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The Great North Walk is even greater now

Media release: 24 January 2012

The Great North Walk, a 250 km walking trail between Sydney and Newcastle, is even greater since the installation of five new interpretative signs in Palm Grove Nature Reserve on the Central Coast.

The signs, installed by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), provide visitors with an insight into the nature and history of the area.

NPWS Regional Manager, Tom Bagnat said that the signs will engage park visitors and provide them with information and understanding of the beautiful landscape they are walking through.

“Each sign has been specifically placed at interesting locations along the 2.8 section of the track.

“The signs orientate visitors and provide them with information on rainforests, the animals and plants that inhabit such areas and the history of the area before its conservation.

“We encourage visitors to use all their senses in exploring the area – to touch, smell and listen to their surroundings. We want people to stop and take stock of what they are experiencing,” Mr Bagnat said.

The five signs combine text and beautiful images to convey a feel for the forest environment and will enhance visitor experience to the area.

The Great North Walk traverses a number of parks and reserves across the Central Coast. The section through Palm Grove Nature Reserve takes about 2 hours one way. You can commence the walk at Kilkenny Road finishing at Ourimbah Creek Road.

Palm Grove Nature Reserve is 256 ha of bushland connecting the Somersby Plateau with the Ourimbah Creek Valley.

For more information on the Great North Walk contact the Department of Primary Industries on Ph 4920 5074.

The NPWS Discovery Program offers the Great North Walk as a series of walks over 13 weekends during the Winter months and in 2012 there will also be a Great North Walk held over 18 Thursdays from 22nd March through to the end of Spring, for more information contact the Discovery Co-ordinator on Ph 4320 4205.

Contact: Katie Ritchie