Mangrove Boardwalks
Distance: Each boardwalk is about 100 metres long
The Entrance Garden Mangrove Boardwalk starts to the right of the Main Path about 50 metres from the garden entrance. SADLY THIS BOARDWALK IS CURRENTLY CLOSED PENDING REPAIRS BY COUNCIL.
The Lake Mangrove Boardwalk starts at the far northern end of the garden, just past the lake – about 1.5km from the garden entrance. SADLY THIS BOARDWALK IS CURRENTLY CLOSED PENDING REPAIRS BY COUNCIL
The boardwalks transport you over mud and tangled roots through an estuarine mangrove forest. These forests are very productive ecosystems in an ever changing world of tidal and seasonal fluctuations.
The Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina var. australasica), known as ‘baru-baruga’ in the Gumbaynggirr language, is dominant in the more saline tidal section of Coffs Creek along the west side of the garden. Further up Coffs Creek to the east of the garden where fresh water flows reduce the salinity the River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum) begins to take over. Sticking up through the mud are lots of little ‘snorkels’ or root parts called pneumatophores in the mangrove forest. These specialised root parts collect oxygen for the tree at low tide and protrude from large horizontal roots under the mud. Small fish like mullet, bream and whiting use the roots as a nursery to protect their offspring, called fry, before they venture into deeper water.
Waterbirds such as Ibis and Heron roam the mud flats at low tide for food. Sacred and Azure Kingfishers are often seen in spring or summer perched on a branch and swooping down to catch a crab, insect or small fish.