Fast facts
- Serene country town and the gateway to Dorrigo National Park
- Close to the edge of the escarpment above the Bellingen Valley
- 576 km north of Sydney, population 1,000
Why go there
Dorrigo National Park covers a rugged chunk of the coastal escarpment and is one of the loveliest and most accessible of the east coast rainforests.
It is a remnant of the Dorrigo Scrub, which was once heavily logged for its cedar trees. Here the many streams, which are borne on the New England plateau to the west, tumble over the cliffs and disappear into the valleys below.
The bird life of Dorrigo includes bowerbirds, pittas and lyrebirds. There are several easy strolls within the national park as well as a number of long and more challenging bushwalks.
History
The area was originally inhabited by the Gumbaynggir (or Kumbangerie) Aboriginal people, who travelled between the plateau and the coast.
It was not until the 20th century that the area was extensively settled by dairy farmers. Today, the town is a service centre for the surrounding farmers and graziers.
Things to do
- Pack a picnic lunch and hit the walking trails of Dorrigo National Park.
- Visit the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, the starting point for some short and spectacular walks.
- Discover some of the spectacular cascades on the Waterfall Way.
Events
- Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, in October, attracts some of the best talent around for a folksy, friendly long weekend.
Don’t miss
- The Wonga Walk in Dorrigo National Park.
- A picnic at Dangar Falls, 2 km north of Dorrigo.
- The Walk with the Birds, an elevated boardwalk through the forest canopy.
- The amazing railway display in the Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum.
- Ebor Falls, where the Guy Fawkes River topples 115 m.
