Construction is underway on the $56.4 million Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk and Arc Rainforest Centre within Dorrigo and Bindarri National Parks, New South Wales, with the full project expected to open in 2028.

The project, funded by the NSW Government and delivered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), comprises two connected components: a 46-kilometre multi-day walking track traversing the Dorrigo escarpment, and a new Arc Rainforest Centre to replace the existing visitor facility at the park's main entry.

Track construction began in May 2026 near Dome Mountain, with work awarded to two contractors through a competitive procurement process led by NSW Public Works. Dorrigo-based Buchanan Landscaping and Construction secured three of the four track sections; Trailworx Australia, based in south-east Queensland, was awarded the fourth. Seventeen local workers have been employed for the initial phase, with the project expected to create 270 local jobs over its construction period.

A 46-kilometre walk through Gondwana rainforest

The Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk will extend for approximately 46 kilometres through Dorrigo and Bindarri National Parks, following a route that combines existing walking tracks, new construction and former logging routes identified through LiDAR mapping. The walk begins at the Arc Rainforest Centre and traverses the rugged escarpment before finishing near the Urumbilum River in Bindarri National Park.

Infrastructure along the route includes four low-impact hiker camp precincts, pedestrian bridges, lookouts and camping areas. Track construction is focused on a Grade 4 natural-surface trail designed for durability in the rainforest environment. Where steps are required, the project team is using recycled hardwood risers salvaged from previous Skywalk upgrades at Dorrigo National Park, combined with locally sourced stone. Construction techniques have been selected to build in resilience to changing climatic conditions, with drainage and water-crossing designs chosen to minimise environmental disturbance.

The walk has received federal environmental clearance, with the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water determining the project is not a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). State reviews of environmental factors for both the walk and the visitor centre were determined in 2025, allowing both proposals to proceed subject to conditions.

Terroir's Arc Rainforest Centre

Entrance render of the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre showing the curved facade set against surrounding trees

The Arc Rainforest Centre, designed by Brisbane-based practice Terroir, will replace the existing Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and serve as the principal starting point for the new multi-day walk. The current design positions the building as a low-profile structure sitting within the existing site, with an elevated walkway refined to reduce its footprint and minimise disturbance to the surrounding rainforest while increasing visitor capacity.

The centre will provide accessible visitor experiences connecting people with the culture of the traditional custodians, the Gumbaynggirr People, along with contemporary interpretive exhibits about the ecology of the Gondwana rainforest. Education and interpretation remain the primary purpose of the renewed facility, with guided experiences, school excursions and opportunities for Aboriginal-guided walks forming a key part of the program.

Following an initial concept design phase, NPWS appointed Terroir to develop a revised scheme that reduces the construction footprint and cost while maintaining increased visitor capacity. The revised design places the building more closely within the existing site and retains a central courtyard near the escarpment. The elevated Skywalk has been realigned and reduced in scale, with detailed surveys of tree health, threatened species habitat and educational values guiding the final alignment.

Aerial render of the proposed Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre design nestled within the escarpment landscape with mist in the valley

The existing Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and nearby walking tracks, including the Crystal Shower Falls walk, will remain accessible during parts of the construction program. A temporary visitor centre, named Maam ganiyaygamba, meaning "meeting place" in Gumbaynggirr language, has been established at the Glade, approximately one kilometre from the existing centre. The name was selected by language experts at Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Cultural Cooperative. Once its transitional role concludes, the facility will be retained as a community education and events asset.

Architectural rendering of the exterior of the Dorrigo Arc Rainforest Centre with dark irregular roof and light walls set against the forested escarpment

Cultural engagement and environmental approvals

The project is located on Gumbaynggirr Country. NPWS has worked with Aboriginal custodians throughout planning and design to assess places of significance and seek advice on the spiritual and cultural values associated with Country. The walk and visitor centre are intended to provide opportunities for local Aboriginal guided experiences as part of the interpretive program.

Environmental approvals covered the projects' potential effects on National and World Heritage areas and threatened species under both state and Commonwealth legislation. Water quality sampling was carried out across key waterways, including Rosewood and Wild Cattle creeks and the Never Never and Urumbilum rivers, to establish baseline conditions before construction began. Monitoring will continue throughout the construction and operational phases.

Project funding and timeline

The NSW Government committed $56.4 million to the combined project in June 2022. The project has been in development since 2019, with environmental assessments, design procurement and detailed design completed between 2024 and 2026. Construction of the walking track is now underway and will continue through to 2028.

"The redevelopment of the Rainforest Centre and the starting construction of a multi-day walk will support more visitors to the region, more people to get out into nature and create 270 local jobs," says Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe.

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin describes the project as "transformative investment for Dorrigo and the wider Mid North Coast," adding that it would create local jobs, support small businesses and ensure more people could experience the region.

Images: Terroir / NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Construction begins on Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk and Arc Rainforest Centre

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