Berowra Valley National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berowra Valley National Park New South Wales
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Berowra Creek
Berowra Valley National Park Location in New South Wales
Nearest town or city	Berowra
Established	September 2012 (2012-09)
Area	38.84 km2 (15.0 sq mi)
Managing authorities	NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
Website	Berowra Valley National Park
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

The Berowra Valley National Park is a special protected area in northern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is a national park that helps keep nature safe. This park covers about 3,884 hectares (that's like 3,884 football fields!). It's located about 20 kilometers north-west of the main part of Sydney.

The park is part of the Sydney Basin area. It sits on a rocky plateau called the Hornsby Plateau. This area is mostly made of Hawkesbury Sandstone. The park largely covers the land where water flows into Berowra Creek.

Berowra Valley National Park is a long stretch of parkland. It runs from south to north. Its edges are marked by roads, towns, and natural features. For example, the Pacific Motorway is on its north-eastern side. The park also reaches into areas like Berowra Waters and Galston Gorge.

A long walking track, the Great North Walk, goes through the park. About 25 kilometers of this trail are inside the national park. It's a great place for hiking and exploring.

What Does Berowra Mean?

The name Berowra comes from the local Indigenous language. In this language, the word Berowra means "place of many winds." It's a name that tells us about the windy conditions often found in the valley.

History of Berowra Valley Park

Berowra Valley National Park has grown over many years. It started as a smaller protected area.

Early Beginnings of the Park

Part of the park was first set aside in 1964. It was called the Elouera Bushland Natural Park. This early park covered about 640 hectares. More land was added over time to protect more bushland.

Becoming a Regional Park

In 1987, the park was officially named Reserve No. 100092. It was set aside for public fun and to protect plants and animals. This happened because people in the Hornsby Shire area were worried about too much building on natural bushland. The park then became known as Berowra Valley Bushland Park. More land was added, and it became the Berowra Valley Regional Park on March 27, 1998.

Becoming a National Park

Finally, in September 2012, the park was officially made a national park. This means it has the highest level of protection in Australia. It helps keep this beautiful natural area safe for everyone to enjoy.

A Story of Survival

On January 27, 2013, a man was found alive in the park. He had been lost for nine weeks! He survived one of Australia's hottest heatwaves. Temperatures reached over 45 degrees Celsius during that time. He managed to survive by using the water and food he had with him. This story shows how wild and challenging the park can be, even close to a big city.