Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve

Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve is a protected reserve located in the northern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Covering an area of 10.768 hectares (26.61 acres), the reserve is situated in the suburb of St Ives and is just 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away from Sydney's central business district.

The reserve is of utmost significance as it is the most significant remnant of the eucalyptus Blue Gum High Forest. This forest used to dominate much of the shale-based forests on the northern side of Sydney, but only 1% of the original forest remains. The reserve is a traditional part of the Aboriginal country that once stretched to the northern shores of Sydney Harbor and Broken Bay in the north.

Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve is known for its relatively high average annual rainfall of 1,400 millimetres (55 in). Due to extensive bush regeneration programs in place, the reserve has been able to maintain a diverse ecosystem. In the 1920s, Richard Dalrymple-Hay acknowledged the importance of preserving this forest area and proposed that it should be protected. Before that, the area was known to have been part of the hunting grounds of the Kuringgai people, who have a rich cultural history connected to the land. Today, Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve is listed on the Register of the National Estate.

If you're interested in visiting this nature reserve, it is open to the public all year round. It is a wonderful place to go for nature walks