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World Heritage Regions
Areas listed according to the World Heritage Convention are internationally recognised as cultural and natural places of such outstanding value that they ought to be preserved for the benefit of humanity. Natural World Heritage areas often represent an important stage in the Earth’s evolutionary history. For further information contact the Australian Heritage Commission, GPO Box 787, Canberra, ACT 2601 (tel: (02) 6274 1111; fax: (02) 6274 2095; website: www.ea.gov.au). New South Wales has two major World Heritage listed regions as outlined below (additional World Heritage areas are indicated in the National Parks section).
LORD HOWE ISLAND GROUP: This island group is situated 700km (400 miles) northeast of Sydney, covering 146,300 hectares (361,520 acres) and comprising Lord Howe Island, the Admiralty Islands, the Mutton Bird Islands and Ball’s Pyramid. Lord Howe Island consists of rich lowland and mountains covered with lush vegetation, surrounded by white sandy beaches. Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird (875m/2695ft and 777m/2394ft respectively) are both of volcanic origin and provide a stark contrast to the low-lying areas along the coast. Lord Howe Island has the southernmost coral reef in the world and boasts some of the rarest flora, bird and marine life. Owing to a strict conservation policy, the number of tourist beds on the island is limited to 400 and the number of cars is also restricted. The bicycle is the main mode of transport.
WILLANDRA LAKES REGION: This region covers 370,000 hectares (913,000 acres) of semi-arid country in the southwest centre of New South Wales renowned as one of the world’s earliest known cremation sites; the archaeological discovery of skeletal remains and stone tools indicated that homo sapiens inhabited the area 40,000 years ago. The region also contains a system of Pleistocene lakes formed over the last two million years, most of which are fringed on the eastern shore by dunes. The area incorporates the Mungo National Park, which is open to visitors daily. The park offers good opportunities for walks along the famous Walls of China, orange-and-white dunes, as well as many native species of birds and animals.
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