Park Feature - Dryandra Woodland National Park

This article appeared in LANDSCOPE magazine Winter 2022. 

Dryandra Woodland, 30 kilometres north of Narrogin and 180 kilometres south-east of Perth, is Western Australia’s newest national park. Dryandra is a special place for its Traditional Owners, the Wiilman people. The area is home to special cultural places and appointed Elders have generational ties to the land.

Dryandra Woodland National Park (a formal park naming process is under way) is the first national park to be declared in the western Wheatbelt region of WA. It is hoped the conversion of 15,000 hectares of state forest to national park, including the creation of two class A nature reserves, will help ensure the future protection of native animals living in one of the last remnants of original woodland in the region. The Wiilman people believe it will continue to be an exceptional place for all people—both young and old.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has been working towards the creation of the national park for some time by engaging with Traditional Owners, adding facilities and improving existing infrastructure and sites to deliver a high quality visitor experience. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature while enjoying facilities including two campgrounds, the Lions Dryandra Woodland Village (managed by Lions International), day-use areas, a walk trail network and a drive trail.

As well as conservation, one of the main purposes of the new national park is to encourage nature-based tourism. With more than 25 mammal, 100 bird and 50 reptile species, there is plenty of wildlife for visitors to encounter while exploring Dryandra.

The woodland of wandoo, kwongan heath and mallee as well as sheoak thickets and plantations of brown mallet are not just home to the numbat. Other threatened and remarkable fauna live among the trees.

Dryandra is a key stronghold for some of Australia’s threatened wildlife including numbats, woylies, western brush wallabies and chuditch as well as quenda.

Birdwatching is a popular activity at Dryandra with spectacular birds such as Carnaby’s black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) finding the woodlands to be the perfect habitat, as well as rare or uncommon birds such as bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) and rufous tree creeper (Climacteris rufus).

Initiatives to control feral animals such as cats and foxes, will continue with the aim of protecting the wide range of native animal species. DBCA’s Western Shield program operates in Dryandra and has achieved significant conservation outcomes through broadscale management of introduced predators.

There has been an increase in sightings of numbats and woylies in recent times, thanks to conservation efforts, allowing visitors to view these unique animals in their natural environment.

DBCA’s Barna Mia Nocturnal Wildlife Experience provides eco-education for visitors. Two four-hectare enclosures at Barna Mia create a refuge for several species of marsupial inside what is described as ‘an introduced predator- proof animal sanctuary with a difference’.

The difference is that tours take place after sunset when visitors can experience a close-up encounter with wildlife. Special red torches are used to highlight the nocturnal habits of animals. Visitors may be lucky enough to see a bilby, woylie, boodie, mala or quenda in a natural setting.

From March to November, tours run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. In December through February tours run on Friday and Saturday nights only. The cost is $22 per adult, $16 concession and $11 for children. A family ticket for two adults and two children is $55. Bookings are essential. Schools and special interest groups can also arrange tours.

In tranquil bushland settings, there are designated sites for caravans, campervans and tents (fees apply). The Congelin and Gnaala Mia campgrounds offer basic facilities including a camp kitchen with double gas barbecues, a barbecue ring and picnic table at each site. Some firewood is provided but to ensure a warm toasty night bring your own supply. Campers need to bring their own drinking water. Some non-potable water found at rainwater tanks at each camp kitchen.

Affordable and comfortable accommodation is available at the Lions Dryandra Woodland Village, which has a tennis court, playground and plenty of space for children to play. Wooden cottages (six large, two small) look out onto an open grassed area where kangaroos gather at dusk.

Picnic areas with tables can be found at Congelin Dam and Lol Gray. Old Mill Dam and Contine Hill now boast toilet facilities and gas barbecues.

DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service has developed a network of walk trails and a drive trail. The 23-kilometre self-drive Darwinia Drive Trail includes five interpretive stops with information about the woodland and the granite outcrop at the fifth stop is a nice spot to take a short walk to search for orchids.

Walk trails range from Class 1 to Class 3, with distances from one to 12.5 kilometres. The Wandoo Night Walk Trail, lit by reflective markers, offers visitors the chance to see woodland mammals and birds that are active at night such as woylies, possums, owls and bats.

Dogs are not allowed in the park. Visitors are reminded mobile phone reception is limited. A walk trail guide is available from the Parks and Wildlife Service office or via trailswa.com.au

• Bush stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius)
• Carnaby’s black-cockatoo (Zanda latirostris)
• Chuditch or western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii)
• Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
• Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)
• Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
• Quenda (Isoodon fusciventer)
• Red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura)
• Rufous treecreeper (Climacteris rufus)
• Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
• Tammar wallaby (Notamacropus eugenii)
• Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
• Western brush wallaby (Notamacropus irma)
• Western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus)
• Woylie or brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata)

• Where is it: 180 kilometres south-east of Perth and 30 kilometres north-west of Narrogin.
• What to do: Camping, bushwalking, picnicking, scenic driving, a visit to Barna Mia, group educational activities.
• Facilities: Interpretive centre and animal sanctuary, toilets, picnic tables, barbecues, walk trails, drive trails, camping.
• Nearest Parks and Wildlife Service office: Wheatbelt Region, Hough Street, Narrogin  Ph (08) 9881 9200.