Brimbin picnic area
Brimbin Nature Reserve
Overview
Not far from Taree, Brimbin picnic area’s idyllic riverside location is a great spot for picnicking, barbecues, canoeing and birdwatching. It’s also where Dawson River walking track begins in Brimbin Nature Reserve.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Brimbin Nature Reserve in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- What to
bring - Drinking water, sunscreen, hat, binoculars
There’s something completely relaxing about picnicking near a river – the sounds, the fresh smell, the coolness of the air and all the wildlife that waterways attract. Brimbin picnic area is located right on Dawson River in Brimbin Nature Reserve.
If you’re on a road trip, take a break in Brimbin’s shady picnic area and listen to the birds for a while. Or perhaps you’re staying in Taree and looking for a place to spend the day. Bring the kids and the canoes along. There’s no need to skimp on supplies because it’s only a short walk from the carpark to your picnic spot. Fire up the barbecue and cook up a feast in this secluded natural bush setting.
The whole family can also enjoy paddling on Dawson River and Tommy Owens Creek. Dawson River walking track begins from the picnic area, which is an easy walk and a great one to take kids on. The start of Ms Kellys walking track isn’t far away either.
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/brimbin-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 Brimbin Nature Reserve in the North Coast region
Brimbin Nature Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to flood events, poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Brimbin picnic area .
Getting there and parking
On entering Brimbin Nature Reserve, park in the carpark to which the picnic area is adjacent.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There's a gravel carpark at the picnic area with 2 accessible parking spaces.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Brimbin Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.
Winter
Keep a close eye out for the flowering fairy light (or helmet) orchid in the forest leaf litter. It's a sparkling white flower with pinkish edges that grows on a short stem.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
17.2°C and 28.6°C
Highest recorded
45.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
6.5°C and 19.1°C
Lowest recorded
-5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
280.2mm
Facilities
Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Amenities
Toilets
There are accessible non-flush toilets at the picnic area in the carpark. You can reach the toilets via a metal access ramp.
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
There's a large picnic shelter set on a paved slab. The shelter has barbecues, picnic tables with bench seats and an island table without seating.
You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground and grass to reach the shelter and there's a small lip onto the slab that the shelter sits on.
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
The picnic area is step-free and mostly flat, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground, gravel and grass to reach the picnic area's facilities.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- The picnic area is step-free and mostly flat, but there are no pathways.
- You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground, gravel and grass to reach the picnic area's facilities.
- There are accessible toilets at the picnic area.
- There are 2 accessible parking spaces in the carpark.
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
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
Brimbin picnic area is in Brimbin Nature Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Biripi Aboriginal Nation
When Europeans settled in Manning Valley, the area was occupied by Aboriginal people: the Biripi Nation. This Aboriginal nation is made up of small groups of mostly one or two families, who travelled their country as availability to food sources changed with the seasons. The Biripi harvested native plants, each for a specific use. Identify their food plants, medicinal plants, arts/crafts plants and cultural plants when you visit Brimbin with the help of the Biripi Nation website.
Feathering the nest
Manning Valley has over 260 different species of bird, many of which inhabit Brimbin, making it an ideal spot for bird watching. Nests can be seen along waterways. Due to the range of plant communities within the reserve and its proximity to the coast, waterbirds, raptors, woodland and seabirds can be seen at Brimbin. This includes the largest owl on the Australian continent: the powerful owl.
Shady grove
The name 'Brimbin' comes from a local Aboriginal word for 'stringybark', which are common to the reserve, as are white mahogany, tallowwood and turpentine. Narrow-leaved red gums provide important food and habitat for koalas. Grey myrtle, swamp oak and water gum can be found along the waterways, with mangroves lining the banks below the tidal limit. River mangrove is usually a bushy shrub, with elongated fruit and clustered white flowers that smell like banana. Its main identifying feature is salt encrustation on its spoon-shaped leaves. Grey mangroves grow, in this area, to around 10m, and have oval pointed leaves, pale green flattened fruit and spongy pencil-like aerial roots spreading from the base of the trunk.
- Brimbin picnic area Not far from Taree, Brimbin picnic area’s idyllic riverside location is a great spot for picnicking, barbecues, canoeing and birdwatching. It’s also where Dawson River walking track begins in Brimbin Nature Reserve.
- Dawson River walking track Starting at the Brimbin picnic area near Taree, Dawson River walking track follow the mangrove-lined waterway of Brimbin Nature Reserve, and joins with a historic bullock route.
The Long Paddock
The Travelling Stock Route (TSR) in Australia is an authorised thoroughfare for walking domestic lifestock between locations, and these routes are collectively known as 'The Long Paddock'. Parts of Brimbin were originally the TSR of a stock camp sold in the 1960s. Old Port Macquarie Road, now part of Ms Kellys walking track, follows a section of track established in the 1820s linking Port Macquarie to the Australian Agricultural Co. lands at Stroud and Gloucester. The route allowed bullock-drawn carts to cross Dawson River.
- Dawson River walking track Starting at the Brimbin picnic area near Taree, Dawson River walking track follow the mangrove-lined waterway of Brimbin Nature Reserve, and joins with a historic bullock route.
- Ms Kellys walking track Ms Kellys walking track in Brimbin Nature Reserve is a short walking track near Taree, that follows a historic bullock route and takes in landmarks with names significant to the area’s historic heritage.