The park and reserve protect the dramatic scenery of the southern half of the Cocoparra Range, a large number of Aboriginal sites and significant remnant woodland communities in an area which has been largely cleared for agriculture.
Cocoparra National Park was reserved in 1969 and has an area of 8358 hectares.The park is an important recreation resource in the Riverina, being one of the few remaining areas of natural environment.
Cocopara Nature Reserve was created in December 1963. It covers an area of 4647 hectares. Cocoparra Nature Reserve has the primary management objective of maintaining the biodiversity and scenic assets of the area. Public recreation is discouraged but educational activities may be undertaken where they do not conflict with nature conservation objectives.
The principal vegetation communities include black cypress, currawang, dwyer's gum and red stringy bark with box woodlands on lower and more fertile slopes.
Vulnerable and threatened fauna include the painted honeyeater, superb parrot, turquoise parrot, glossy black-cockatoo, chestnut quail thrush, gilbert's whistler, shy hylacola and pink cockatoo.
Photo: Cocoparra National Park / J Spencer/OEH
