The Sea Acres National Park is a national park that is located in the

Mid North Coast The Mid North Coast is a country region in the north-east of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The region covers the mid northern coast of the state, beginning from Port Stephens north of Sydney, and extending as far north as Woolgoo ...

region of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, in eastern Australia. The park is situated near the town of

Port Macquarie Port Macquarie is a coastal town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The town is located on the Tasman Sea c ...

. The park is a popular tourist area with a long boardwalk through a remnant of seaside rainforest. There is also an education centre and cafe. The park was initially declared as a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

in 1987; and

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

as a national park in October 2010.

Features

Fauna

Recorded within the reserve are over a hundred types of bird species. Rare species include the

wompoo fruit-dove The wompoo fruit dove (''Ptilinopus magnificus''), also known as wompoo pigeon, is one of the larger fruit doves native to New Guinea and eastern Australia. Taxonomy and systematics Subspecies There are generally 7-8 recognised subspecies, ...

, rose-crowned fruit-dove and

osprey The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...

. Reptiles include the

lace monitor The lace monitor or tree goanna (''Varanus varius'') is a member of the monitor lizard family native to eastern Australia. A large lizard, it can reach in total length and in weight. The lace monitor is considered to be a least-concern species ...

land mullet The land mullet (''Bellatorias major'') is one of the largest members of the skink family ( Scincidae). Description The species may reach total lengths of up to 60 cm (23.6 inches). They are uniform glossy black to brown, with a paler ring ...

and the diamond python. Twenty-one species of mammals have been recorded in the national park, including

koala The koala or, inaccurately, koala bear (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the w ...

, spotted-tail quoll and the little bent-wing bat. Two rare types of snail are known here.

Flora

Sea Acres National Park contains one of the largest and most intact segments of coastal rainforest in New South Wales. The remnant rainforest area adjacent to Shelley Beach is noteworthy as much of this sea side type of forest has been cleared for agriculture, mining or housing. Common species of tree include

tuckeroo ''Cupaniopsis anacardioides'', with common names tuckeroo, carrotwood, beach tamarind and green-leaved tamarind, is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that is native to eastern and northern Australia. The usual ...

, coogara,

red olive berry ''Elaeodendron australe'', commonly known as red olive-berry, red-fruited olive plum, or blush boxwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Celastraceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with egg-shaped t ...

, white walnut, flintwood, strangler fig,

sour cherry ''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' ( cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ...

, Francis watergum, maiden's blush and

mock olive Mock olive is a common name for several plants and may refer to: * Large mock-olive * Privet mock olive * Veined mock olive See also * Mock (disambiguation) Mock is an imitation, usually of lesser quality Mock may refer to: Names *Mock (surna ...

. Vines are common; they include lawyer vine, supplejack, and water vine.

Walking stick palm ''Linospadix monostachyos'' known as the walking stick palm is a small palm growing in rainforest understorey in Queensland and New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of N ...

s and Bangalow palms are often seen. Epiphytes are common in the taller more protected areas; such as the staghorn and elkhorn ferns. The hare's foot fern is an interesting climbing plant in the rainforest. The taller areas in the gully may be considered more sub-tropical rather than littoral rainforest. The widespread sea hibiscus is found at its southernmost limit of natural distribution at Sea Acres. Another similarly widespread coastal plant is also found at or very close to its southern limit, the screw pine. This plant is usually associated with Pacific islands in the tropics. The rare flat fork fern was recorded at Sea Acres, but its exact location is currently unknown. Rainforest botanist

Alexander Floyd Alexander Geoffrey Floyd (1 April 1926 – 12 December 2022) was an Australian botanist with an expert knowledge of rainforest plants, particularly the rainforest trees of New South Wales. He has worked with the New South Wales Forestry Commi ...

suggests that Sea Acres and similar beachside rainforests near Port Macquarie may be botanical refugia from a warmer period. There are also non-rainforest areas which include grassland,

banksia ''Banksia'' is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes, and fruiting "cones" and heads. ''Banksias'' range ...

woodland and eucalyptus forest with tallowwood, blackbutt, and Sydney blue gum.

Weeds and pests

There are infestations of

lantana ''Lantana'' () is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in ...

morning glory Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of ...

and bitou bush in the park. Dumping of garden refuse makes the problem worse.

Feral A feral () animal or plant is one that lives in the wild but is descended from domesticated individuals. As with an introduced species, the introduction of feral animals or plants to non-native regions may disrupt ecosystems and has, in some ...

dogs, foxes, and cats have an impact upon local wildlife.

Gallery

File:Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove.jpg,

Rose-crowned fruit dove The rose-crowned fruit dove (''Ptilinopus regina''), also known as pink-capped fruit dove or Swainson's fruit dove, is a medium-sized, up to 22 cm long, green fruit dove with a grey head and breast, an orange belly, whitish throat, yellow-or ...

File:Arytera divaricata.jpg, Coogara File:Osprey mg 9605.jpg,

Osprey The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...

References

External links

* * {{authority control National parks of New South Wales Forests of New South Wales 1987 establishments in Australia Mid North Coast Protected areas established in 1987