Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails: update December 2021

Around 50 people braved a prolonged downpour to celebrate the transformation of the popular Minyon Falls visitor precinct, completed as part of the $7.35 million Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project.

Speaking at the opening, National Parks and Wildlife Service Director North Coast, Russell Madeley, said the new facilities secure Minyon Falls as the must-see destination in Northern NSW.

'The magnificent Minyon Falls drop over 100 metres into a plunge pool surrounded by ancient rainforest. 250,000 people already visit Minyon Falls each year, delivering significant economic benefits to the region.

'The upgrade includes graded pathways for independent wheelchair access, making it much easier and safer for a more diverse range of visitors to access and enjoy.'

Other enhanced visitor facilities include an expanded picnic area, new shelters, an education space, more toilets and increased parking capacity.

The revamp marks the completion of the first stage of the Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project to draw visitors from the coast into the hinterland and increase community wellbeing.

'The works have been undertaken with sensitivity to the surroundings, including the recycling of trees which were milled into park furniture after being killed by lightning.'

Initial feedback on Minyon Falls upgrade

The project team has proudly hosted a number of inspection tours to Minyon Falls in the last couple of weeks:

• After a detailed inspection, the upgraded Minyon Falls precinct achieved independent wheelchair certification, demonstrating that it provides opportunities for people with disability to participate in park visits and creates a more sustainable precinct capable of responding to changing family and community needs.
• The Lismore Suicide Prevention Committee was impressed by the design solutions that have been implemented to minimise risk at the falls.
• Local government engineers thought the viewing platform was an innovative and award-worthy solution to managing large numbers of visitors at a very difficult location.
• Regional tourism partners were impressed and very keen to promote Minyon Falls to their customers, knowing that a visit here would increase visitor enjoyment and satisfaction and extend stays to the region.

Interpretation planning for Minyon Falls

Minyon Falls is a culturally significant site for the Widjabul Wia-bal people, and their support has been a crucial aspect of the recent upgrade.

The Widjabul Wia-bal women have met with National Parks and Wildlife Service to discuss their cultural perspective of Minyon Falls and what they want to share with visitors. Minyon Falls is a women's place where the key cultural connections are the water, birthing, and life.

We have engaged a designer to collaborate with the Widjabul Wia-bal women to develop their cultural stories into designed features and interpretation that will make the trip to Minyon Falls a more meaningful and cultural experience.

The Widjabul Wia-bal will celebrate the new cultural interpretation with a community event in mid-2022.

Upgrade commences at Unicorn Falls

Upgrade works have now commenced at Unicorn Falls, located approximately 15 kilometres south-east of the village of Uki within Mount Jerusalem National Park. The final master plan outlining plans for upgrading this precinct was released in October 2021, after 2 opportunities for public feedback.

The Manns Road site, located about one kilometre from Unicorn Falls, will be the trail head for the Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk (working title), a 38 kilometre, 4-day hiking trail that finishes at Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park. As well as acting as the drop-off point for the walk, the trail head will feature visitor information, a toilet and parking for 19 vehicles. A turning bay for a small minibus will also be provided to allow commercial operators to transport walkers to the trail head.

The works underway at Unicorn Falls include pathways and steps to allow safe access to the pool at the base of the falls. A small car park has been completed, and visitor information and informal seating will be provided.

A new 2.1-kilometre walking track will link the 2 sites and provide an additional visitor experience. Work on the walking track is expected to commence in the new year. Directional signage will encourage visitors to park at Manns Road and walk to the falls.

Unfortunately, some materials for the new double-stall toilet at Manns Road were stolen from the site before they could be unpacked. This incident has both monetary and scheduling impacts on the project as all the materials have had to be re-ordered. Anyone with information on this robbery can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The expected completion date for these works is July 2022.

The Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk

The proposed Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk (working title only) is a 38-kilometre walk from the Manns Road trail head in Mount Jerusalem National Park near Uki, to Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park.

Showcasing spectacular rainforests, waterfalls and breathtaking views, the walk is a 3-night, 4-day experience for adventurous walkers in a landscape rich in Aboriginal cultural heritage, that will attract visitors from Australia and around the world. The walk aims to strengthen the appeal of New South Wales as a nature-based walking destination and enhance awareness and appreciation of our nature, culture and heritage.

An additional 11.3 kilometres of short walks and side tracks are associated with the multi-day walk. Three new remote, walk-in camps with basic facilities will be constructed to service walkers, and 4 new lookouts will be established. New and upgraded interpretation along the walk and at Minyon Falls will enrich Aboriginal cultural storytelling and present information on the area's unique natural values.

Planning for the alignment of the track has included multiple engagement meetings and more than 40 days of fieldwork or site visits with a diverse range of stakeholders. The proposed track route has been realigned in a number of places in collaboration with Aboriginal custodians to ensure cultural values are not adversely affected by the walk.

The draft master plan outlining the vision and key concepts for the walk is being finalised for public exhibition. Public comments on this draft master plan and the review of environmental factors will help identify the actions required to deliver the Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk to a high standard. Once community and stakeholder feedback has been considered, the master plan will be revised as required before track construction commences in 2022.

Record investment in national parks

As part of the biggest infrastructure investment in NSW national parks history, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is delivering more than $450 million of visitor infrastructure works that benefit the community and boost nature-based tourism across the state, including the Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project.

Other visitor projects underway or completed on the north coast include:

• walking track improvements and signage at Cape Byron State Conservation Area, along with a major enhancement of the historical displays at the Cape Byron lighthouse
• a major update of Gondwana Rainforest of Australia World Heritage interpretation signs across the North Coast, including several sites in the Border Ranges and Toonumbar national parks
• upgrades to Sheepstation Creek and Forest Tops campgrounds in Border Ranges National Park
• walking track works to improve access at Wilsons Headland and Angourie as well as sealed road access to the Illaroo campgrounds in Yuraygir National Park
• upgrade of the Kings Beach walking track in Broken Head National Park
• an interpretation project at Protestors Falls celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the direct-action protests at Terania Creek that lead to the creation of Nightcap National Park
• a renewal of the Wonga Walk in Dorrigo National Park, including resealing a section of the track and constructing a new viewing platform and education space.

There's a lot of work happening across the state, so always check NPWS alerts for the latest park closure information. Things may change day-to-day, so check in regularly to ensure you have the latest information. Find out more on the New and upgraded infrastructure page.