Barrington Tops National Park

North-west of Newcastle, Barrington Tops climbs from valley rainforest to a high, wind-scoured plateau of snow gums and sub-alpine grassland, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage area. The temperature drops as the road climbs, and the plateau sees snow in winter and frosts through much of the year. Ancient Antarctic beech forest, clear trout streams and deep rainforest gullies fill the park, and walking tracks range from short rainforest loops to remote wilderness routes. Cool, green and often mist-wrapped, it is one of the great wild highlands of the state, a world away from the coast below.