Latest news with #ReflectionsHolidays
Time Out
28-05-2025
- Time Out
These are the 10 best hikes in NSW close to camping sites
Winter is approaching, which means the NSW hiking season is heating up. Keen to get amongst it? We spoke with outdoors expert Nick Baker (CEO of Reflections Holidays) to get his tips on the best camping sites close to hikes – so you can stay under the stars and then spend a day getting in those steps. These are the best 10 hikes in NSW close to campgrounds Hume and Hovell Track Campground: Reflections Wee Jasper, NSW Located around 50km from the track's starting point in Yass, Reflections Burrinjuck Waters makes an ideal rest stop on the legendary Hume and Hovell Track. Hikers can wind through Burrinjuck Nature Reserve and enjoy the serenity of the lake, local wildlife and even a relaxing cruise across Burrinjuck Dam. A boat transfer from the park can take hikers to nearby Reflections Wee Jasper and Carey's Cave, making it a key point along the trail's 440km length. Yuraygir Coastal Walk Set in the laid-back coastal town of Yamba, the 65km Yuraygir Coastal Walk is a must for lovers of coastal hikes. The track follows the coastline from Angourie to Red Rock, cutting through headlands, rock platforms and sweeping ocean views. Camp at Brooms Head Holiday Park or other national park campgrounds along the route for a multi-day wilderness adventure by the sea. Minyon Falls Track, Nightcap National Park Campground: Reflections Brunswick Heads Just a short drive from Byron Bay and Lennox Head, Nightcap National Park offers one of the region's most-loved hikes, the Minyon Falls walking track. Wander through dense rainforest filled with birdsong, ferns and towering palms before reaching the spectacular 100-metre Minyon Falls. Afterwards, cool off with a swim in the river at Reflections Brunswick Heads, where you can camp or stay in a cabin. Green Patch to Bristol Point Loop Walk Campground: Green Patch Campground, Jervis Bay This short but rewarding 1km walk begins at Green Patch car park, right beside a family-friendly campground complete with hot showers, BBQs and both walk-in and drive-in sites. Wait for low tide and set off across the rock platform via a small bridge on the eastern side of the Green Patch picnic area. Follow the trail past a secluded beach, before winding through coastal forest to the Bristol Point picnic area. Campground: Euroka Campground, Blue Mountains National Park This scenic 3.5km loop winds through Glenbrook Gorge, past eucalyptus forest and sandstone cliffs before arriving at Red Hands Cave, a sacred Aboriginal site featuring pieces believed to be more than 500 years old. Euroka Campground is nearby, offering fire pits, toilets and plenty of space to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Cave Creek Falls Track Tucked away in the northern wilderness of Kosciuszko National Park, the Cave Creek Falls Track is a serene 2.5km return hike that rewards with turquoise pools, limestone cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Base yourself at the nearby Blue Waterholes Campground – a peaceful and remote site with basic facilities, so don't forget to bring your own water and firewood. The Castle Walk Campground: Yadboro Flat Campground, Morton National Park This 14km return hike is one of NSW's most popular, offering sweeping views and dramatic cliffs as you ascend through rugged terrain to the imposing 'Castle' rock formation. It's a tough walk suited to experienced hikers, but well worth the effort. Yadboro Flat Campground is a quiet, no-frills site nearby where you can enjoy the sounds of the forest after a big day on the trail. Coastal Walk and Trial Bay Gaol Ruins Campground: Trial Bay Gaol Campground, Arakoon National Park This scenic 1.6km loop offers more than just ocean views, it also takes you through the eerie and fascinating ruins of a 19th-century prison. The walk is easy and family-friendly, weaving past dramatic cliffs, sandy coves and sweeping beaches. Stay at the beachfront campground below the ruins, which has showers, BBQs and picnic areas. Solitary Islands Coastal Walk Campground Options: Red Rock, Woolgoolga, Reflections Moonee Beach, Sawtell Stretching along the spectacular Coffs Coast, this 60km coastal track links rainforest, headlands and endless beaches. Begin at Coffs Coast Regional Park and journey past Moonee Beach, Muttonbird Island and more, finishing in the charming town of Sawtell. There are plenty of places to camp along the way, making this the perfect multi-day coastal escape. Jerusalem Creek Walk, Esk NSW Just 30 minutes south of Evans Head, this 10km loop winds through forest and wetland before reaching a picnic area overlooking peaceful Jerusalem Creek. Go in the late afternoon for beautiful views of the sun setting over the lagoon, or bring your paddle board and explore the waterway. The Mibanbah Black Rocks Campground is set behind the dunes, so you can fall asleep to the gentle sound of the ocean.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hunt for rare Aussie species not seen since 1990s funded by $1 million boost
