Holiday makers planning a nature escape this long weekend are being urged to check the conditions of National Parks before going to all the trouble of heading off.
Director of Hunter Central Coast at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Kylie Yeend said sustained wet weather, big seas and flooding had impacted many national parks across the region, from the Barrington Tops mountains, across the Hunter and along the Coast.
Ms Yeend said NPWS had temporarily closed some of its campgrounds, walking tracks and vehicle access onto some beaches due to the hazardous conditions.
“Easter is a busy time and we’ve been preparing for visitors, but please check our NPWS Alerts before heading off (as) weather conditions and our temporary closures are very changeable at present,” Ms Yeend said.
“National parks are by their very nature, wild and remote places,” she said.
“We want people to enjoy themselves while also taking care due to the unpredictability of weather and other natural hazards.”
Ms Yeend said Stockton Beach on Worimi Conservation Lands (WCL) and Samurai Beach near Port Stephens were closed to vehicles, as were all campgrounds in the area, and the high-water level in Myall Lakes also meant most lakeside camping areas were closed, along with the Bombah Point ferry.
Director of NPWS, Kane Weeks said sustained wet weather across the south coast had also forced the temporary closure of areas and tracks within Meroo, Murramarang, Deua, Mimosa Rocks, Eurobodalla, Gulaga and Bournda National Parks
“While most parks on the south coast are currently open, some areas are closed due to hazardous weather conditions,” Mr Weeks said.
“As conditions change, we may be forced to close other areas on short notice,” he warned.
NPWS alerts for National Parks can be accessed at this PS News link.
