| Hat Head National Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Hat Head National Park | |
| Location | New South Wales |
| Nearest city | South West Rocks |
| Coordinates | 31°04′49″S153°01′49″E / 31.08028°S 153.03028°E /-31.08028; 153.03028 |
| Area | 74 km2 (29 sq mi) |
| Established | 28 July 1972 |
| Governing body | NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service |
Hat Head is anational park on theMid North Coast ofNew South Wales, Australia, 461.7 kilometres (286.9 mi) north-east ofSydney. It lies within theHastings-Macleay Important Bird Area.[1] Within the park is the eponymous village of Hat Head, with about 320 inhabitants.[2]
It is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) fromArakoon National Park.
Hat Head National Park is located on theMid North Coast ofNew South Wales nearSouth West Rocks andKempsey. The park consists of beaches, sand dunes, rocky headlands, rainforest and wetlands.[3] The average altitude is eight metres.[4]
For theDunghutti people some parts of the park remain a significant place as of their traditional land. The different areas of the park and the sea provided a rich source of food like fish and shellfish. The park is culturally important to Aboriginal people as it contains ceremonial grounds, burial sites, shell middens and campsites.[5]
Hat Head National Park is rich with birdlife such askookaburra,black swans,egrets,herons,fantails, andhoneyeaters. Alsohawks,falcons oreagles likewhite-bellied sea eagle soaring above the cliffs. Wildlife at Hat Head includesblack sheoak,grass trees,glossy black cockatoo,red-necked andswamp wallabies as well aseastern grey kangaroos,sugar gliders,grey-headed flying fox andshort-beaked echidna. Theregent skipper (butterfly) is only found in Hat Head National Park andLimeburners Creek National Park.[6]
Several walking tracks, fishing and whale watching can be done or just relax at the rocky headlands. Birdwatchers can look for black swans and spoonbills in the park's wetlands, hawks and eagles soaring above beach cliffs and shorebirds like curlews and plovers around the beach.[7]
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