Nature lovers are urged to get in quick as the hottest ticket in town, to wander through the wildflowers at magnificent Muogamarra Nature Reserve, is now open for bookings.
The nature reserve north of Sydney is open for just 6 weeks a year in order to protect its precious plants and fragile Aboriginal cultural heritage.
It's a short window that packs a punch, coinciding with peak flowering of more than 900 species of native plants.
Think waratahs, majestic angophoras, banksias, pink boronias and delicate native orchids.
Walking tracks around the nature reserve also offer stunning views of the Hawkesbury River and Berowra Creek, as well as expansive views of Bar, Milson and Spectacle islands.
Steeped in cultural heritage in the lands of the traditional custodians, Muogamarra protects important Aboriginal sites, including rock engravings, grinding grooves and shell middens.
The reserve was established by railway engineer and conservationist John Duncan Tipper in 1934, who named the sanctuary Muogamarra, after what he believed was an Awabakal word meaning 'preserve for the future'. Driven by a passion to safeguard the area's native flora and fauna from development, he secured a lease for the land. Public access was limited to subscription visits and special wildflower days to protect the vulnerable ecosystem. In 1953, Tipper handed over the reins to the government and the tradition continues.
Four different types of guided tours are on offer. Each tour covers a unique section of the park and range from around 3 to 10 kilometres of walking.
Tickets for the season from 15 August to 20 September are available now and usually sell out. Entry is by booked guided or self-guided tour only.
Bookings here: nswparks.info/muogamarra
National Parks and Wildlife Service Discovery Coordinator David Thompson said:
"This is one of our most popular opportunities in NSW national parks, with good reason.
"Wandering through the wildflowers of Muogamarra is a rare, memorable experience, and every year bookings go fast, as more and more people discover this secret garden on Sydney's doorstep."
