Much of Australia's lowland sub tropical rainforest was cleared for housing and agriculture, leaving only small patches remaining, such as at Wingham Brush The soils are derived from the Manning River.

These alluvial soils are enriched from basaltic deposits upstream at Barrington Tops and the Comboyne and Bulga Plateaux.

Noteworthy birds occurring here include the osprey, green catbird, wompoo fruit-dove and brush turkey.

Nocturnal gliders and possums occur in the rainforest, as do many species of reptiles, such as the land mullet.

[citation needed] Wingan in the local indigenous Biripi language means "where bats come to drink".