Environment

On the basalt plains of the north-west the dominant eucalypt is the River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis, which tends to produce a more open woodland with sparse understory. Eastern Grey Kangaroos are common, and the most obvious birds are the parrot family - lorikeets, rosellas and cockatoos.

The sedimentary hills to the east of the river tend to support a mixed box and ironbark woodland, including

• Red Box Eucalyptus polyanthemos

• Yellow Box E. melliodora

• Bundy/Long-leafed Box E. goniocalyx

• Red Ironbark E. tricarpa

Here the smaller bush birds - honeyeaters, whistlers, thornbills, robins and so on - are much more common. The understory can be quite thick, providing shelter and food for White-winged Choughs, small birds, Echidnas and Black Wallabies.

The gorge floor is dominated by Manna Gum E. viminalis, with an understorey that varies from tussocky open areas to thick scrub. Again, this is a haven for small birds, along with water-loving species such as kingfishers, ducks and moorhens. There are many wombats.

The slopes of the Dividing Range, in the north of the valley, have gullies with Mountain Grey Gum E. cypellocarpa and Mountain Ash E. regnans, with a thick understorey. This is the haunt of the Superb Lyrebird, along with treecreepers, Crimson Rosellas and Bassian Thrushes. The drier ridges have boxes and ironbarks and are a good place for Buff-rumped Thornbills, honeyeaters and pardalotes.