Mount Kaputar National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Kaputar National ParkNew South Wales |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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View of the park from the top of Mount Kaputar, oriented approximately west
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 Mount Kaputar National Park
Location in New South Wales
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| Area | 368.17 km2 (142.2 sq mi) |
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| Footnotes | Managing Authorities |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Mount Kaputar National Park is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It's built around an ancient volcano called Mount Kaputar. This volcano was active a very long time ago, between 17 and 21 million years ago!
Over millions of years, wind and water have carved the old volcano. This has created amazing landscapes like flat lava areas, tall rock pillars (called volcanic plugs), and long rock walls (called dykes). Mount Kaputar itself is the highest point, reaching 1,510 meters (about 4,954 feet) high. From its top, you can see a huge area – about one-tenth of New South Wales!
The park is home to many different types of environments. These include dry woodlands, cool mountain heaths, and eucalyptus forests. Many animals live here, such as bats, birds, wallabies, and quolls. One very unique animal is the red triangle slug (Triboniophorus graeffei). It's bright red and often appears after it rains!
Park History
Before it became a national park, this area was mostly used for grazing animals like sheep and cattle. Life was tough for the families who lived there, and you can still see signs of their old homes. Animals continued to graze on the high plains until the 1950s. It was a very isolated place, and the people looking after the cattle sometimes didn't see anyone else for months!
In 1925, a small part of the land around Mount Kaputar was set aside. It was called a "Reserve for Public Recreation." This meant it was protected for people to enjoy. Two years later, a group called the Mount Kaputar Trust was formed to help manage the area.
The protected area grew bigger over time. In 1959, it officially became a full national park. Then, in 1967, a new group called the National Parks and Wildlife Service took over its care. They still manage the park today with help from a local board.
Fun Things to Do
Mount Kaputar National Park offers many activities for visitors. At a spot called Dawsons Spring, there are cabins where people can stay. These cabins have water for showers and toilets, and there are also picnic areas. Today, there are three cabins available for visitors.
The park is popular with people who enjoy rock climbing. There are also 11 different walking trails to explore. You can hike through various landscapes and see amazing views.
One of the most popular places to visit is Scutts Hut. This old hut was once the home of the Scutt family, who were early settlers in the area. It's located near Kurrawonga Falls. You can reach the hut by following a fire trail from the Bark Hut camping grounds. The hut has been fixed up to look like it did long ago, with an earthen floor and an open fireplace. It sits right by Horsearm Creek, which flows down to Kurrawonga Falls.
Images for kids
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Euglah Rock
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Sawn Rocks
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Mount Yulludunida (left) and Mount Ningadhun (right)
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Mount Kaputar and the Nandewar Range
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Monte Kaputar para niños
