Mount Kaputar National Park

Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

Mount Kaputar National Park
New South Wales

IUCN category II (national park)

View of the park from the top of Mount Kaputar, oriented approximately west

Mount Kaputar National Park

Coordinates| 30°17′26″S 150°08′34″E﻿ / ﻿30.29056°S 150.14278°E﻿ / -30.29056; 150.14278
Area| 502.25 km²[1]
Managing authorities|

* Regional Board, Australia
* National Parks and Wildlife Service

Footnotes| Managing Authorities[2]
See also| Protected areas of
New South Wales

The Mount Kaputar National Park is a national park located in New South Wales, Australia, surrounding the proximities of Mount Kaputar, a volcano active between 17 and 21 million years ago.[3] It is located 50 km (31 mi) east of Narrabri and 570 km (354 mi) northwest of Sydney.[4] Millions of years of erosion have since carved the volcanic region into the lava terraces, volcanic plugs, and dykes of Nandewar Range. The central feature of the region is Mount Kaputar, the park's namesake, which rises to an altitude of 1,510 m (4,954 ft).[3] The 360 degree view from the summit of the mountain encompasses one-tenth of New South Wales' area or 80,000 square kilometres (31,000 sq mi).[4]

The park protects a wide range of biomes, including semi-arid woodland, subalpine heath, and eucalypt forests, and provides a habitat for a range of animals, including bats, birds, wallabies, quolls, and the unique red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) and pink slug (Triboniophorus sp. nov. 'Kaputar'), which are known to appear after rainfall.[3]

## History

[edit]

Before it was a national park, the area was used largely as grazing land for domestic animals. The conditions in the park are very harsh, but several pioneering families lived there, and remnants of their occupation remain. Sheep and cattle continued to graze on the plateau until around the 1950s. It was an isolated place, and the stockmen in charge of the cattle often would not see another human for months at a time.[2]

In 1925, some 775 ha (3 sq mi) of land around Mount Kaputar were declared a "Reserve for Public Recreation". Two years later, a trust, known as the Mount Kaputar Trust, was formed to give guidance on managing the park. The area was expanded to 14,244 ha (55 sq mi) and proclaimed a full national park in 1959. Eight years later, in 1967, the Fund relinquished the duties of controlling the park to the newly established National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the park is still administered by a regional advisory board.[2]

## Facilities and activities

[edit]

In 1965, two cabins were constructed at Dawsons Spring, providing accommodations including a permanent water supply for showers and toilets, and a picnic facility. Today there are 3 cabins, including one facilitated from Bark Hut.[2]

The park is popular with rockclimbers, and there are 11 walks in the park,[4] as well as a camping ground. However, the most popular site in the park is Scutts Hut, located upward of Kurrawonga Falls.[5] The hut is the former home of the Scutt family, a pioneer family living in the vicinity of the park.[2] it is accessible via a fire trail from the Bark Hut camping grounds. The hut has been restored to its original livery, with an earthen floor and an open fireplace. The hut is built on the banks of Horsearm Creek, which flows into Kurrawonga Falls.[5]

* Euglah Rock

* Sawn Rocks

* Mount Yulludunida (left) and Mount Ningadhun (right)

* Mount Kaputar and the Nandewar Range

## See also

[edit]

* Protected areas of New South Wales

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mount Kaputar National Park Plan of Management" (PDF). Retrieved 31 January 2023.
2. ^ a b c d e "Mount Kaputar National Park: Culture and history". Retrieved 27 December 2009.
3. ^ a b c "Mount Kaputar National Park". Retrieved 27 December 2009.
4. ^ a b c "Mount Kaputar National Park Information". Pleasetakemeto.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
5. ^ a b "Mount Kaputar National Park: Exploring cultural heritage in the park". Retrieved 27 December 2009.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Kaputar National Park.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mount Kaputar National Park.

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National parks of New South Wales, Australia

Central West & Orana|

* Abercrombie
* Breelong
* Capertee
* Conimbla
* Coolah Tops
* Drillwarrina
* Gardens of Stone
* Garrawilla
* Goobang
* Goulburn
* Kanangra-Boyd
* Lachlan Valley
* Marrangaroo
* Nangar
* Popran
* Turon
* Warrumbungle
* Weddin Mountains
* Wollemi

Far West|

* Brindingabba
* Culgoa
* Gundabooka
* Kalyarr
* Kemendok
* Kinchega
* Koonaburra
* Mallee Cliffs
* Mungo
* Mutawintji
* Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp
* Paroo-Darling
* Sturt
* Toorale
* Yanga

