Australia is a country that has many national parks in Australia. Here, we will talk about Morton National Park. It is located in Australia nestled between Sydney and Canberra in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

It is famous for its waterfalls, walking trails, rivers, deep valleys, flat plateau, walking tracks, and wildlife. Some scenic waterfalls there are Fitzroy Falls, Belmore Falls, Granite Falls, and Twin Falls.

The park’s famous rivers are the Shoalhaven and the Kangaroo Rivers. You can enjoy the scenic waterfall views. It also has a picnic area, so have a picnic lunch with your family and friends.

This place is full of panoramic views. Lots of activities like mountain biking, hiking, remote wilderness hiking, and watching wildlife services can be done. There are 99 mountains. Some of them are Blue Mountains, Pigeon House Mountain Didthul, and Mount Hoddle.

Mount Hoddle is the highest mountain in Morton National Park. It is 3,009 ft long, and the most prominent peak of this national park is Pigeon House Mountain Didthul.

1. It’s Geographical Surroundings

Morton National Park is spread over 494,200 acres of terrain. It is one of the largest parks situated at 170km in the southern highlands of Sydney in New South Wales. The boundaries are spreading from Fitzroy Falls to Belmore Falls in the northern section and Budawang National Park in the southern highlands.

Its area is carved by the Kangaroo River and Shoalhaven, along with some creeks. The southern part of this park consists of Budawang National Park. The Budawang and Morton National Park are divided by the Great Dividing Range.

There are some major rivers in this national park. The rocky sandstone landscape has various summits across the national park. The waterways of this national park feed the waterfalls of this park.

2. Geology of the Park

The Morton National Park is full of flat plateaus, and there you find imposing gorges dissecting carved out by the rivers. And, the landscape alongside pockets of this national park is sandstone, horizontal Permian siltstone, conglomerate, and shale.

• Enjoy rock formation and observe it from various lookout points.
• Witness the contoured weathering of flat rock, which gives us the terraced region.

Some people thought that Pigeon House Mountain was a volcanic formation. It consists of sedimentary rocks and marine bedrock. This mountain lasted for 100 million years when Australia was located near Antarctica.

It is a favourite place for novice mountain bikers because they used to do mountain biking.

3. Park’s Ecology 

Morton National Park is a shelter for many wild animals and birds. Various flora and fauna live here in various rainforests and eucalypt forests. This national park has sandstone flora like a honey flower, wattle, tea tree, and banksia.

• The wildflowers in the national park blossom at a particular time during the spring season.
• Some of those flowers are purple flowering chocolate lilies and flowering boronias.
• Wildlife spotted in this national park are ground parrots, kangaroos, eagles, swamp wallabies, bowerbirds, gliders, falcons, and lyrebirds.

4. What’s the Human History Behind?

The Morton National Park is the traditional country for the Yuin people. Didthul, also known as Pigeon House Mountain, was a landmark that Captain James Cook sighted during his journey on the eastern coastline of Australia. James Cook also gave the name Pigeon House.

In 1938, this area was declared a national park, and it was named in memory of Mark Morton. Mark Morton was a member of the State Assembly, and he established the campaign of reserves. So, the national park is named after his name.

5. Best Hikes You Shouldn’t Miss

Morton National Park is a popular hiking area that has spectacular views. Some have very high points. Have a look:

5.1. Fitrozy Falls

Fitzroy Falls is an incredible place that is 81 meters high. This waterfall is well known to the Wodi Wodi people. European settler Charles Throsby first spotted this waterfall in the 19th century.

Fitzroy Falls is located at the northern boundaries of Morton National Park. It has a walking track of 4.1 miles long, known as The East Rim Walking Track. Another walking track is The West Rim Walking Track, which is 2.1 miles long. There is a platform from where you can view panoramic scenes of many falls and valleys.

You can also enjoy the spectacular views of the steep gorges and Clyde Gorge. 

5.2. Belmore Falls

Belmore Falls is located near Fitzroy Falls, and this fall has three drops on the Barrengarry Creek in the Illawarra region and the Southern Highlands. The range of this waterfall is 77-130 meters.

The walking track of this fall starts from Hindmarsh Lookout car park. There are several lookout points on this walking track.

5.3. Mount Bushwalker

Mount Bushwalker is located near the Porters Creek area. This place is the best hiking area in Morton National Park. On a grand scale, you can enjoy remote trails, views of bushland, and unobstructed vistas of the Castle and Shrouded Gods.

5.4. Granite Falls

You can enjoy the incredible views of dense forests and other waterfalls from Granite Falls. It has a walking track of 0.3 miles long. This fall is 63 meters long. 

5.5. Pigeon House Mountain

Pigeon House Mountain is 720 meters high. It is also known as Didthul, and this name is given due to the shape of the mountain. Didthul means a shape similar to a woman’s breast. This mountain’s west-rim walking track is fantastic, and it takes around three hours to complete this track.

