Boonoo Boonoo National Park
Overview
Only 35km from Tenterfield, Boonoo Boonoo National Park has a stunning waterfall, secluded swimming holes, hiking tracks, camping areas, accommodation and picnic spots.
Read more about Boonoo Boonoo National Park
After Banjo Patterson proposed to his sweetheart, Alice Walker, at Boonoo Boonoo Falls lookout, there was movement at Tenterfield cattle station. Word had passed around that the station owner’s daughter had got away. Presumably she loved the guy, but it’s possible that his charming choice of setting in which to pop the question might have helped sway her answer. Alice didn’t have a chance and she and Banjo married in 1903.
Today, Boonoo Boonoo (pronounced bunna-bunoo) is still the ultimate romantic setting, especially after heavy rain. From the lookout is an uninterrupted view of Boonoo Boonoo River cascading over the granite cliff edge to become a spectacular waterfall that plunges 210m into the gorge below. Nearby, you’ll find walking tracks and shady places to picnic. Secluded rock pools along the river, lined by wildflower-filled bushland, are the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Animals including the endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby, vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll, platypuses, kangaroos and wallabies can be spotted at dawn and dusk, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. There are heaps of birds to see too, including waterbirds and the glossy black-cockatoo.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/boonoo-boonoo-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Country NSW region
Boonoo Boonoo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change.
Buy annual pass. -
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Glen Innes office
02 6739 0700
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - 68 Church Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370
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Email: npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Glen Innes office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Boonoo Boonoo National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Tenterfield:
- Turn right onto Naas Street at the northern end of Rouse Street, then turn left onto Logan Street.
- Drive for 21km down sealed Mount Lindesay Road, passing Basket Swamp National Park.
- Turn right onto sealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road, and drive for 5 km to the park entrance.
- Continue along unsealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road for 9 km to Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area where you can park.
From Stanthorpe:
- From High Street, turn right on Amosfield Road, then take a slight right towards Tenterfield along sealed Mount Lindesay Road.
- Crossing Mursons and Jenner Creeks, continue past Bald Rock National Park.
- Turn left onto sealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road, and drive for 5 km to the park entrance.
- Continue along unsealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road for 9 km to Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area where you can park.
Parking
- Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area See on map
- River walk See on map
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Boonoo Boonoo Falls can become inaccessible during heavy rain.
- Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking, including accessible parking, is available at Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area. Bus parking is also available just south of Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Boonoo Boonoo National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
This is the season for wildflowers. The mild weather at this time of year is also particularly good for camping.
Summer
The water in the large secluded rockpools along Boonoo Boonoo River will give sweet relief from the summer heat.
Winter
Temperatures can plunge overnight and mornings are often frosty, so be well-prepared if you're camping. Winter days are often sunny, cloudless and warm enough to enjoy a picnic or a long hike.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
14°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
2°C and 14°C
Lowest recorded
-10°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
228.6mm
Facilities
- There is no drinking water available, so please bring your own.
- There are no rubbish bins, so take all your rubbish away with you.
Toilets
Picnic tables Show more
- Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area
- Cypress Pine campground
- Morgans Gully picnic area
- Robinsons Cabin
- Rockpool Ramble walk
- Rockpools View walk
Barbecue facilities
Drinking water
Drinking water is not available, so it's a good idea to bring your own.
Showers
Electric power
Maps and downloads
Fees and passes
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change.
- All Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (including Kosciuszko NP) $190 (1 year) / $335 (2 years)
- Multi Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (except Kosciuszko) $65 (1 year) / $115 (2 years)
- Country Parks Pass - For all parks in Country NSW (except Kosciuszko) $45 (1 year) / $75 (2 years)
- Single Country Park Pass - For entry to a single park in country NSW (except Kosciuszko). $22 (1 year) / $40 (2 years)
Annual passes and entry fees (https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/passes-and-fees)
Accessibility
- Boonoo Boonoo picnic area has an accessible parking space and picnic table. It also has a toilet accessible for people with reduced mobility but not people in wheelchairs.
- Rockpools View walk is fully accessible.
Permitted
- Swimming in Boonoo Boonoo River is permitted but make sure to check for underwater hazards before going in the water.
- Be careful when clambering over rocks as they can be slippery, especially after rain and when there are high water levels.
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.
Nearby towns
Tenterfield (27 km)
Sir Henry Parkes delivered his famous "birth of our nation" speech in the Tenterfield School of Arts in 1889. His rousing speech is credited with being the decisive moment that set the country on its path toward Federation in 1901.
Glen Innes (119 km)
Set in the most prolific sapphire region of Country NSW, Glen Innes hosts the annual Minerama Fossicking and Gem Show and the annual Australian Celtic Festival, and is home to the Australian Standing Stones.
Casino (154 km)
Casino is a thriving rural centre in the heart of rich agricultural country. It's set in lush pastures on the banks of the Richmond River.
Learn more
Boonoo Boonoo National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Have you seen the wildlife?
Boonoo Boonoo takes its name from the Jukambal language and means ‘big rock’. Known for its stunning waterfalls, secluded waterholes and many walking trails, this national park is home to many plants and animals including kangaroos, endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies and vulnerable spotted-tailed quolls which you may see throughout the park in the early morning and late afternoon. You may also be lucky enough to spot platypuses frolicking in Boonoo Boonoo River.
- Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area is not only a great place to eat and rest, it teems with wildlife and wildflowers and is close to walking tracks, lookouts and Boonoo Boonoo Falls.
- Falls Lookout walk For views of magnificent Boonoo Boonoo Falls, why not wander along Falls Lookout walk, only 35km from Tenterfield.
- Morgans Gully picnic area Visit Morgans Gully for a relaxing picnic, and investigate gold mining historic heritage surrounded by wildflowers and embellished with a waterfall and geological formations.
- River walk River walk offers excellent scenery, wildlife watching, swimming and picnicking. It connects Morgans Gully picnic area, Cypress Pine campground and Platypus Hole picnic area with Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area.
- Rockpool Ramble walk Rockpool Ramble walk is in Boonoo Boonoo National Park, near Tenterfield. It’s a great way to see Boonoo Boonoo River and its lovely rockpools.
Gold fever
Morgans Gully and Ropers Gully are two sites in the park where alluvial gold was discovered in the late nineteenth century. As a result, there was a huge influx of European and Asian prospectors to the area. As well as giving the nearby town of Tenterfield a massive economic boost, the village of Boonoo Boonoo temporarily flourished, though it is now in ruins.
Though nature has reclaimed these gullies too, imagine what the areas might have looked, sounded and smelt like when they were teeming with men from here and all over the world, half-crazy with gold fever.
Fabulous falls
The park's jewel is Boonoo Boonoo Falls. If you'd like to see what this feature is really made of, visit during the wetter months of summer. Even if the falls aren't pumping, though, they're still beautiful and there will always be rockpools along Boonoo Boonoo River to swim in, walking tracks to follow and riverside picnics to indulge in.
Environments in this park
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Boonoo Boonoo National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.