Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail

Myall Lakes National Park

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Overview

Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail is an easy bike ride within Myall Lakes National Park. You can complete the ride in one day or take your tent to camp overnight.

Distance
20km one-way
Time suggested
6hrs
Grade
Easy
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note

Sections of the Old Gibber trail are inundated by water after extended periods of heavy rain.

Mining Road fire trail joins with the Old Gibber Road fire trail to make a popular day or overnight bike ride within the park. The trail starts at Seal Rocks Road, travelling along the former Mining Road for 10km through coastal forest to a swampy area known as ‘The Moors’. If you're cycling in spring you'll see stunning wildflowers and lots of birds.

The route then joins up with the Old Gibber Road fire trail for another 10km, finishing at Boomeri campground. Other camping options along the way include Shelly beach campground and Johnsons Beach campground.

The former Mining Road was constructed as an access road when the area was being mined for heavy mineral sands like rutile and zircon, before the establishment of Myall Lakes National Park.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/cycling-trails/mining-road-to-old-gibber-road-cycling-trail/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail.

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail is in the Bombah Broadwater or Sugarloaf Point to Shelley Beach area of Myall Lakes National Park. 

    To get there:

    • From Pacific Highway, take The Lakes Way approximately 3km north of Bulahdelah
    • Drive for approximately 23km and turn right into Seal Rocks Road
    • The trail starts on the right after the Neranie campground turn-off.

    Alternatively, if starting from Boomeri campground:

    • From the Pacific Highway, take Bombah Point Road (unsealed) to the ferry crossing
    • Cross the water with Bombah Point ferry and continue along Mungo Brush Road
    • The campground is on the left approximately 500m after Northern Broadwater picnic area.

    From Hawks Nest:

    • Follow Mungo Brush Road Drive (sealed) for approximately 40km and follow the signs to the campground.

    If you're travelling on the Bombah Point ferry, see the the prices here.

    Parking

    Parking is available off Seal Rocks Road and at Boomeri campground.

    Maps and downloads

    Fees and passes

    • Bombah Point ferry fees -

      The vehicle ferry at Bombah Point provides access across the lake (8am to 6pm daily, fees apply: cash only). Under strong winds the ferry may be closed. Contact the park office to check. Ferry fees:

      • $2.50 per pedestrian
      • $5.50 per motorbike
      • $6.50 per car
      • $6.50 caravan, trailer or boat trailer
      • $10 per 4 tonne or larger vehicles

    Safety messages

    Cycling safety

    Hundreds of cyclists head to our national parks for fun and adventure. If you're riding your bike through a national park, read these mountain biking and cycling safety tips.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    Prohibited

    Pets

    Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Learn more

    Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail is in Myall Lakes National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Ancient connections

    Dark Point Aboriginal Place, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: OEH

    Myall Lakes National Park is part of the Country of the Worimi Aboriginal people, who used the area's natural resources, like freshwater lakes, the ocean and native flora and fauna to live a traditional fisher-hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Much evidence of their long connection with this Country can be seen today throughout the middens in the park. The landscape of Myall Lakes includes important spiritual sites that are an important part of the identity of local Aboriginal people. Make sure you visit Dark Point Aboriginal Place while you're at visiting the park. This rocky headland has been of significance to Worimi people for at least 4000 years. The clans or nuras (family groups) within the Worimi people would gather together here for ceremonies and feasts.

    • Dark Point Aboriginal Place Dark Point Aboriginal Place, in southern Myall Lakes National Park, is a culturally significant site for the Worimi people with scenic coastal views across to Broughton Island.
    • Mungo walking track Mungo walking track offers a variety of Aboriginal and historic sites, diverse vegetation, and mountain biking in Myall Lakes National Park, near Hawks Nest.

    Go fish

    Violet Hill campground, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Fishing is a popular activity in Myall Lakes, with catches likely to include bream, whiting, Australian salmon, flathead and mullet. There are lots of great places in the park to throw in a line, like the beaches, lakes or rivers. Try fishing from your boat or for a relaxing day on the water you could try a spot of kayak fishing. At Myall Lakes you can also go camping, boating, swimming and canoeing. And when you’ve tried all of those, you can explore the park on foot, by 4WD or bike, stopping for a spot of bird watching or to enjoy a picnic or barbecue lunch along the way. Whatever your interests, there is bound to be something that takes your fancy.

    • Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail is an easy bike ride within Myall Lakes National Park. You can complete the ride in one day or take your tent to camp overnight.
    • Mungo Rainforest walk Enjoy a short and easy rainforest walk with the birds in Myall Lakes National Park, not far from Buladelah. Afterwards, you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue at Mungo Brush.

    Internationally recognised wetlands

    Pipers Creek picnic area, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: John Spencer

    Since 1999, this internationally recognised wetlands site, has been listed under the Ramsar Convention due to its diverse mosaic of near-natural wetlands, within a relatively unmodified coastal lake system. There are 18 different wetland types with extensive interconnected lake and river systems within the forested wetlands and swamps that fringe the waterways, rocky and sandy shores, and offshore islands off the coastline. This wetland site houses a complex variety of habitats with rich biodiversity, including threatened species and migratory birds protected under international agreements. The Myall Lakes wetlands also have a high cultural and social value as they occur within the traditional lands of the Worimi Aboriginal people, where the varied wetlands, environments and abundant resources provided an ideal living environment. Evidence of this traditional occupation exists across the landscape, including the Dark Point Aboriginal Place.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • White-bellied sea eagle. Photo: John Turbill

      White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

      White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.

    • Long-nosed bandicoot, Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: Narelle King

      Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

      A nocturnal marsupial and one of the smaller Australian native animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is found across eastern Australia. Populations in the Sydney region have dwindled since European settlement, leaving only endangered colonies in inner western Sydney and at North Head, near Manly. The long-nosed bandicoot has grey-brown fur and a pointed snout which it uses to forage for worms and insects.

    • Brown-striped frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

      Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)

      One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.

    • Profile view of a grey-headed flying-fox flying past eucalupt trees. Photo: Shane Ruming © Shane Ruming

      Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

      The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.

    • A tiny green and golden bell frog sits on a green strawberry plant leaf. Photo: Stuart Cohen © Stuart Cohen and DCCEEW

      Green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea)

      The green and golden bell frog is an endangered Australian frog. Once common on the NSW coast and tablelands, populations have plummeted around 90 percent.

    Plants

    • Cabbage tree palm in Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

      Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)

      With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.

    • Wonga Wonga vine. Photo: Barry Collier

      Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

      The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.

    Environments in this park

    Education resources (1)