Broadwater National Park has some of the most exquisite and most beautiful wildflowers found in coastal heathlands, as well as a wonderful variety of native wildlife, including many that are considered vulnerable, endangered and protected.

Most of the fauna communities are associated with heath, sedgeland and shrubland communities. Around the cottage, guests will see gentle swamp wallabies grazing in the garden, as well as goannasand cheeky brush-tailed phascogales. In Spring, you may spot an echidna ambling by in search of a mate.

Several kilometres to the west, koalaslive peacefully within the Broadwater Koala Sanctuary. Other animals sighted around cottage include: Red-necked wallabies, swamp wallabiesand joeys, echidnas, brush-tailed phascogales and their young, native mice and their young, green tree frogs, goannas and smaller lizards, koalas, carpet snakes, flying foxes and bats.

Bird species that frequent the headland and cottage include lorikeets, glossy black cockatoos, osprey, white-bellied sea eagles, kookaburras, terns and honeyeaters. If you would like hard copies of these bird and animal species lists, please contact us. We also have a bird list, put together by visitors to the retreat.

The beauty of the Park's flora is best seen in late autumn and spring. This is when the wildflowers are blooming - making it a haven for many species of birds and various butterflies.

The Swamp Orchid is a vulnerable species that has been recorded in the Park, as well as the Moth Bladderwort, an insectivorous small herb, which grows in wet sand and shallow water in coastal heath.

Native pig face is found on the dunes. Heath flowers include the elusive flannel flower, heath wax plants, wedding bush, golden bush peas, sun orchids and hot pink, yellow and white boronias. (Some of the flowers and shrubs are found at Broadwater Beach Retreat, at the southern end of the garden.)

For more details on wildlife go to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) website, which includes the Atlas of NSW Wildlife, an excellent database of recorded sightings of birds and other animals.

Threatened species in Broadwater National Park