The views from the summit of this mountain are breathtaking. You can also enjoy the Twin Falls lookout from the trails of this mountain.

5.6. Kangaroo River

The Kangaroo River is the major river that runs through the valley. The walking track of this river is around 3.5 miles long and starts from Tallowa Dam Road. There are many camping spots near the Kangaroo River.

You can enjoy camping in those spots because they are open for public use, but you must follow the Leave No Trace Principles.

6. Places To Stay Nearby

Morton National Park is a vast area, so you can’t visit it in just a day, so you need some accommodation facilities to stay in during your trip. There are many nearby towns where accommodation facilities are available.

6.1. Kangaroo Valley

Kangaroo Valley is a small town located near the Morton National Park. It is near the Kangaroo River, so you can enjoy boating there and see the scenic views of the dense rainforest. Activities like cycling, walking track, and kayaking can be done there.

This place is full of lush farmlands. You can easily visit Fitzroy Falls, Belmore Falls, and Lake Yarrunga from this town. It is located at a two-hour distance from Sydney or Canberra.

6.2. Nowra

Nowra is a large town on New South Wales’s South coast. It is located at 2.5 hours of distance from Sydney on the bank of Shoalhaven River. The name of this city comes from an Aboriginal word for the Black Cockatoo.

This town is the commercial hub of this area, so it has many shops and accommodation facilities. This area’s historic houses, golf clubs, and walking tracks can also be seen. You can access this town’s national parks in the south region.

7. Some Nearby Cities 

Morton National Park is located at a significantly less distance from some cities. Two of them are Sydney and Canberra. Start the journey from these cities and carry on your adventurous trip to New South Wales.

7.1. Sydney

Sydney is closest to the Morton National Park as the Park is situated 106 miles away from this city.

The other attractions of this city are the Sydney Bridge, Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Garden, and Darling Harbour. 

7.2. Canberra

Canberra is also located near the Morton National Park. This city is the capital of Australia. The Park is situated just 100 miles away from this city. Canberra is more minor than Sydney.

The main attractions of this city are the National Gallery, Parliament House, mountain ranges, farms, and parklands.

8. Some Nearby Attractions 

The main nearby visitor centre is the national park. Some national parks are NSW National Park, Budawang National Park, Budderoo National Park, and so on.

We will discuss some of those national parks in detail so that if you plan a trip to New South Wales, you know them very well.

8.1. Budawang National Park

Budawang National Park is located on the south coast of Morton National Park. The name of this national park is featured after Mount Budawang. It features a rewarding trail, and you can see lovely views from the summit.

This is an enormous park, and the main attractions of this national park are deep valleys and rugged sandstone terrain. Along this, activities like camping, cycling, mountain biking, and swimming can be done.

8.2. Budderoo National Park

Budderoo National Park is situated in the Illawarra region of New South Wales near the coastlines and towns of Shellharbour and Kiama. It is located on the northeast side of the Morton National Park.

The main attraction of this national park is the Bird Area. It is home to many endangered species of birds. You can see many species of birds, like the pilot bird, eastern bristlebird, and rock warbler.

People also like the Minnamurra Rainforest of this national park, which is located on the northeastern side of this national park.

8.3. Jerrawangala National Park

Very few people know about the Jerrawangala National Park. It is situated in the Great Eastern Escarpment near Nowra city. This national park is located on the eastern border of the Morton National Park. Tianjara Falls is situated near this national park.

People enjoy cycling, driving, and hiking. You can also enjoy a short walk on the east-rim track of this national park. This park is not easily accessible to visitors because of fewer road access points.

FAQs

Where is Morton National Park located?

It is located in the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven, and South Coast regions of New South Wales in eastern Australia.

What are the main attractions in Morton National Park?

There are many attractions, including Fitzroy Falls, Pigeon House Mountain, Belmore Falls, Mount Bushwalker, and lots more.

Are there any camping facilities?

Yes, there are several camping facilities also for you to enjoy. These include Bendeela Camping and Picnic Area, Little Forest Plateau Campground, Gambells Rest Campground, Long Gully Campground, etc.

Can I bring my pets to Morton National Park?

No, pets are not allowed there. The reason is to protect the wildlife and preserve the natural environment.

Are there any hiking trails?

Yes, there are some fantastic hiking trails around. Some most popular trails are the Pigeon House Mountain Didthul Walking Track, Mount Bushwalker Walking Track, and Granite Falls Walking Track. 

Final Note

I know all of us are busy, but if you get time, visit Morton National Park. It is a popular destination for day trips or school excursions. You’ll enjoy a beautiful place full of incredible views. 

Many keen photographers visit this place to click pictures of wildlife. You can also enjoy the panoramic views of sandstone cliffs, cascading Fitzroy Falls, and sandstone escarpment.

So, if you get some time, plan your next trip to Morton National, and this trip will be one of the most memorable.

Watch this video below to learn more about this park:

Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by kalidaspandian