Hunter & Central Coast|

* Barakee
* Barrington Tops
* Belford
* Ben Halls Gap
* Biriwal Bulga
* Booti Booti
* Bouddi
* Brisbane Water
* Coolah Tops
* Coorabakh
* Crawney Pass
* Crowdy Bay
* Dharug
* Gir-um-bit
* Goulburn River
* Gin-Doo-Ee
* Hunter Wetlands
* Karuah
* Middle Brother
* Mount Royal
* Myall Lakes
* Saltwater
* Scone Mountain
* Tapin Tops
* Tilligerry
* Towarri
* Tomaree
* Wallarah
* Wallingat
* Watagans
* Werakata
* Woko
* Wollemi
* Wyrrabalong
* Yengo

Illawarra-Shoalhaven|

* Bimberamala
* Budawang
* Budderoo
* Bugong
* Conjola
* Dharawal
* Heathcote
* Jerrawangala
* Jervis Bay
* Macquarie Pass
* Meroo
* Morton
* Murramarang
* Royal
* Seven Mile Beach

New England-North West|

* Bald Rock
* Barool
* Basket Swamp
* Boonoo Boonoo
* Ben Halls Gap
* Burral Yurrul
* Butterleaf
* Capoompeta
* Carrai
* Cascade
* Cataract
* Cathedral Rock
* Coolah Tops
* Cottan-Bimbang
* Couradda
* Crawney Pass
* Cunnawarra
* Dowe
* Gibraltar Range
* Guy Fawkes River
* Indwarra
* Kings Plain
* Koreelah
* Kwiambal
* Maryland
* Mount Clunie
* Mount Kaputar
* Mount Nothofagus
* Mummel Gulf
* New England
* Nowendoc
* Nullamanna
* Nymboida
* Oxley Wild Rivers
* Single
* Timbarra
* Tooloom
* Towarri
* Warra
* Wallabadah
* Warrabah
* Washpool
* Watsons Creek
* Werrikimbe

North Coast|

* Arakoon
* Arakwal
* Bago Bluff
* Bellinger River
* Bindarri
* Biriwal Bulga
* Bongil Bongil
* Border Ranges
* Broadwater
* Bundjalung
* Bungawalbin
* Carrai
* Chaelundi
* Cottan-Bimbang
* Crowdy Bay
* Dooragan
* Dorrigo
* Dunggir
* Fortis Creek
* Gibraltar Range
* Goonengerry
* Guy Fawkes River
* Hat Head
* Junuy Juluum
* Kumbatine
* Limeburners Creek
* Mallanganee
* Maria
* Mebbin
* Middle Brother
* Mooball
* Mount Jerusalem
* Mount Nothofagus
* Mount Pikapene
* New England
* Nightcap
* Nymboi-Binderay
* Nymboida
* Ramornie
* Richmond Range
* Sea Acres
* Toonumber
* Ulidarra
* Washpool
* Werrikimbe
* Willi Willi
* Wollumbin
* Yabbra
* Yarrahapinni Wetlands
* Yarriabini
* Yuraygir

Riverina-Murray|

* Benambra
* Brindabella
* Cocoparra
* Jimberoo
* Jindalee
* Kalyarr
* Kosciuszko
* Lachlan Valley
* Livingstone
* Minjary
* Murray Valley
* Murrumbidgee Valley
* Oolambeyan
* Willandra
* Woomargama
* Yanga

Southeast & Tablelands|

* Abercrombie
* Bangadilly
* Beowa
* Biamanga
* Blue Mountains
* Bournda
* Brindabella
* Budawang
* Budderoo
* Clyde River
* Deua
* Eurobodalla
* Gourock
* Gulaga
* Kooraban
* Kosciuszko
* Mares Forest
* Macquarie Pass
* Mimosa Rocks
* Monga
* Morton
* Mount Imlay
* Murramarang
* Nattai
* South East Forests
* Tallaganda
* Tarlo River
* Wadbilliga
* Yanununbeyan

Sydney & Surrounds|

* Berowra Valley
* Blue Mountains
* Cattai
* Dharawal
* Dharug
* Garigal
* Georges River
* Heathcote
* Kamay Botany Bay
* Kanangra-Boyd
* Ku-ring-gai Chase
* Lane Cove
* Malabar Headland
* Marramarra
* Nattai
* Royal
* Scheyville
* Sydney Harbour
* Thirlmere Lakes
* Wollemi
* Yengo

Protected areas of New South Wales
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