As the number of visitors to national parks around the country continues to increase, so too does the work on infrastructure, seeing improvements to everything from amenities blocks and signage to new skywalks and communal shelters.
In New South Wales, for example, construction is officially underway on the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk, part of a $56.4 million investment by the State Government to redevelop the iconic Dorrigo Rainforest Centre.
The redeveloped Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, located about an hour or so west of Coffs Harbour, is projected to attract 200,000 visitors to the region each year.
The new centre will be a low-profile building which sits lightly in the landscape to create an educational walk from arrival through to the Skywalk elevated walkway and surrounding rainforest.
Artistic render of proposed Arc Rainforest Centre with elevated lookout platform. PIC: Studio Hollenstein
And the new 46-kilometre, four-day, Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk along the Dorrigo Rainforest escarpment will include three new purpose-built camps featuring bunk huts, tent platforms and communal shelters.
Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said the work would support more visitors to the region, get more people into nature and create 270 local jobs.
“Our national parks are where families make memories, children get outside and communities welcome visitors,” she said. “The Dorrigo Rainforest is one of our most loved and visited national parks … connecting people to nature supports tens of thousands of jobs and drives economic development, especially in regional NSW.”
The NSW Government says visitation to the state’s national parks is at record levels, with 65.5 million visits last financial year. It said the parks inject $19.5 billion into the NSW economy and support 62,000 jobs annually.
In the North Coast area alone, there were 6.81 million visits to national parks in 2024/25.
Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin said the new investment would be transformative for Dorrigo and the wider Mid North Coast.
“The upgraded Rainforest Centre and the new Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk will strengthen Dorrigo’s reputation as a must-visit destination,” she said. “It will deliver lasting economic benefits to our community while ensuring our natural environment is protected for generations to come.”
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