New tourism gems in Bago State Forest
The nature-based tourism project in Bago State Forest, funded by the NSW Government, has been completed by Forestry Corporation and its partners.
The Snowy Mountains Sculpture Trail, a major drawcard for the region, incorporates artworks throughout Bago State Forest.
A new visitor area and pine walk has replaced the iconic stand of Sugar Pines that were lost in the Black Summer Bushfires five years ago.
Forestry Corporation staff, Wendy Sheather and Peter Haenig on horseback.
David Handley with artist Mark Nixon from NEON and the sculpture Shiver House V4’ by NEON.
MAIN PIC (L-R) David Handley AM, Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO & Artistic Director, Member for Albury Justin Clancy MP, Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council Julia Ham, Forestry Corporation’s Senior Manager Country and Community Kathy Lyons, Forestry Corporation Tourism and Partnerships Manager Louise Faulkner, Forestry Corporation Visitor Experience Manager Brendan Grimson and Forestry Corporation Chief Executive Officer Anshul Chaudhary. All images: FCNSW
On April 1, 2025, the Snowy Valleys community celebrated the grand opening of new tourism facilities in Bago State Forest, near Tumut, Batlow, and Tumbarumba. The ‘Enhancing Nature Based Tourism’ project, completed by Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) and its partners, has delivered new and upgraded visitor facilities serving as a drawcard for the regional tourism industry. Bago State Forest covers over 50,000 hectares, consisting of pine plantations and native forests managed for timber production, conservation, and visitor experiences. FCNSW is an active part of revitalising the region post the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires, blending nature-based tourism with environmental care.
New and upgraded visitor facilities
The program of works includes exciting additions across Bago State Forest. The new Sugar Pines visitor area features a stand of Sugar Pine trees planted to replace the iconic Sugar Pine Walk lost to the 2019-2020 fires, complemented with other conifer plantings to create a new forest grove. The trees will take decades to mature and will benefit generations to come. The area also includes a nature-based playground, wedding arbour, performance space, and short walking trails.
The new Wellness Walk at Pilot Hill Arboretum is a walking track with six activity stations designed to facilitate mindfulness and engagement in nature, developed with Connective Co. and NSW Murrumbidgee Local Health District. The ‘sky seat’ and ‘sound pod’ are features of this track. Visitors can also enjoy the reinvigorated Alpine Ash Walk, a short, 1 km easy grade walk through a stunning Alpine Ash forest, invigorating the senses.
The new Bago Sculpture Forest, part of the Snowy Valley Sculpture Trail, is a key feature, with sculptures at the Sugar Pines site, Pilot Hill Arboretum, and Alpine Ash Walk. Stephen King’s Sculpture Grid Study IV at Sugar Pines was funded by the project. Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO & Artistic Director David Handley AM said, “The Bago State Forest and the Ash Walk are places locals will want to visit and share with their friends. We welcome visitors from near and far to wander the three sites in Bago Sculpture Forest to experience artworks by artists from Iceland to England and the Czech Republic to around the corner in Batlow.” He added, “The feedback we are getting from visitors and locals about the sculptures has been really positive with a considerable increase in visitation.”
Upgrades also include improved signage, picnic and toilet facilities, a bird hide, and caravan parking at Lochinvar Rest Area on Batlow Road in Green Hills State Forest. Pilot Hill Arboretum received upgraded picnic and toilet facilities, walking tracks, and signage. New directional and informative signage for Bago State Forest facilitates improved visitor access, especially for first-time visitors.
Environmental and community benefits
The project enhances visitor experiences at Paling Yards and Paddys River Dam while prioritising environmental protection. At Paling Yards, FCNSW has improved horse rider access, amenities, and facilities, including timber horse yards and signage, and introduced a new horse-riding trail named Haenigs Horse Track. This area is also used for camping and to access 4WD routes and the Hume and Hovell walking track. At Paddys River Dam, upgrades include picnic shelters, horse rider access, amenities, fishing site access, and signage, making it a hub for camping, picnics, fishing, and swimming.
A strong focus has been commencing environmental restoration of the Paling Yards and Paddys River Dam visitor areas, in the upper reaches of the Paddys River. FCNSW Senior Manager Country and Community Kathy Lyons said, “We started planning back in 2019 to improve protection of significant peatlands and threatened species, while still enabling an iconic and educational visitor experience for bushwalking, horse riding, fishing, and camping.” She added, “We have proudly delivered new standards in protective fencing for peatlands, armoured stream crossings and timber walkways, high-quality timber horse yards, the first horse riding trail on state forest, upgraded camping facilities, interpretive signage, and a beautiful new camping hut at Paddys Dam.” This includes measures to protect the Montane Peatlands Endangered Ecological Community (EEC).
Funding and partnerships
Forestry Corporation received $2 million in grants under the Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund and contributed significant in-kind resources. Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW, and Western NSW The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC said, “The NSW Government is committed to delivering tourism projects and infrastructure that unlock growth in our regions by building on regional visitor economies. The Bago State Forest project is one of these important projects, delivering tourism and environmental outcomes designed to build the Snowy Valleys visitor economy.”
FCNSW CEO Anshul Chaudhary said, “The forest and timber industry has always been an important part of the local community in the Snowy Valleys. Our pine plantations and Alpine Ash forests were devastated by the Black Summer Bushfires, and together with our staff, the timber industry, partners, and community, we have rebuilt and reinvested in our forests. This program of forest-based environment and tourism works has helped the community to reposition as a regional tourism destination and has brought visitors back to the beautiful Snowy Valleys.”
Partners in the project include Sculpture by the Sea, The Connective Co., NSW Murrumbidgee Local Health District, The Mulloon Institute, Planet Ark, and the Tumut Brungle Local Aboriginal Land Council. FCNSW Tourism and Partnerships Manager Louise Faulkner said, “A Masterplan was developed with all partners and launched in 2023, providing the roadmap for the development of these new visitor facilities. We thank the many community representatives who helped us build these incredible attractions, which have been so well received by visitors to the region. These new visitor facilities will help grow tourism in the Snowy Valleys, attracting further investment, creating regional livability, and growing community.”
Snowy Valleys Council Mayor Julia Ham added, “Snowy Valleys Council is delighted with the outcome of the work in Bago State Forest, the initiatives and vision to make our natural assets popular places to visit. The collaboration with the council, Sculptures Snowy Valleys, and Forestry Corporation is a great partnership generating tourism in our region.”
FCNSW Visitor Experience Manager Brendan Grimson said, “A significant amount of work has been completed in Bago State Forest over the past five years, and we look forward to seeing the community and visitors to the region make the most of the new facilities. As for all NSW State Forests, these upgraded forest facilities are free for the public to use.” With its blend of nature-based tourism, environmental restoration, and community collaboration, the Bago State Forest project is set to draw visitors to the Snowy Valleys for years to come, showcasing the region’s natural beauty and resilience.
