A Walk Through Dorrigo National Park: Waterfalls, Birds and One Very Confused Land Mullet
We recently spent a day exploring Dorrigo National Park, and what a day it was. If you’re looking for stunning scenery, fresh mountain air, and the chance to encounter a creature called a “land mullet” which sounds more like a questionable haircut than an animal, this is the place for you.
The adventure started with the Skywalk, which was absolutely awesome. Standing high above the rainforest canopy felt like being in a nature documentary except instead of a soothing narrator, there was us saying things like, “Wow, look at that!” every thirty seconds. The views stretched forever, with rolling mountains disappearing into the distance.
After taking in the views, we hit the walking tracks. Everywhere we turned there seemed to be another waterfall. Big waterfalls, little waterfalls, waterfalls hiding around corners. At one point it felt like the park was showing off. “Oh, you liked that waterfall? Here’s three more.”
The rainforest itself was incredible. The air was cool, crisp, and smelled like a giant eucalyptus-scented air freshener. Every deep breath felt like our lungs were getting a luxury spa treatment. Then came the wildlife. We saw heaps of birds darting through the trees, calling to each other from every direction. Unfortunately, our bird-identification skills are somewhere between “beginner” and “completely making it up,” so many were named things like “Red Chesty Flappy Bird” and “That Loud One.”
The highlight, however, was spotting a land mullet. If you’ve never heard of one, don’t worry, we hadn’t either. Despite its name, it is not a fish, nor does it have a regrettable 1980s hairstyle. It’s actually a giant shiny skink that looks like someone crossed a lizard with a sausage and then gave it an attitude problem. Seeing one in the wild was surprisingly exciting and became the main topic of conversation.
By the end of the walk, we’d seen spectacular waterfalls, countless birds, a legendary land mullet, so much fungus and some of the most beautiful rainforest scenery in Australia. We left feeling refreshed, slightly sore, and convinced that every national park should come with a Skywalk and at least one oddly named reptile.
If you’re ever near Dorrigo National Park, do yourself a favour: take a walk, breathe in the fresh mountain air, chase a few waterfalls, and keep an eye out for the land mullet. Trust me, it’s worth it. That afternoon we made our way to Coffs Harbour. A lovely place to chill and have a beach walk
