Celebrated worldwide on Saturday, February 2, World Wetlands Day commemorates the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in 1971.

MidCoast Council will celebrate by opening up the closed Dawson Wetland for free guided tours on Wednesday, February 6 and Saturday, February 9.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to show off this beautiful site which is not currently open to the public,” council water quality and estuary management program coordinator, Prue Tucker said.

“There has been a lot of work undertaken at the site and it is not only a fantastic example of a natural wetland, it’s also a great example of how previously disturbed sites can be regenerated.”

Dawson Wetlands is part of 45 hectares of natural vegetation and timber plantation north of Taree. While in the past the entire site has been used for timber harvesting, today areas of the site, including the wetlands, are being conserved for wildlife habitat.

Tour participants will be able to walk through core koala habitat and experience the full beauty of the wetlands from a boardwalk that extends over the water - all while keeping an eye out for the local wildlife.

Wetlands are like the ‘kidneys’ of our rivers, filtering out pollution and improving water quality, Prue said.

“They also provide important refuge for a diverse array of birds and fish, and are a great opportunity for people to wander in natural settings and observe wildlife. Protecting Dawson Wetland is one of Council’s many actions to keep the Manning River healthy.”

Both walks kick off at 9.15am, for 9.30am, and take about two hours.

The walk graded as an easy/medium two kilometre loop, however is not suitable for anyone under six years of age. Bring along your hat, sunscreen and drink bottle. Participants must also wear closed-in shoes and long pants.

Light refreshments will be provided after the walk.

You can book by completing the online form at midcoast.nsw.gov.au/worldwetlandsday 

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