A new four day, 36km hike has been proposed in the hinterland and Gondwanan rainforests of Byron Bay and Tweed!

 

The Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk, which could change names during consultation with Traditional Owners, may soon traverse the traditional lands of the Widjabul Wia-bal and Minjungbal People of the Bundjalung Nation. 

The draft masterplan for the walk is currently open for public comment until Thursday 24th of November. So what do you think about it?

What will the trail look like?

The proposed trail is set to begin at Manns Road in Jerusalem National Park near Uki and end at Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park. 

Although around 8.3km of new walking track has been proposed, 27.3km of existing tracks and trails will be utilised as well, which may include park management and old logging trails. 

‘This incredibly special area traverses through part of the World Heritage–listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and is noted for its exceptional biodiversity,’ said Director for North Coast National Parks and Wildlife Service, Russell Madeley.

The proposed track won’t necessarily be a walk in the park, with most of the trail to be constructed and maintained to a Class 4 standard, meaning signage will be basic, the surface of the trail will be mostly natural (unless improvements are needed), and hikers will need to be self-reliant. 

Three new remote walk-in campgrounds are also in the plan, with basic facilities including tent platforms and remote toilets, designed to accommodate a sustainable number of low-impact hikers.

Additional side tracks off the main route and other short walks are also being considered, which will provide a greater diversity of hiking opportunities and allow people to extend the final kilometre count on their multi-day hike as well. 

 

Off The Beaten (Historic Nightcap) Track – Byron Bay’s Best Hidden Hike, Alice Forrest, woman, stretch, camping, tent, rainforest, palms

The Historic Nightcap Track in Nightcap National Park | @aliceforrest

Why a new hike here?

The new trail is the crowning glory in the Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project, which forms part of the $450 million investment in national parks, the biggest ever in history.

‘This project will give visitors to the Northern Rivers a reason to venture out from tourist hot spots such as Byron Bay and extend their stay in the region, delivering a real boost for the local economy,’ Mr Madeley said.

Aboriginal groups have been consulted on the plan in order to help highlight the rich cultural heritage in the area. During this consultation, areas of exceptional environmental and cultural significance were considered and the proposed route of the walk was adjusted in order to avoid them. 

The masterplan also makes mention of possible licensed commercial tour operators leading hikes along the track. It’s unclear whether these will be exclusively First Nations tour operators or not.

Have Your Say

 

Feature photo thanks to NPWS