Apple Box Flat picnic area
Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area
Overview
Apple Box Flat picnic area is a grassy clearing near Queanbeyan River and is a great spot for picnicking and a spot of birdwatching in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- 1780 Woolcara Lane, Captains Flat, NSW, 2623 - in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area in Country NSW
- Please note
- The weather in the area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- There is limited mobile reception in this park.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching.
Apple Box Flat picnic area, in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area, allows you to enjoy a totally natural environment without having to travel very far from civilisation. Bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it or stock up at the bakery of a nearby town and roll out the thermos for a break from the highway
Apple Box Flat picnic area is situated in an open grassy clearing surrounded by eucalypts such as black sallee, scribbly gum, peppermint, brittle gum and, of course, apple box. In fact, there’s a particularly old and unusually large apple box at the picnic area. Apparently, apple box honey is sensational.
From your picnic area, there’s a whole park to explore if you have the time and energy. Queanbeyan River is a short walk through the bush and there are plenty of fire trails to follow. Take along your binoculars for birdwatching and keep an eye out for wildlife along the way.
Map
Map legend
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/picnic-areas/apple-box-flat-picnic-area/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area in the Country NSW region
Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Apple Box Flat picnic area .
Getting there and parking
On entering Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area, continue along Woolcara Lane and park beside Apple Box Flat picnic area.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Apple Box Flat picnic area can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at Apple Box Flat picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The milder conditions of this season are ideal for exploring the park whether you're on foot, bicycle or horseback.
Spring
Wildflower season is a superb time to visit the park, when the open grassy woodlands burst into colour and attract birds. Bring along your camera and binoculars for a birdwatching feast.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12.3°C and 28.3°C
Highest recorded
41.1°C
Winter temperature
Average
5°C and 12.6°C
Lowest recorded
-9.2°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
200mm
Facilities
- Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- You’re encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
Picnic tables
Carpark
Maps and downloads
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
Apple Box Flat picnic area is in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A home of many gum trees
Yanunbeyan National Park is home to various environments within its landscape. The area is home to wet eucalypt forest, intermediate eucalypt forest, dry eucalypt forest and woodland, grassy woodland and riparian. Eucalyptus is the dominant plant in Yanununbeyan, and its varieties include stringybark, brittle gum, scribbly gum, peppermint gum, snow gum, ribbon gum, mountain gum, apple box, argyle apple and candlebark.
- Apple Box Flat picnic area Apple Box Flat picnic area is a grassy clearing near Queanbeyan River and is a great spot for picnicking and a spot of birdwatching in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area.
Ngarigo territory
Welcome to Ngarigo territory. The level ground, natural clearings, spring water and forest food sources would have made Yanununbeyan an attractive area to the Ngarigo. There are recorded Aboriginal sites in Yanununbeyan, which include artefact scatters of grey and black chert and quartz. The Ngarigo spent much of their time on the tablelands, yet when temperatures dropped in winter, they would seek shelter at lower altitudes.
On a wing and a pouch
Yanununbeyan is home to many animals and a diverse range of birds. Around dawn and dusk, you're likely to see kangaroos, wombats and wallabies. At night, eastern false pipistrelle, powerful owls and squirrel gliders come out to play or hunt or be hunted.
- Apple Box Flat picnic area Apple Box Flat picnic area is a grassy clearing near Queanbeyan River and is a great spot for picnicking and a spot of birdwatching in Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area.
Times of change
Explorers came to this area in the early 1820s with the purpose of opening up new grazing lands. By the decade's end, European settlers, along with their sheep and cattle, occupied Yanununbeyan. Up until the 1930s, a horse and buggy trail ran along the rough alignment of Woolcara trail and was used as a wool route between Tinderry Station and Bungendore. Physical remains of European settlement in Yanununbeyan include fences, bridle trails and shepherd's huts. On Woolcara trail near The Springs, look for hand-built road foundations.