[1] It features high quality old growth eucalyptus forest and remnant patches of temperate rainforest.

[2] Until 1968, much of the inland southeastern corner of New South Wales was rugged forest terrain known as the Wallagaraugh Wilderness, and was vacant crown land.

At the time, a scientific committee appointed by the New South Wales state government recommended the area of around 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) be protected as a national park.

Later, under the Fahey government,[3] the Genoa, Tantawangalo, Bemboka Yowaka and Coolangubra national parks came into existence in 1994.

[2] Combined with the adjoining Coopracambra National Park located in Victoria across the Black-Allan Line, the South East Forests National Park forms one of the largest contiguous areas of high quality wilderness in south-eastern Australia that spans from Bombala in New South Wales to the town of Cann River in Victoria.