of Victoria. June 1996. pp. 1–2, 14. ISBN 0-7306-6114-8. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Tarra-Bulga National Park: Visitor guide" (PDF). Parks Victoria (PDF). Government of Victoria. November 2013.

External links