Wright Forest

Bushwalking is a favourite past-time for many outdoor enthusiasts and Wright Forest, a bushland reserve located in Cockatoo, is the perfect place to explore the outdoors.

The 400-acre forest is home to many different species of diverse flora and fauna.

Eucalyptus trees native to the area take up a large part of the forest. Possums and gliders are easy to spot at dusk when the mammals emerge from their habitats where they spend time nesting during the day. Echidnas and wallabies are also fairly common but are hard to spot as they are very shy. Night time will see bats come alive as they fly across the walking trails in search of insects.

There are a number of walking trails within the forest, ranging from short trails that take half an hour, to longer trails that require more than half a day to complete. It is also possible to take a walk to Emerald Lake Park through the numerous interconnected trails between the park and the forest. The forest’s proximity to the Puffing Billy Railway Line offers visitors the chance to watch out for this historic steam train, undoubtedly one of Australia’s most treasured relics.

Birdwatching at the forest is also a popular activity, thanks to the many bird species native to the forest. Some of the birds that are easy to spot include honeyeaters, parrots and rosellas.

Owing to the threat posed by domestic animals, visitors with pets are required to keep pets within reach at all times and place them indoors after dusk.

Wright Forest is a biologist’s heaven as there are more than 70 species of plants. This biodiversity is attributed to the cool conditions in the forest which allow many plants to thrive. Overall, the forest is an incredible place to marvel at nature’s wonders.