Mann River Nature Reserve

Nestled amongst the magnificent mountain range of northern NSW lies a tranquil riverside setting. With loads of natural beauty and historic significance, Mann River Nature Reserve is perched on the eastern edge of the New England Tablelands, near Glen Innes. With superb scenic views across The Great Dividing Range, it’s ideal for camping or stopping for a picnic on a car tour. Nature lovers will revel in the abundant wildlife, crystal clear waters and clear mountain air.

Historically, the area would have been a popular gathering place for local Aboriginal groups. Ngarabul People from the northern tablelands as well as the coastal Gunbaynggir would have made the most of the abundant wildlife and natural beauty.

Once popular with bushrangers, it’s now filled with self-sufficient campers who enjoy swimming and rock-hopping along the majestic Mann River. If you’re after something more leisurely, make like a lizard and sun yourself on the smooth boulders along the river’s edge.

Native plants

The mountainous terrain of the Mann River Nature Reserve has tall open forest with a beautiful understorey of dry heath. The damper side gullies that face south, contain remnant rainforest communities and the river is lined with river oaks. At higher altitudes there are ironbarks and bloodwood eucalypts with a native cherry understorey, stringybarks and grey gums with a forest oak understorey, and white mahogany with a black she-oak and dogwood understorey.

Native animals

More than 50 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. Yellow-faced honeyeaters, king parrots, white-faced herons and kookaburras are frequently seen along the river flats. The rainbow bee-eater, which is found in spring and summer, builds its nest by burrowing into the riverbanks and rears its young at the end of a shallow tunnel. Native mammals you can see include grey kangaroos, wallaroos, pretty-faced wallabies and swamp wallabies.

The park landscape: geology and landforms

The rugged, dissected, granitic and acidic volcanic rocks of the region are 230 to 280 million years old. Rock types include granites, adamellites, granodiorites and acidic volcanics such as rhyolite. The varied rock types create a rugged terrain due to the different weathering and erosion rates of these rocks. This give’s the Reserve many varied habitats.

Bushranging country

With the discovery of gold and a regular Cobb and Co mail run, the lands of the reserve were once popular hunting grounds of renowned bushrangers such as ‘Captain Thunderbolt’ and ‘Black Tommy’ McPherson.

Reptilian rapture

This reserve protects a wide range of lizards from the mighty lace monitor reaching up to 2m in length to the more diminutive blue-tongue lizard. Eastern water dragons are often seen sunning themselves on the riverbanks.

Aboriginal gatherings

Due to its location at the bottom of the range leading to the coast, the reserve would have been a popular place for the Ngarabul People of the northern tablelands as well as the Gumbaynggir People to the south-east. It's believed the Ngarabul People travelled the mountains on a historic route that is known today as Old Grafton Road.

Historic highways

Bordering the eastern edge of the reserve, Old Grafton Road was originally a timber getters track used to cart the valuable ‘red gold’ cedar trees in the 1840s. When the road was widened during the 1860s, Cobb and Co ran a weekly mail service along this road, linking Grafton and Glen Innes.

Flocks in flight

With over 50 species of birdlife protected within the reserve, grab your binoculars for sightings of king parrots, yellow-faced honey-eaters and yellow-rumped thornbills. The magnificent raptor birds such as the peregrine falcon can often be seen surfing on mountain thermals.

© State of New South Wales through the Office of Environment and Heritage

 Click the link for more information about Mann River Nature Reserve  

View from Tommy’s Rock Lookout

Photos of Mann River Nature Reserve & Tommy’s Rock

Bushwalking Kayaking / Canoeing Bicycle Rides Car Camping Social Activities Monthly Meetings

Gallery 1 Gallery 2

Arakoon - Trial Bay Bindarri Bongil Bongil Border Ranges Bundjalung Dorrigo Gibraltar Range Guy Fawkes River Kwiambal Mount Kaputar New England Nightcap Nature Reserves Oxley Wild Rivers Springbrook Washpool National Park Yaraygir

Point Lookout Cathedral Rocks

Mann River Nature Reserve Moonee Beach Nature Reserve

Bushwalkers Code Leader Guidelines Guidelines for Participants Camping Gear Checklist