Due to the scale of the NSW bushfires and anticipated severe heatwaves, there are widespread State forest closures over the Christmas and New Year period.

The following State forests will be closed from midnight Wednesday, December 18 until further notice:

• All State forests from north of Sydney to the Queensland border

• All State forests from south of Sydney to the Victorian border

• All State forests on the Northern, Central & Southern Tablelands

• Nullo Mountain and Coricudgy State Forests (Western Region)

• Belanglo State forest.

Locally, these forests include the Nullum State Forest, Wollumbin State Forest and the Mebbin State Forest.

There will be exceptions to these closures for some visitor areas – those with good access close to main roads and towns. 

The following remain open at this stage:

• Crooked Creek Rest Area, east of Tenterfield

• Sealy Lookout, including Coffs Treetops, near Coffs Harbour

• Old Bottlebutt near Port Macquarie

• Coopernook Forest Headquarters, near Coopernook

• Strickland State Forest near Gosford

• Scrubby Creek Rest Area near Eden

• Bodalla Forest Rest Area, near Bodalla

• Treetop Adventure Park, Ourimbah State Forest

• Penrose State forest Rest Area

You can check the Forestry Corporation website and Facebook page for daily updates, as these areas may also be closed if fire conditions in the local area worsen.

State forests and visitor areas around Tumut, Tumbarumba and Bombala are currently open, but will be closed when the fire danger is predicted to be severe to catastrophic (expected for both Thursday and Saturday this week).

Visitors should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the Rural Fire Service Fires Near Me app or website, said Forestry Corporation’s Senior Manager of Forest Stewardship, Kathy Lyons.

“With the severe conditions facing NSW over the coming weeks, we strongly encourage people to keep informed of the current fire conditions and postpone any trips planned into State forests,” Ms Lyons said.

“As severe and extreme weather conditions are predicted for Thursday and Saturday, visitors should consult the Rural Fire Service website for current advice on the fire danger rating. (https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fdr-and-tobans)

“We are also reminding visitors that solid fuel bans continue to apply in State forests, and to check for total fire bans.”

Updates on State forest closures will be available at http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit and posted on Facebook (@visitNSWForests) over the holiday period.

National Parks, which are operated by the NSW National Parks government department have some areas open and closed over the coming holiday period.

In the Nightcap National Park here is the list you need to be aware of:

Closed areas: Western area and roads closed due to bushfires and recovery

The western area and some roads and trails within this park are closed due to ongoing bushfire activity and bushfire recovery works.

The closed areas, roads and trails are west of Rummery Park campground and include the western shared trail network. The closed roads and trail network includes:

• Peates Mountain Road 
• Perlite Road
• Eastern Fire Break
• Blue Fig Road
• Rummery Road
• Gibbergunyah Road
• Nixon Road
• Tungun Road
• Tuntable trail
• Number One trail
• North Rocks Road 

Historic Nightcap track remains closed from Rummery Park campground through to Mount Nardi and the Sphinx.

The areas, walking tracks and trails that remain open include:

• Rummery Park campground
• Boggy Creek walk
• Minyon Falls picnic area
• Minyon Falls loop
• Minyon Grass picnic area
• Telephone Road trailer carpark
• All trails associated with the shared trail network east of Nightcap Range Road and Rummery Park campground, including Telephone Road, Boomerang Road, Quandong trail and Eastern Boundary trail.

Closed areas: Historic Nightcap track and Pholis track closed

Some walking tracks, including Historic Nightcap track and Pholis Gap track, are closed due to the impact of recent fires within Nightcap National Park. 

Affects 3 locations in this park: 

• Goorgana walking track
• Mount Matheson loop
• Pholis Gap walking track

Please note that the Minion Falls picnic area and carpark, the lookout with nearby picnic area and short walk track and boardwalk will be closed for maintenance this Friday December 20 between 8am and 3pm.

You are advices to check the NSW National park website before considering any trip or walk into areas of the Nightcap National Park https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/nightcap-national-park/local-alerts.