Danabilla, Illunie and Koorawatha Nature Reserves

Location, access and how to get there

Danabilla, Illunie and Koorawatha Nature Reserves are situated within a few kilometers of each other. They are all between 30 and 50 kilometers northeast of Young, and around 150 kilometers from Canberra GPO (1 hour 45 minutes drive). The Reserves have limited public access via public roads.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Day walking is permitted in the Reserves, but access may be difficult, particularly to Illunie. Koorawatha Falls Reserve (link) adjoins and is accessed through the Koorawatha Nature Reserve.

Camping and other facilities

Camping is not allowed and there are no visitor facilities.

Features

Size
Danabilla Nature Reserve - 2,242 hectares.
Illunie Nature Reserve - 723 hectares.
Koorawatha Nature Reserve - 1,105 hectares.
Natural features

The Reserve has some significant remnant vegetation. The Illunie Range runs through Danabilla and Koorawatha Reserves with numerous peaks above 600 meters elevation and one in Danabilla above 700 meters elevation. 

Heritage features

There are at least 35 Aboriginal heritage sites which have been identified in Dananbilla, Koorawatha, Illunie and Gungewalla Nature Reserves. There are also some historical sites associated with past agricultural use.

References

Dananbilla, Koorawatha, Illunie and Gungewalla Nature Reserves Plan of Management (2009) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Danabilla Nature Reserve website - link
National Parks and Wildlife Service - Illunie Nature Reserve website - link
National Parks and Wildlife Service - Koorawatha Nature Reserve website - link

Tumblong State Conservation Area

Location, access and how to get there

Tumblong State Conservation Area (SCA) is located 30 kilometers northwest of Tumut, around 180 kilometers from Canberra GPO (2 hours drive away). There is no public vehicular access to the Park and it can only be accessed by walking through private property, for which landowner permission is required.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Day walking is allowed, but note access issues.

Camping and other facilities

Camping and solid fuel fires are not allowed. There are no public use facilities within the SCA.

Features

Size
746 hectares.
Natural features

There are no distinct peaks in the SCA, which is located on the northeastern side of a ridge. Altitude range within the SCA is from 300-588 meters. Six distinct forest ecosystems have been identified within the SCA.

Heritage features

Survey work has identified one Aboriginal heritage site, but further sites may still be discovered. There are no significant historical sites in the SCA.

References

Tumblong State Conservation Area Plan of Management (2008) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Tumblong State Conservation Area website - link

Mudjarn Nature Reserve

Location, access and how to get there

The Mudjarn Nature Reserve is located 15 kilometers north of Tumut off Brungle Road, about 180 kilometers from Canberra GPO (2 hours drive). There is no public vehicular access to the Reserve. Pedestrian access is complicated. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service tells me that there are Crown road easements going into the Reserve off public roads (presumably Brungle Road), but no track exists along these easements. The easements can be located on the relevant parish map, but then they would then have to be located "on the ground". They advise seeking landholder permission prior to attempting to access the Reserve.
Note that the 2008 Plan of Management for Mudjarn noted plans to work with Tumut Council to provide car parking and pedestrian access from Brungle Road, but this has not happened yet.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Walking is permitted in the Reserve, but note access issues above. There are no walking tracks and only one management trail along the eastern side of the Reserve. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service tells me that walking in the Reserve is difficult due to the density of the callitris pines.

Camping and other facilities

The Reserve Plan of Management notes that it is used for camping, but makes no mention of whether this should be allowed. There are no visitor facilities in the Reserve. 

Features

Size
591 hectares.
Natural features

The highest peak is Pine Mountain Peak at 691 meters. A number of small creeks drain out of the Reserve. It has a heavy cover of callitris pine and kurrajong that give it a distinctive dark appearance.

Heritage features

There are a number of recorded Aboriginal heritage sites and a number of historical sites including mine sites and old post and rail fences.

References

Mudjarn Nature Reserve Plan of Management (2008) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Mudjarn Nature Reserve website - link

Wee Jasper Nature Reserve

Location, access and how to get there

The Wee Jasper Nature Reserve is located immediately west of the village of Wee Jasper, about 85 kilometers (1 hour 20 minutes drive) from Canberra GPO via Mountain Creek and Wee Jasper Roads. The Reserve is best accessed via a section of the Hume and Hovell Walking Track which has one entry point on the Wee Jasper Road about 275 meters south of the Caves Road intersection, and a second entry point, also on the Wee Jasper Road, about 6.5 kilometers from the Caves Road intersection. A road called Native Dog Trail (off Wee Jasper Road 1 kilometer south of the Caves Road intersection) also passes through the Reserve, but is not open to the public.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Walking is permitted in the Reserve. A 3.5 kilometer section of the Hume and Hovell Walking Track passes through the southern part of the Reserve . Other parts of the Reserve can be accessed from this track.

Camping and other facilities

Camping is not permitted, although there are numerous campsites in the Wee Jasper area. There are no visitor facilities in the Reserve.

Features

Size
632 hectares.
Natural features

The highest points in the Reserve are along its western border, with some points on the ridge above 800 meters elevation. The ridge should generally provide views to both the east and west. Native Dog Creek flows into the Goodradigbee Valley through the far north of the Reserve, and there are a number of creeks further south that also flow into the Valley. Church Cave is located in the Reserve, but National Parks and Wildlife Service warns that it contains fungus spores that can cause Histoplasmosis, has a threatened bat colony and can only be entered by permit. There are four distinct forest ecosystems within the Reserve and six vulnerable species of fauna.

Heritage features

No Aboriginal heritage or historical sites have been identified in the Reserve.

References

Wee Jasper Nature Reserve Plan of Management (2010) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Wee Jasper Nature Reserve website - link

Wikipedia - link