Granite picnic area

Washpool National Park

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Overview

Enjoy a picnic at Granite picnic area in Washpool National Park. Stretch your legs on an easy walk to Granite lookout for views over the World Heritage-listed landscape.

Type
Picnic areas
Accessibility
Medium
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch.

Granite picnic area is a lovely lunch spot just a stone’s throw from the stunning views of Granite lookout. Located just 1km from the Gwydir Highway off Coachwood Drive, it makes for an enjoyable stop-off if you’re passing by, or an impressive launching pad for your exploration of Washpool National Park.

With picnic tables and a well-equipped barbecue shelter, settle in for an ambient lunch in a pleasant, all-weather setting among the eucalypt trees.

After your barbecue, why not enjoy an easy amble along the 400m Granite lookout walk through forest and rocky granite outcrops to the lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with picturesque views across the south-eastern forests of this spectacular World Heritage-listed landscape. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wollumbin-Mount Warning.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • A couple dressed in warm clothes seated on a park bench atop a rock outcrop in a bushland setting. Photo credit: Rob Cleary © DPIE

    Granite lookout

    Granite lookout is in Washpool National Park near Granite picnic area. Take an easy stroll down Granite walking track to reach this lovely spot with views across Washpool wilderness and ancient Gondwana Rainforest.

  • A couple stands on a rocky outcrop set in the dry forests of Washpool National Park. Photo credit: Rob Cleary © DPIE

    Granite walking track

    Granite walking track is in Washpool National Park near Granite picnic area. It’s an easy stroll that rewards you with stunning views from Granite lookout.

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/granite-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

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

Getting there and parking

Washpool National Park is located off the Gwydir Highway between Grafton and Glen Innes. To get to Granite picnic area:

  • Take the Gwydir Highway from Glen Innes or Grafton
  • Take the Coachwood Drive turnoff
  • Travel 300m along Coachwood Drive and turn left into Granite picnic area

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available in a gravel carpark at Granite picnic area.

Best times to visit

Washpool National Park offers an exceptional visit all year round. You're sure to find a walk, tour, activity or attraction to appeal, regardless of the season. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Autumn offers good weather for exploring the park during the day and is cool enough during the evenings to sit by the campfire.

Spring

Mid-spring is a fantastic time to head out on the inspiring World Heritage walk. The temperature is perfect and the heathlands, swamps and woodlands erupt in a colourful display of wildflowers including the striking Gibraltar waratah.

Summer

Enjoy the shade of the rainforest with a picnic and walk, and then cool off with a dip in Coombajdha creek's natural pool.

Winter

The coldest time of the year means that you may likely have the park to yourself – enjoy the solitude.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

14°C and 26°C

Highest recorded

39.8°C

Winter temperature

Average

2°C and 15°C

Lowest recorded

-8.9°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

April

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

254.8mm

Facilities

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Step-free access

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

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

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).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

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

The toilets are set along a gravel pathway, but they're not accessible or ambulant. There is no wheelchair access to nearby Granite lookout

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

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

An important legacy

Forest stream on Washpool walk, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Washpool National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, which includes forty parks and reserves stretching along the Great Escarpment from Barrington Tops in NSW to south east Queensland. The area has a long history of selective logging, dating back to the 1800s when the valuable red cedar trees drew timber cutters with bullocks, axes and crosscut saws. With the development of machinery, the increasing pressure to exploit these forests met strong protest action from conservation groups. Ultimately, the park was created in 1983 after a study found the area contained significant plant and animal populations that either weren't found anywhere else in the state or were not well protected in reserves.

Cultural connections

Mann River, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

The Bundjalung, Ngarrabul and Gumbaingirri people have a long connection with the lands here; the area was once used as a route between the coast and the tablelands, and as a place to gather a range of resources, such as rainforest fruits.

Rare residents

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Photo: Taronga Zoo

A huge range of threatened and endangered species enjoy the sanctuary of Washpool's diverse habitats. It's a refuge for mammals including koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, parma wallabies and long-nosed potoroos. Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Park are also brimming with birdlife. Look out for the rare rufous scrub bird in the rainforest undergrowth and, if you're extra vigilant, the even rarer powerful owl, which inhabits the hollows of trees in tall open forest. One of the most intriguing of the Washpool's residents is the pouched frog, a rainforest-dependent species whose male rears young tadpoles in pouches on his flanks.

  • Coombadjha nature stroll Coombadjha nature stroll in Washpool National Park is a short yet inspiring walk through World Heritage listed rainforest, with a delightful swimming spot at the end.
  • Washpool walking track Revel in the timeless wonder of ancient Gondwana Rainforest along Washpool walking track, and enjoy rare birdwatching and wildlife, in Washpool National Park, near Glen Innes.

Walker's wonderland

Coombadjha campground, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Lush rainforest, tinkling streams, dramatic gorges and an impressive plateau environment at just over the edge of the Great Escarpment make Washpool a singularly spectacular walking destination. Stretch your legs on an expansive network of graded walking tracks, including the popular World Heritage walk (which links Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks) and part of National trail. Nature strolls and the half-day Washpool walk commence from the creekside Coombadjha campground and take you on a meander through the lost world of the surrounding rainforest.

  • Coachwood picnic area Enjoy a picnic surrounded by rainforest at Coachwood picnic area in Washpool National Park. It’s also the starting point for the Coombadjha nature stroll, a short walk.
  • Granite picnic area Enjoy a picnic at Granite picnic area in Washpool National Park. Stretch your legs on an easy walk to Granite lookout for views over the World Heritage-listed landscape.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

    The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

  • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

    Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

  •  Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

    Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

    With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

  • Southern boobook. Photo: David Cook

    Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

    The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.

Plants

  •  Black sheoak. Photo: Barry Collier

    Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)

    The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)