Fourth Crossing picnic area

Mullion Range State Conservation Area

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Overview

Fourth Crossing picnic area next to Summer Hill Creek, near Orange, is a great base for exploring gold mining history on walking tracks, swimming or trout fishing.

Type
Picnic areas
Where
Mullion Range State Conservation Area in Country NSW
Accessibility
Easy

Enjoy lunch or a snack at this quiet, tranquil picnic area on Ophir Road by Summer Hill Creek. There are picnic tables, accessible toilets and signs telling you about the reserve.

Spend more time at this peaceful place by swimming in the creek or trying your luck at fishing. If you’re a nature lover, look for birds in the trees, listen to the babbling of the creek and smell the fragrant wattles in spring.

Historic Water Race walking track starts here if you want to stretch your legs. The loop walk follows a water race constructed by miners during the gold rush to transfer water from the creek to mining areas. Take care though. The return route is on an undefined trail by the creek, so it can get flooded at times.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Historic Water Race walking track, Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Photo: NSW Government

    Historic Water Race walking track

    Historic Water Race walking track, near Orange, is a medium-difficulty walk offering birdwatching and gold mining history as well as swimming and fishing along Summer Hill Creek.

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/fourth-crossing-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

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

Getting there and parking

Fourth Crossing picnic area is in the Mullion Range State Conservation Area. To get there, travel north-east from Orange along (sealed) Ophir Road 19km to the picnic area.

Road quality

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available in a gravel carpark at Fourth Crossing picnic area.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you at Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

The cooler months are a great time for enjoying bushwalks, birdwatching and 4WD touring in the area.

Spring

Relax and dine al fresco surrounded by blooming wildflowers at Fourth Crossing picnic area.

Summer

Cool off with a splash in the creek or go trout fishing when the weather gets steamy.

Winter

The Falls Water Falls is particularly striking when there are high levels of water in Summer Hill Creek following heavy rainfall.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

12°C and 28°C

Highest recorded

38.3°C

Winter temperature

Average

2°C and 13°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

Toilets

There are accessible composting toilets next to the carpark that you can reach along a short pathway. 

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Carpark

Step-free access

The picnic area is mostly flat and step-free, with some slightly sloping ground.

Aside from the short pathway to the toilets, there are no other paths - you'll need to cross over grass, hard-packed ground and gravel to reach the other facilities.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

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.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach, the rocks or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing and rock fishing 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).

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 - easy

Fourth Crossing picnic area is mostly flat and step-free, with some areas that slope slightly. You'll need to cross over grass, gravel and hard-packed ground to get to the picnic tables.

There's an accessible composting toilet set along a short pathway. People with reduced mobility may need assistance on the access ramp due to its slope.

Permitted

Fishing

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

Prohibited

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Campfires are prohibited in this 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

Fourth Crossing picnic area is in Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Striking scenic water landscapes

    The Falls Water Falls, Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Photo: Colin Adams

    A prominent feature of the landscape of this reserve is the mix of rocky outcrops and the waters of Summer Hill Creek.

    Good as gold

    Historic Water Race walking track, Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Photo: OEH

    Explore the past by discovering fascinating remnants of the Mullion's gold mining boom. From 1860 to 1920, intrepid gold mining pioneers created mining sites and a water race that was built by hand to transport water from the creek to the mining areas. 

    • Historic Water Race walking track Historic Water Race walking track, near Orange, is a medium-difficulty walk offering birdwatching and gold mining history as well as swimming and fishing along Summer Hill Creek.
    • The Falls The Falls, near Summer Hill Creek in Mullion Range State Conservation Area, provide a scenic vista and popular swimming location.

    Unique plant and birdlife

    Summer Hill Creek, Mullion Range State Conservation Area. Photo: OEH

    You may spot interesting wildlife here, like eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies and wallaroos bounding through open fields. Gliders scurry among the treetops and platypus paddle their way along the creek. Large swathes of vegetation on the flatter areas of Mullion Range State Conservation Area have remained relatively undisturbed, thanks to the area's mining past. This means you can see a number of plant species and communities here that are rarely found elsewhere in central western NSW, including inland scribby gum, red stringybark and river oak. Mullion Range also provides habitat for many unique and interesting species of woodland birds, such as native parrots, including eastern rosellas and crimson rosellas, superb parrots in the springtime, and owls.

    • Fourth Crossing picnic area Fourth Crossing picnic area next to Summer Hill Creek, near Orange, is a great base for exploring gold mining history on walking tracks, swimming or trout fishing.
    • The Falls The Falls, near Summer Hill Creek in Mullion Range State Conservation Area, provide a scenic vista and popular swimming location.

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