Coombadjha nature stroll

Washpool National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

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.

Accessibility
Medium
Distance
1.4km loop
Time suggested
30min - 1hr
Grade
Grade 2
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply

Whether you’re picnicking, camping or just passing by, the Coombadjha nature stroll is a Washpool National Park must-do.

From Coachwood Picnic Area, the 400m bitumen track takes you through World Heritage listed Rainforest to a viewing platform on the pretty Coombadjha Creek. Return the same way or continuing along the loop walk on a delightful journey along the banks of the pretty Coombadjha creek and through a variety of forest types.

You’ll find track posts along the easy walk offering insights on the flora and fauna of this special place. The creek viewing platform is a great spot to pause and refresh, while the fern-fringed, shallow Coachwood pool below is an inviting opportunity to cool off with a swim.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • Washpool walking track, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary © OEH

    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.

  • Coachwood picnic area, Washpool National Park. Photo © Rob Cleary

    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.

  • Coombadjha campground, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/DPIE

    Coombadjha campground

    Coombadjha campground offers tent-based camping by a pretty rainforest creek and is the starting point for two of Washpool National Park’s most popular walks.

  • Wooden viewing platform above the calm waters of Coachwood Pool, in Washpool National Park. Photo credit: Leah Pippos © DPIE

    Coachwood Pool lookout

    Coachwood Pool lookout is in Washpool National Park along Coombadjha nature stroll. It’s a peaceful forest place to relax and do some birdwatching.

Map


Map


Map legend

Map legend

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/walking-tracks/coombadjha-nature-stroll/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Coombadjha nature stroll.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

1.4km loop

Time

30min - 1hr

Quality of markings

Clearly sign posted

Experience required

No experience required

Gradient

Flat

Quality of path

Formed track: The walk is 1.2m-wide and bitumen until it reaches Coachwood Pool lookout, which is a wood boardwalk lookout platform.

After leaving the lookout, the track surface is rocky hard-packed ground.

Steps

Occasional steps:

  • There are 3 small steps on the walk from Coachwood picnic area to Coachwood Pool lookout 
  • At the lookout there are steps down onto the viewing platform and down into the creek for swimming.  
  • Once you've passed the lookout, there are many steps to the end of the walk.

Accessible options

The first 400m of the walk from Coachwood picnic area to the lookout platform is a flat, bitumen track. It has 3 small steps where assistance may be required.

Getting there and parking

Washpool National Park is located off the Gwydir Highway between Grafton and Glen Innes. To get to the Coombadjha nature stroll, take the Gwydir Highway from Glen Innes or Grafton. Take the Coachwood Drive turn off and follow to Coachwood picnic area. The Coombadjha nature stroll starts in the picnic area

Parking

Parking is available in a gravel carpark at Coachwood picnic area where this walk begins.

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

Seats and resting points

There's a bench seat with the backrest midway along the walk at Coachwood Pool lookout.

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

The first 400m of this walk goes from the picnic area to Coachwood Pool lookout and is suitable for wheelchair users, prams, and people with reduced mobility:

  • The track is 1.2m-wide and flat bitumen
  • There are 3 small steps along this part of the walk where assistance may be required
  • There are also some steps down onto the viewing platform and into the creek for swimming.

After leaving the lookout, the walk becomes more challenging:

  • The track surface changes to rocky, hard-packed ground.
  • There are many steps

There are toilets at Coachwood Pool picnic area where this walk begins, but they're not accessible or ambulant.

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

Coombadjha nature stroll 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)