Robertson Nature Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robertson Nature ReserveNew South Wales |
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Rainforest at Robertson Nature Reserve
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 Robertson Nature Reserve
Location in New South Wales
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| Nearest town or city | Robertson |
| Established | January 1979 |
| Area | 0.053 km2 (0.0 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Robertson Nature Reserve |
The Robertson Nature Reserve is a special protected area of rainforest in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia. It's a place where nature is kept safe.
This reserve is quite small, only about 5.3 hectares (that's like 13 football fields!). It's located near the town of Robertson, right on the edge of the Illawarra Escarpment. The reserve is a small piece of what was once a huge rainforest called the Yarrawa Brush, which used to be 2,450 hectares in size.
Exploring Robertson Nature Reserve
The reserve has a great walking track that is about 600 meters long. This path is even suitable for wheelchairs, making it easy for everyone to explore. Along the way, you'll find signs with interesting facts about the local plants and animals that live here.
The reserve sits on the edge of Robertson town, about 750 meters above sea level. This high location helps create a unique environment for the rainforest.
The Rainforest Canopy
Even though the soil here is rich and there's a lot of rain (about 1,600 mm each year), the rainforest trees are not super tall. Most of the trees form a canopy (the top layer of leaves) that is about 15 meters high. Only a few trees grow taller than 20 meters.
Because the reserve is small and a bit isolated, it sometimes has problems with weeds. Weeds like Chinese Privet, Glossy Privet, Holly, and Himalayan Blackberry can try to take over. Park rangers work hard to keep these weeds under control.
Types of Trees in the Reserve
The rainforest in Robertson Nature Reserve is known as a warm temperate rainforest. This means it's not as cold as some other temperate rainforests. The main trees you'll see forming the canopy include:
You won't find many trees that prefer very cool temperate rainforests, like Pinkwood or Black Olive Berry. However, you might spot the Brown Beech, which is usually found in warmer, tropical or sub-tropical rainforests. Its presence here makes the reserve even more interesting!
