Hacking River - Ecology

Ecology

Most of the river flows through the Royal National Park, before entering the sea at Port Hacking. It is named after the colonial figure, Peter Hacking. Its upper reaches lie adjacent to the red and green spots of the bright Garawarra State Conservation Area, where it is a small stream in a gully within rainforest. The river passes through a variety of plant communities, such as dry eucalyptus forest, tall wet eucalyptus forest and rainforests. Significant rainforest plants growing by the river banks include White Beech, Citronella, Supplejack, Bangalow Palm, Jackwood and Golden Sassafras. The Blackbutt, Grey Ironbark and Sydney Blue Gum are common eucalyptus trees. As it moves downstream, it flattens and widens before it reaches the estuary at Port Hacking.

A variety of molluscs, crustaceans, insects, fish and birds live in and around the river. Long Finned Eels migrate from oceanic spawning grounds as elvers. As adults they mature in the creeks and streams of the Royal National Park, sometimes to be seen in the river pools. Jollytail are common small fish. Platypus may occasionally be seen in the river, and Azure Kingfishers nest in the river banks. The land snail Meridolum marshalli is restricted to Royal National Park; its main habitat is wet areas near the river.