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Environment and Heritage

Nandewar bioregion

The Nandewar bioregion lies in northern New South Wales and across the Queensland border. The bioregion is bounded by the North Coast, New England Tablelands and Brigalow Belt South bioregions.

 

About the bioregion

The Nandewar Bioregion lies in northern New South Wales and across the Queensland border. The bioregion is bounded by the North Coast, New England Tablelands and Brigalow Belt South bioregions in the south, east and west respectively.

Part of the MacIntyre, Gwydir and Namoi catchments are located in the Nandewar bioregion and the Peel, Macdonald, McIntyre, Namoi, Severn and Gwydir rivers flow through it.

The Nandewar bioregion is mostly fairly warm and dry, although average annual temperatures and rainfall vary considerably across the bioregion in relation to elevation.

The bioregion is characterised by box woodlands that occur on clay or loam soils, typically at low to mid elevation in agriculturally productive areas. With decreasing soil fertility and increasing topographic relief, the box woodlands are replaced by ironbark or cypress pine communities, which characterise much of the agriculturally less productive parts of Nandewar.

A small proportion of the NSW part of the Nandewar bioregion is managed under various conservation regimes, with the majority being national parks and nature reserves. There are some state forests in the region.

Read Chapter 12, the Nandewar Bioregion, in Bioregions of New South Wales: Their biodiversity, conservation and history for more information.

Bioregion area

  • 2,701,977 hectares in total
  • 2,072,816 hectares in New South Wales
Map of New South Wales, Australia, highlighting the Nandewar bioregion in green. The rest of the state is shown in white, with some geographical features like rivers and mountain ranges outlined.

Map showing the Nandewar bioregion

Parks, reserves and conservation areas

This bioregion includes:

  • The image shows a natural landscape featuring a rocky river or stream. The water flows gently among large, smooth boulders and rocks. The surrounding area is lush with greenery, including trees and shrubs. The sky is partly cloudy, allowing sunlight to illuminate parts of the scene, creating reflections on the water's surface. The terrain appears rugged, with a mix of rocky outcrops and vegetation, suggesting a remote or wilderness area.
    Gorge, Kwiambal National Park
    Gorge, Kwiambal National Park
    Image Credit: Fiona Gray/DPE
  • The image shows a natural scene with a body of water surrounded by trees. The water appears to be a pond or a small lake, with reflections of the trees visible on its surface. The trees are a mix of different types, including some with peeling bark and others with dense foliage. The ground near the water is covered with leaves and debris, suggesting a forested or woodland area. The scene is serene and appears to be in a natural, possibly remote location. There are no visible signs of human activity,
    Macintyre River, Kwiambal National Park
    Macintyre River, Kwiambal National Park
    Image Credit: Simone Cottrell/DPE
  • A natural landscape featuring large, rounded boulders and rock formations surrounded by trees. The boulders have a unique, sculptural appearance due to their shapes and positioning. The scene is set in a forested area with a view of distant hills or mountains in the background. The ground is covered with dry leaves and small rocks, and several slender trees with branches frame the boulders.
    Boulders, Torrington State Conservation Area
    Boulders, Torrington State Conservation Area
    Image Credit: Shari May/DPE
  • The image shows a close-up view of a plant with bright yellow flowers against a clear blue sky. The flowers are elongated and clustered, resembling fluffy caterpillars. The plant has green leaves that are oval-shaped and arranged alternately along the stems. This image is interesting because it captures the vibrant colors and unique structure of the flowers, highlighting the beauty of nature.
    Velvet wattle (Acacia pubifolia)
    Velvet wattle (Acacia pubifolia)
    Image Credit: H Creamer/DPE
  • The image shows a scenic view of a mountainous landscape. The foreground features rocky terrain with some vegetation, while the background consists of multiple mountain ranges extending into the distance. The sky is clear and blue, indicating a sunny day.
    Mount Kaputar National Park
    Mount Kaputar National Park
    Image Credit: Simone Cottrell/DPE
  • The image shows a scenic view of a mountainous landscape. The foreground features trees with dense foliage, while the background reveals a series of rolling hills and mountains extending into the distance. The sky is partly cloudy, with sunlight breaking through the clouds, casting rays of light onto the hills below. This interplay of light and shadow highlights the contours of the landscape, creating a visually striking and serene scene.
    Doug Sky lookout, Mount Kaputar National Park
    Doug Sky lookout, Mount Kaputar National Park
    Image Credit: J Stokes/NPWS
  • The image shows a scenic view of a mountainous landscape. The foreground features trees with dense foliage, while the background reveals a series of rolling hills and mountains extending into the distance. The sky is partly cloudy, with sunlight breaking through the clouds, casting rays of light onto the hills below. This interplay of light and shadow highlights the contours of the landscape, creating a visually striking and serene scene.
    A light dusting of snow lines the vegetation around West Kaputar Rock Lookout in winter
    A light dusting of snow lines the vegetation around West Kaputar Rock Lookout in winter
    Image Credit: Simone Cottrell/DPE

More information