Dasyurus picnic area

Monga National Park

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Overview

Dasyurus picnic area is a tranquil spot to stop on your drive to the coast from Canberra or a great day trip from Batemans Bay or Braidwood.

Type
Picnic areas
Where
215 River Forest Road, Monga, NSW, 2622 - in Monga National Park in South Coast, Country NSW
Accessibility
Medium
What to
bring
Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
Please note
  • The weather in this area can be 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 bird watch

Dasyurus picnic area is a peaceful picnic spot, set on the banks of Mongarlowe River. It’s a tranquil place to stop on your drive to the coast from Canberra or a great day trip from Batemans Bay or Braidwood.

Pack a thermos and enjoy a hot cuppa as you admire the superb natural surroundings. Take the kids down to the river to see if you can spot a platypus feeding in the river pools. Try your luck fishing, or just sit by the riverbank and relax as you listen to the gentle waters flowing by.

If you feel like stretching your legs, step back in time along Corn Trail walking track, which starts from the picnic area. You’ll be following a route that has been used for thousands of years on this challenging 6-hour hike through warm temperate rainforest and eucalypt forest.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Corn Trail walking track route, Monga National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    Corn Trail walking track

    Corn Trail walking track is a historic trail for hikers and horse riders to traverse a wide variety of landscapes and follow in the footsteps of the past.

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/picnic-areas/dasyurus-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about the Dasyurus picnic area.

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    Dasyurus picnic area is in the northern precinct of Monga National Park. To get there:

    • Take the first left turn, approximately 200m after entering the park.
    • Follow this road 400m to arrive at the picnic area

    Road quality

    • Unsealed roads

    Vehicle access

    • 2WD vehicles

    Weather restrictions

    • All weather

    Parking

    Parking is available in a small gravel carpark at Dasyurus picnic area. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited

    Best times to visit

    There are lots of great things waiting for you in Monga National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

    Autumn

    Take in the sweet perfumes of the plumwood trees in flower.

    Spring

    See the distinctive bright red colour of the Monga waratah in bloom along the banks of Mongarlowe River.

    Summer

    Enjoy a picnic under the shade of the eucalypt forest and unwind to the sounds of the gently flowing water at Mongarlowe River picnic area.

    Winter

    Embark on the historic Corn Trail walking track and experience the diverse natural landscapes of Monga.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    10°C and 26°C

    Highest recorded

    41.1°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    0°C and 11°C

    Lowest recorded

    -9.2°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    March

    Driest month

    July

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    663.9mm

    Facilities

    • Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
    • You are encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.

    Toilets

    There's an ambulant toilet at the picnic area

    Picnic tables

    Barbecue facilities

    • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

    Carpark

    Step-free access

    The picnic area is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground and grass to reach the facilities.

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    Bushwalking safety

    If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

    The walking opportunities in this park are suitable for experienced bushwalkers who are comfortable undertaking self-reliant hiking.

    Fire safety

    During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

    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).

    River and lake safety

    The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

    Accessibility

    Disability access level - medium

    Dasyurus 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 facilities.

    There's an ambulant toilet.

    Permitted

    Fishing

    A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

    Prohibited

    Gathering firewood

    Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park.

    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

    Dasyurus picnic area is in Monga National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    A glimpse of trading history

    Mongarlowe River picnic area, Monga National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    Monga National Park is significant for its natural wonders and its historic heritage. Corn Trail walking track, which is today enjoyed by bushwalkers and horse riders, was the first trade route between the Buckenbowra Valley farmlands near the coast and the early European settlements on the tablelands near Braidwood. Further settlement came to the area in the 1840s, with the establishment of the timber trade and gold mining. The sawmill at Monga provided timber for Braidwood and the establishment of Canberra in the 1900s, with logging continuing in the area until 1987.

    • Corn Trail walking track Corn Trail walking track is a historic trail for hikers and horse riders to traverse a wide variety of landscapes and follow in the footsteps of the past.

    Aboriginal culture

    Mongarlowe River, Dasyurus picnic area, Monga National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    For over 14,000 years, the Yuin and Walbunja people have lived around the valleys of Clyde, Deua and Buckenbowra rivers. Walkers and horse riders can walk in their footsteps on Corn Trail walking track, which was one of the trails used by Aboriginal people to travel between the coast and the tablelands. There are many Aboriginal cultural sites in the park where stone artefacts, fire beacons and old campsites have been found.

    Unique plantlife

    Sunlight through the tree canopy in Monga National Park. Photo Lucas Boyd © DPIE

    Many of the plants you'll find in the cool, temperate rainforests of Monga are millions of years in the making. Related to the plants from the super continent Gondwana, they present a unique window to the past. The plumwood trees and soft tree ferns you see in the park are closely related to pollen fossils found in Antarctica. Some plumwood trees here have widths of up to 4m and are thought to be thousands of years old. Wander along the banks of Mongarlowe River and you'll also see the distinctive bright red flowers of the Monga waratah.

    • Dasyurus picnic area Dasyurus picnic area is a tranquil spot to stop on your drive to the coast from Canberra or a great day trip from Batemans Bay or Braidwood.
    • Mongarlowe River picnic area Under the shade of eucalypt forest, this sheltered picnic site is an ideal place to start exploring Monga's rich habitats with easy strolls, swimming, and birdwatching.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

      One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

    • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

      Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

      One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

    • 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 spotted-tailed quoll walks across a moss-covered forest floor at night. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

      Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)

      The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.

    Plants

    • Close up photo of a waratah flower, Blue Mountains National Park. Photo: Simone Cottrell/OEH.

      Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

      The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.

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