Nattai National Park

Nattai is a national park in New South Wales (Australia), 88 km southwest of Sydney. It is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and primarily encompasses the valley of the Nattai River, which is surrounded by spectacular sandstone cliffs. The park is covered in dry sclerophyll (hard leafed) forest - mostly eucalypt, and has fairly frequent forest fires. It is largely an untouched wilderness area.

Nattai National Park
Nattai National Park
Coordinates	34°17′22″S 150°21′37″E
Established	December 13, 1991
Area	479 km² (48944 hectares)

The park adjoins the Kanangra-Boyd National Park (which is to the north). Lake Burragorang (water supply for Sydney) also borders the northen side of the park, and there is a 3km exclusion zone surrounding into which entry is prohibited.

The Nattai receives very few visitors, as it has virtually no facilities, and is fairly remote, despite it's proximity to Sydney.

History

In past times, the land that is now Nattai National Park has been used for oil shale mining and small scale grazing.

Entry Points

Wattle Ridge Fire Road

Northeast of the small town of Hill Top. Unsealed road access to a small unsealed car park at the edge of the park - a four wheel drive vehicle is not required. There are no facilites, just a information board, and a log book. Make sure you sign in and out of the log book when entering the park.

Wombeyan Caves Road

Hiking

Nattai National Park has several worthwhile hikes, however it is a remote area, and also very dry.

When to go

In summer it can be extremely hot walking along the fire roads, and at camp sites is far too hot to get inside a tent until quite late. Insects (flies, ants, cicadas) can also take the fun out of camping in mid summer unless you sit in the river the whole time. In winter the sun sets quite early as the valley walls are high, and the nights are cold enough to produce frosts.

Dangers and Annoyances

• Water is very scarse away from the Nattai River and its tributary creeks. Ensure everyone carries enough.
• The area is fairly remote, and few people hike here, so make sure your plans are left with a responsible person, and consider taking an EPIRB. Mobile phones may work on the highest parts of the plateau surrounding the valley, but won't work in the valley.
• Make sure your navigation skills are adequate to route find properly, as fires in the park often clear out undergrowth, which makes finding an indistinct trail nearly impossible (although it also means that walking is much easier).
• Beware of snakes, especially sunning themselves on fire roads or trails and near creeks - they won't always move away when you come near, so you may end up getting uncomfortably close to one. Red-bellied Black Snakes are the most common type seen. Make sure you carry snake bandage(s) and know how to use them.
• Treat all water taken from rivers/creeks - there are towns (e.g. Mitagong) upstream, so there is likely to be Giardia in the water.

Trails

The Starlights Trail

Nattai Road Park Entrance to Emmetts Flat (a good camp site on the river without facilities) on the Nattai River. 6.5km one way with 250m descent.

Russells Needle

Katoomba to Mitagong

See also

• Protected areas of New South Wales (Australia)