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The flat top of the Tablelands plateau is clear in this image, with the gorges cutting through after millions of years of water erosion.

The New England region, another name for the Northern Tablelands, which stretches between the Hunter Valley and the Queensland border.

The peaks and gorges of the Tablelands cover 18,000km², more than 2% of New South Wales.

From the air, the undulating landscape of the Tablelands appears to go on forever.

A creek zig-zagging between the gorges that have formed over millions of years of erosion.

Rocky outcrops punctuate the Tablelands, revealing the rich geological history of the area.

Dangar Gorge, one of the most impressive gorges in the Tablelands.

The ridges and gorges of the Tablelands are characteristic of Australia's largest mountain range.

One of the gorges of the Northern Tablelands, formed by the fast-moving creeks and rivers that flow through the plateau.

The dense rainforest clings on to the steep cliff faces of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

The Apsley River is calm and unassuming until it reaches the Apsley Falls when it turns into a dramatic spectacle.

One of the large, ancient trees in the Gondwana rainforests that cover the Tablelands region.

The rainforest in Oxley National Park is dense and vibrant, suddenly opening up to reveal deep gorges and dramatic waterfalls.

The flooded lower drop of the Apsley Falls, dropping more than double its usual volume of water, demonstrating its extraordinary power.

The upper drop of the Apsley Falls plunges 85 metres into the gorge. Steps on the side of the gorge provide fantastic views of the waterfall.

Tia Falls is another spectacular sight in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

The Obtuse-leaved Grevillea is one of the rare species that lives in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. It is endemic to the area; it does not exist anywhere else.

More than 700 plant species live in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, making it a very important conservation area.

Hillgrove, once a flourishing gold-mining town is still based around its mine at Baker's Creek, despite a steep decline in population.

Mining town of Hillgrove at the top of the plateau, with access roads to Baker's Creek Mine at the bottom of the gorge.

The dense forests of Metz Gorge near Hillgrove. The minerals are most often found at the bottom of the gorges, where the the rock has been eroded the most.

The old tramway line leading to the mine at Hillgrove. The tramway is no longer needed as the majority of mining has moved out of the town, though gold and antimony are still mined there.

A mine at Hillgrove at the bottom of the Baker's Creek Gorge, nearly 500 metres below the town.

Baker's Creek Falls, where gold was first found in the Tablelands in the mid-19th century.

The Metz Gorge, near to Hillgrove, where much gold-mining took place in the 19th century and still continues today.

The inside of a mine near Hillgrove, where minerals such as copper, silver and zinc have been mined. The colours in the rock are from the different minerals, with copper showing as a vibrant blue.

A large mine leaves a scar in the forested wall of Chandler Gorge, near Hillgrove.