Pilliga forest, Forest reserve west of Great Dividing Range, New South Wales, Australia
Pilliga Forest is a large woodland reserve covering more than 500,000 hectares, featuring white cypress pines and eucalyptus trees scattered throughout. Sandstone caves and natural salt formations are found across the terrain, creating a varied landscape.
The area was originally open woodland that changed significantly through European settlement in the 1800s and 1900s. Writer Eric Rolls documented this transformation in his book 'A Million Wild Acres', capturing how the landscape shifted over time.
The sandstone caves here hold sacred significance for the Gamilaraay people and represent their deep connection to this land across generations. You can sense this relationship when exploring the caves and discovering marks of their presence throughout the forest.
The forest has an extensive network of public walking trails and camping facilities available at Sculptures in the Scrub. Plan for longer hiking and check conditions before your visit to make the most of the experience.
The forest is home to rare animal species such as barking owls, malleefowl, and eastern pygmy possums living within its protected environment. These creatures are difficult to spot in most other Australian locations.
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