Take time for nature this World Environment Day
Each year on June 5 is World Environment Day, this years theme is biodiversity and ‘Time for Nature’. A day where we recognise the importance of the environment and nature in our world and for our own health.
As the UN World Environment Day Time for Nature campaign says:
These are exceptional times in which nature is sending us a message: To care for ourselves we must care for nature.
This World Environment Day we are asking everyone to take time and get out into nature. The more we take time to learn about the natural world around us the more we take the time to care for it.
With COVID-19 restrictions easing in each state it is a great time to take time with your family or friends to explore our national parks.
Whichever state you are in there is a national park that you can visit this weekend.
Most NSW parks and campgrounds are open this weekend. Campground and cabin bookings are essential so check your parks website before heading out.
FNPW tip for this weekend: See if you can spot a Gymea Lily on the Old Great North Road World Heritage walk at Dharug National Park
QLD parks that were closed due to COVID-19 are now open. Some restrictions apply for visitor numbers. Bookings for camping and vehicle access can be booked online.
FNPW tip for this weekend: Step back in time to the Gondwana Rainforests of Lamington National Park and listen out for bowerbirds or catbirds, relatives to the oldest lineage of songbirds in the world.
Parks in South Australia are open! The June park of the month is Deep Creek Conservation Park, which also happens to be the location of one of our Plant a Tree for Me sites supporting revegetation for the Black Glossy Cockatoo populations of SA.
FNPW tip for this weekend: Head to Deep Creek Conservation Park and keep an eye out for whales on the horizon!
From midday Friday June 5 and unless closed for seasonal closures, parks and reserves will be open and accessible to Territorians.
FNPW tip for this weekend: Grab your binoculars and head to Litchfield National Park and count the how many of its 169 bird species you see.
Tasmanians can enjoy national parks his long weekend, with restrictions to easing from 3pm Friday, 5 June. Some visitor centres and multi-day walking tracks will be closed until June 15, so check the Tassie Parks website before you head out on your adventure.
FNPW tip for this weekend: See if you can catch the last of the fagus turning or the first winter snow at Mount Field National Park
With intrastate borders still closed it’s a great opportunity for locals to explore WA. All parks are open and long term camping bookings are now available for many locations.
FNPW tip for this weekend: Grab a picnic and just relax with the grey kangaroos at Yanchep National Park.
Although Namadgi National Park remains closed due to bushfire and storm damage there are plenty of nature reserve and forest areas in the ACT that are open this weekend.
FNPW tip for this weekend: Search for a button everlasting daisy in Black Mountain Nature Reserve
Photo courtesy of Peter-Nijenhuis