Flora and Fauna
The plant habitats in Yengo National Park include rainforests, tall
open forest, open woodlands and swamps. Dry sclerophyll forests grow
on ridge-tops and northern slopes, wet sclerophyll forest grow in
gullies and on sheltered southern slopes. There are seven species of
ironbark, including some more commonly found west of the Great
Dividing Range. Native Callitris pines are found at the northern end
of the park, that have adapted to the dry ridge-top conditions.
Other plants of interest include cedar wattle, giant stinging trees,
and sandpaper figs.
Wildlife include wombats, wallaroos, koalas and gliding possums and
the rare brush-tailed rock wallaby, New Holland mouse. Of the many
birds species seen include, gang gang, yellow-tailed, glossy black
cockatoos, lyre birds, wedge-tailed eagles, and the rare turquoise
parrot and tiger quoll.
Because the outer edges of several climatic zones meet at Yengo, the
park supports a wide variety of frogs and reptiles.
Aboriginal Culture
The are hundreds of Aboriginal sites throughout the park. Excellent
examples of the Aboriginal rock engravings can be seen near Finchley
Trig.
According to Aboriginal lore, Mount Yengo is the place where Biamie
departed to the skies after finishing his creative tasks during the
dreamtime. The mountain-top was flattened when he stepped on it.
Aborigines probably moved into the area about 13,000 years ago.
Yengo is criss-crossed with Aboriginal routes that were used by
highland and coastal tribes. The path of the historic Old Great
North Road, an Aboriginal travelling route, was first shown to
surveyors by Aborigines.
Things to see and do
There is a variety of activities to enjoy including camping, bird
watching, picnicking, 4WD touring, orienteering, canoeing, and
bicycle touring. There are excellent bushwalking and at night the
possibility of seeing nocturnal animals.
The high ridge-tops provide sweeping views of the park, as well as
the wide, flat plateau of Mount Yengo. At Finchley Trig, 30 minutes
drive along Finchley Track off George Downes Drive is one of the
best vistas. There are also great views along the Womerah Range
Track between Parr SRA and Yengo National Park.
When travelling to Yengo, it's also worth stopping at the historic
villages of Wisemans Ferry and
St Albans.
Source: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Yengo
National Park Visitor Guide. |
