Inland from Kempsey, Carrai National Park protects vast tracts of eucalypt groves and subtropical rainforest on Carrai plateau, a huge granite area with steep escarpments that drop dramatically to Kunderang Brook and Macleay River.
For those with a sense of adventure, a 4WD, and some good camping gear, this part of the New England Tablelands offers an excellent opportunity to get back to the bush; very little infrastructure exists in the park’s 11,397ha. Some basic huts offer shelter at Daisy Plains, and rough tracks traverse the thick forest. One of them is the only access to Marys View lookout in neighbouring Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, and all are great for mountain bikers.
Experienced bushwalkers can trek out through the forest and enjoy jaw-dropping views across the Macleay River valley. Keep your eyes peeled too, because Carrai is home to more than 125 different species of animals, from the endangered Hastings Rivers mouse to native carnivores such as quolls and dingoes. For those with good eyes and a pair of binoculars, several vulnerable species of owls and bats also live in the park.