One of Tasmania's most recently created National Parks, the Douglas Apsley National Park, is also one of the least visited. But with improved facilities as well as enhanced information about the park, that's about to change.

The park, proclaimed in late 1989, takes in Tasmania's largest remaining area of undisturbed dry sclerophyll forest as well as waterfalls, gorges, lookouts and the two rivers which give the park its name. A fairly challenging three day walking track traverses the park north to south.

Located between Bicheno and St Marys on Tasmania's east coast, Douglas Apsley National Park consists of a dolerite capped plateau deeply dissected by river valleys and gorges created by water erosion. Prominent dolerite features such as Nichols Gap rise above deep boulder strewn river gorges. These are surrounded by steep forested slopes which rise abruptly from the adjacent narrow coastal plain.

The park conserves an important representative sample of eucalypts. Its diversity of plant life is remarkable, containing communities of high conservation value and including many rare or vulnerable species. Pockets of rainforest dominated by sassafras or myrtle can be seen on the fire protected and moist slopes or in the deepest gullies. Wet forest dominated by stringybarks may also be found on moist sites.

As a habitat for species which enjoy a dry forest environment, Douglas Apsley is unsurpassed in Tasmania. The Tasmanian bettong, a potentially vulnerable species, is sometimes found in the park. Two species of pygmy possum live here, along with reptiles such as the tiger snake, the mountain dragon and several varieties of skink.

Within the park, the keen eyed observer can spot at least 62 varieties of birds. Most often seen are wedge tail eagles, peregrine falcons, black cockatoos, swift parrots, musk lorikeets and especially rosellas, which need mature trees for nesting.

Because the park was only proclaimed in 1989, facilities are still fairly basic. Near the Apsley waterhole, the most convenient visitor location in the park, the Parks and Wildlife Service has provided a car park, toilet, information booth, picnic shelter and camping area. A new viewing platform from which you can see the Apsley River Gorge is wheelchair accessible.

Visitors are allowed to camp anywhere in the park except within 50 metres of the Apsley River near the waterhole. The Apsley River is the water supply for the town of Bicheno. Besides the waterhole, other visitor highlights include Apsley Gorge, Heritage Falls, Lookout Hill and the Douglas River Valley.

For further information phone (002) 57 0107.

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