Borenore picnic area
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
Overview
With a large grassy area, barbecues and picnic tables, Borenore picnic area is a great place for a family picnic. After lunch, take an easy walk to explore Arch Cave.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Opening times
- Borenore picnic area is open from 9am to 7pm every day, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- Please note
- Watch out for low roof levels or you may bump your head
- Water levels in caves may rise very quickly during rain and thunderstorms. You should always check the expected weather conditions before entering any of the caves. If rain is predicted, you should consider putting off your cave trip till another day.
- The ground in the cave can be slippery, so take care, wear sturdy shoes and take a torch
- The oil on our skin alters the way stalactites and stalagmites grow and can even change the colour of the rock, so please look but don’t touch
- Please do not damage or remove rocks from the area
The large grassy space at Borenore picnic area is a perfect place for the kids to run around before a picnic lunch.
Bring a picnic rug to lay out under the shade of one of the trees, or you can set up at one of the picnic tables. If you’ve driven along the Borenore trail before arriving at the caves, you’ll definitely have some tasty things to cook up on the reserve’s barbecues.
After you’ve enjoyed a picnic lunch at Borenore, the walk to Arch Cave is a must. It’s an easy walk and it's a good idea to take a torch with you so the kids can get a close up view of the stalactites and stalagmites in the cavern. In summer, the caves offer some respite from the hot day and they’re also home to a range of creatures, so keep your eyes peeled.
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/borenore-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 Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve in the Country NSW region
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve is open 9am to 7pm every day but 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 Borenore picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
The picnic area is 1km from the entrance of Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available in a gravel carpark at the picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Let your inner geologist loose among the limestone and see if you can spot the remnants of marble quarries and mines from the past.
Spring
Check out the wildflowers and birds in the endangered box gum woodland.
Summer
Escape the heat and step into magical Arch Cave while walking the Arch Cave loop track.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
15°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
2°C and 12°C
Lowest recorded
-5.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
August
Driest month
April
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
98.6mm
Facilities
You will need to bring drinking and cooking water.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
The picnic area is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over flat grass and hard-packed ground to reach the picnic tables and barbecue shelters.
The toilets are set next to the gravel access road - from the parking area, you can reach them by crossing over gravel ground.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Borenore picnic area is flat and step-free but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over a mixture of hard-packed ground and grass to reach the picnic tables and barbecue facilities.
There are accessible toilets with a ramp that are set next to the gravel access road that leads to the picnic area.
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
Borenore picnic area is in Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal connections
The permanent flow of Boree creek and the reliable shelter of caves meant that this area was used for thousands of years by the Wiradyuri people. In fact, the name 'Borenore' is believed to be derived from two Wiradyuri words: bora which means ceremony and nora nora meaning shelf or overhanging rock. The reserve remains an important place for Aboriginal people today and protects a number of ancient sites, including Arch Cave which is highly significant for local Aboriginal women as a maternity site.
From limestone to marble
Marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites at Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. The karst or limestone, as it is better known in the reserve, probably began life as limey mud and coral reefs some 390-400 million years ago when the area was located off the east coast of Australia. Around 12 million years ago, nearby Mount Canobolas spewed lava over the limestone, turning it into marble. Borenore marble, known as Borenore Red, was used in many public buildings in Sydney, including Transport House in Macquarie Street, and countless marble fireplaces.
- Arch loop track Explore Arch Cave along the easy Arch loop track, a short walk from the picnic area. Look for stalactites, stalagmites and columns in the cool cavern.
- Verandah Cave Take the easy walk from Borenore picnic area to Verandah Cave, where you can explore its limestone outcrops and pools of water in Borenore Karst Reserve.
Mystical adventure
Home to the ancient Arch Cave, Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve harbours a whole world that thrives in the dark. Light up your head torch and marvel at the stalactites and stalagmites. Listen to the drips of water around you that keep the air moist, the perfect breeding ground for the mosses and lichen surrounding the entrance. The musky smell you will notice is the tell-tale sign that bats are about as the caves are a precious home to these protected species.
- Borenore picnic area With a large grassy area, barbecues and picnic tables, Borenore picnic area is a great place for a family picnic. After lunch, take an easy walk to explore Arch Cave.
Protecting the precious
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve plays a special role in the preservation of some of Australia's precious native flora and fauna. A haven for birds, the park is home to thornbills, honeyeaters, kookaburras, magpies, treecreepers, weebills and more. Another special flying creature finding protection here is the eastern bent-winged bat, a threatened species that spends the winter hibernating in Tunnel Cave, before emerging in spring ready to migrate. Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve also contains the endangered box gum woodland vegetation community.
- Verandah Cave Take the easy walk from Borenore picnic area to Verandah Cave, where you can explore its limestone outcrops and pools of water in Borenore Karst Reserve.