The Big Scrub was a massive area of subtropical lowland rainforest, 900 square kilometres in fact, that once covered North-Eastern NSW. It was the largest area of subtropical rainforest in Australia. To give a comparison, New York City (including all its boroughs) covers 780 square kilometers!
Australian Red Cedar grew in abundance throughout the Big Scrub and was known by the cedar getters (who came to cut it down) as ‘red gold’ because it was in high demand. Its wood was considered an excellent wood for making furniture. White Booyong was also prolific in the rainforest.
When farming began in the area in the late 1800s the land was cleared wholesale. One of the conditions of purchasing land was to ‘make improvements’ by clearing it to make it ready for farming and planting crops. In the process 99% of the Big Scrub disappeared.
The remaining 1% is a ‘must visit’ for rainforest fans!
The Big Scrub Loop Walk
The Big Scrub loop walk is found in the Rocky Creek Dam area of Nightcap National Park.
To get there: Turn off Dunoon Road for Rocky Creek Dam Road. Continue for approximately 1.5km and turn left onto the unsealed Gibbergunyah Range Road. Drive over 3 cattle grids, past a sign indicating Nightcap National Park and you eventually come to a locked gate where you can park.
The walk: Go through the locked gate and cross the creek (waterproof shoes recommended but not essential). After about 200m you reach a small path to the right with a Nightcap National Park sign. This is easy to miss so watch out for it. The path quickly splits in 2. Keep to the right and follow the arrows which will take you through stunning rainforest and around the Big Scrub loop.
