The Nattai National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Macarthur and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales in Australia. The 48,984-hectare (121,040-acre) area is situated approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) southwest of the Sydney central business district and primarily encompasses the valley of the Nattai River, which is surrounded by sandstone cliffs. Part of the Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland, the park is covered in dry sclerophyll (hard-leafed) forest – mostly eucalypt, and has frequent forest fires. It is a largely untouched wilderness area, as it has no facilities and despite its closeness to Sydney, receives few visitors.
Nattai National Park, from Wollondilly lookout.
Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland
The Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland is a mixed grassy woodland and sclerophyll-temperate forest community situated within the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia. An ecotone featuring clay soils derived from Wianamatta Group, it is listed as an endangered ecological community by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 as less than 5% of the original extent remains today. Three varieties of the Shale Woodland exist: ‘typical’, ‘tall wet’ and ‘short dry’.
Sutton Forest
Grassy, hilly woods near Bowral