NSW

Pilliga National Park, NSW, Australia

Here a few photos taken at Pilliga NP. Pilliga NP is a National Park split into two parts, both of which form part of what used to be known as the "Pilliga scrub", an area between Narrabri, Coonabarabran, Gunnedah, Pilliga and Wee Waa in inland NSW that contains the largest contiguous piece of bushland left in NSW outside the Great Dividing Range. Apart from other habitats, Pilliga NP features the so-called "gilgais", i.e. shallow natural depressions with (semi-)permanent waterholes forming ephemeral wetlands that are not part of a creek system. Note that some photos presented on this website are available FOR SALE.

(See also Pilliga scrub.)

At about 50x200 m, "Old Boo" - seen here on a rainy day after a hot and dry summer - is the biggest "gilgai" (waterhole; ephemeral wetland) in Pilliga NP

"Old Boo" in times of plenty, in May 2020, after months of excellent rainfall

Large gilgai near "Old Boo" in July 2020, after months of excellent rainfall

Another large gilgai, here seen at sunrise, on the point of drying up in December 2019, near the end of the worst drought on record

The same gilgai, seen on the point of drying up (again) in May 2020

Example of a large gilgai in May 2020

Example of a small gilgai in May 2020

Picturesque gilgai near Old Boo in May 2020

Old Coghill Waterhole, another attraction in Pilliga NP, may not be a classical "gilgai", but a generic waterhole associated with Coghill Creek - here seen at the end of extreme drought, in December 2019

Old Coghill Waterhole after months of good rainfall, in May 2020

White-fronted Honeyeater seen taking nectar from a eucalypt tree (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Philydrum lanuginosum (Woolly Waterlily, Frogmouth) found on the fringe of a small gilgai in April 2021

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