The search is on to find a rare Australian fish that hasn't been seen since 1998. Experts are using funds from a $1.13 million investment by a NSW tourism company to search a remote part of the state where it's hoped remnant populations of the Kangaroo River perch may have survived. 'There's a lot of folklore around this fish that hasn't been seen in ages and is very elusive… So the hunt is on to make sure it's still around,' Peter Chapman told Yahoo News. The company he works for, Reflections Holidays, is funding work by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPIRD) to search over 100km of the Shoalhaven River in the state's south. Funds are also being used to prevent the extinction of other native freshwater fish, 47 per cent of which are listed as threatened. Whether the Kangaroo River perch is a distinct species remains unclear. It's currently classified as a Macquarie perch, but since 1986, researchers have suspected it's unique. Throughout May this year, DPIRD senior fisheries manager Luke Pearce has been searching a hard to access stretch of the Shoalhaven River, above the Tallowa Dam, for evidence that the Kangaroo River perch survives. 'It's a really remote, inaccessible part of the world to get to. It's a really steep canyon country, so the only ways to get in are by kayak, hiking, or flying in a helicopter,' Pearce said. Pearce's team surveyed the river using eDNA testing, a process that can pinpoint the presence of animals and plants in water by detecting tiny traces of genetic material. Their work has yet to reveal the Kangaroo River perch's presence, but if a population can be found, it will be protected and used to breed up numbers again. There are two other distinct populations of Macquarie Perch, which are located around the Murray-Darling Basin and the Hawkesbury River/Blue Mountains. In the 1920s, numbers were so high, rivers ran black with them, but today the fish is extremely rare, and last year, authorities warned the species could be extinct in five years. Fishing for them is now illegal in both NSW and Victoria. Macquarie perch is listed as endangered, but if it's found to be three species, the conservation status of each would need to be reassessed. DPIRD is unsure why the Kanagroo River perch vanished, and historically, there has been very little research into the species. 'There's only a handful of records of the fish occurring and just six specimens in the museum, so we know very little about it,' Pearce said. 'We don't know what the causes were for the decline, but there are a few theories going around. They're generally linked to pathogens or diseases being brought in with fish being introduced into the catchment, but they're all circumstantial, we don't have evidence.' Declines of perch in the Murray-Darling Basin have been clearly linked to humans modifying the river system with dams and invasive fish which outcompete native species and spread disease. The population in the Blue Mountains was once thought to be largely secure because it's located in a national park, but it was significantly affected by the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires. 'By sorting out these taxonomic uncertainties, we'll be able to have a more targeted approach to each population's management and recovery,' Pearce said. 'And without the donation from Reflections holiday parks this research wouldn't be occurring.' Reflections Holidays hopes its donation will inspire other Australian companies to invest in the environment. 'I think all companies should be doing this. Not necessarily native fish, that's our thing. But really it's the role of all of us to protect the environment,' Chapman said. He explained there was money already available to study more photogenic and cuddly species like koalas, but not for fish. 'There's a whole heap of environmental issues that go unspoken and untalked about, largely because they're under the surface of the water,' he said. 'We see ourselves as in a key place to raise awareness, educate, and put money behind sorting out issues related to waterways. As soon as we found out some native fish species were in such bad shape, we were keen to work out how we could get behind them.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
