Bungonia National Park

The park sits across the traditional lands of the Indigenous Njunawal group, the northwest corner of the Wandandian tribal region, and the southern boundary of the Gandangara tribal group. The prominent ridge tops are considered historically significant travel routes for tribes who moved with the seasonal harvest. However, archaeological evidence of campsites has been found on the main plateau, along with limestone dolines that contain the remnants of edible plants consumed by Aboriginal peoples. The establishment of European settlement in this region began around the 1820s, with Goulburn settled in the 1840s and the town of Bungonia set to be created in 1832. The park was initially established as a water reserve in 1872, to protect the water supply extracted from the Shoalhaven River and in the same year, a visit was reported to the Drum Cave and the Sky-Light Cave, named after the sound made when a stalactite was struck and the large hole in the roof, respectively. Multiple minor explorations of the park were made by Europeans throughout the late 1800s, to explore the many cave systems which were prominent features of the area. The average summer temperature in Bungonia National Park is between 12 and 26°Cs with the highest recorded temperature being 40°C. Due to its increased altitude and inland southerly position, the park receives a very cold winter temperature. On average the temperature sits between 1 and 14°C with the lowest ever recorded temperature being -9°C....