The Dorrigo Plateau is a breathtaking scenic wonderland with many historic buildings, cool mountain air set in lush green surroundings.

The rolling green hills high on the Dorrigo Plateau

The picturesque, serenity of the Dorrigo Plateau is within easy reach to Coffs Coast is definitely not to be missed. Here you can breathe the clear mountain air and marvel at the lush, largely untouched rainforests.

Walk above the treeline at Dorrigo Rainforest Centre

The milk and potato countryside is home to some very talented individuals and much of their work can be found in the local art and craft shops in the heart of town.

Sea views from Dorrigo Plateau

It's a great starting point for exploring the National Parks. There's brown and rainbow trout waiting for you to catch and at Ebor in winter you can quite often play in the snow. Or you can go whitewater rafting at Nymboida.

Along the drive from Bellingen via Waterfall Way you will find lots of places to pull over safely and admire the waterfalls, plant life and the views. Gigantic trees, clinging vines, Elkhorns, Staghorns, Birds' Nest Ferns and splendid Orchids cling to massive trunks. At the Dorrigo National Park you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of World Heritage rainforests. Maiden Hair Ferns, Sword Ferns and Tree Ferns are abundant. Scores of birds of brilliant plumage in the tree tops, while on the ground there are Turkeys, Lyre Birds and Pheasants.

Dorrigo National Park - picnic area and great vantage point

Extensive logging, clearing for agriculture, burning off and urbanisation have eliminated or depleted much of the original rainforest. But some fine stands and majestic trees still remain, notably within Dorrigo National Park and New England National Park

Pioneering families mainly came from England and Scotland and paid ten shillings a year for forty acres. Bullock teams took a couple of weeks to transport wool and other produce to Armidale however the trip to the coast and return took six months (today it's 30 minutes by car).

The open grass country of the plateau was used first, and in the late 1850's the cedar getters moved in.

After the first World War more farms were made available for soldier settlers. They produced cream and butter which was sent via Bellingen to the city. In 1906 a small butter factory opened in Dorrigo and a bacon factory in 1922. Potato growing became very viable in the early 1930's and the timber thrived.

Today dairying is still strong with milk being transported to Norco at Raleigh for processing. Beef cattle and potatoes are the main farming industries. In fact Dorrigo is famous for its potatoes.