Brindabella National Park

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Overview

For a day trip or weekend break from Canberra, you can’t miss Brindabella National Park, with spectacular views, 4WD trails, walking, and fishing.

Read more about Brindabella National Park

Just a short drive from Canberra, Brindabella National Park offers a remote alpine bush experience, a great day trip or weekend escape for the whole family.

With an extensive network of challenging 4WD trails, the park is an excellent location for registered 4WD touring and trail bikes and even has some mountain bike riding opportunities. Your journey will take you through unique mountainous terrain covered with red stringybark and scribbly gums, and across ridgelines with scenic views of the entire Brindabella range.

Breathe in the fresh mountain air and take in the spectacular views from many of the trails. On a clear day, you can see Canberra in the distance and across the Australian Alps to the south.

Visit the historic site at McIntyres Hut. Then take a moment to stop at the picturesque Flea Creek campground and picnic area, great for picnicking, fishing and camping.

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/visit-a-park/parks/brindabella-national-park/local-alerts

Contact

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Brindabella National Park.

Map


Map


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Map legend

Getting there and parking

Get driving directions

Get directions

    From Canberra:

    • Travel west along Uriarra Road to Brindabella Road
    • The dirt road starts along Brindabella Road, which takes you to the southern edge of Brindabella National Park.

    There is no public access to the eastern side of the park from Mountain Creek Road. Doctors Flat Road is a private road, and is locked between Mountain Creek Road and Maginot trail.

    Road quality

    Access to McIntyres Hut, Lowell's Flat and Flea Creek campgrounds not recommended for camper trailers as the trails are very steep.

    • Unsealed roads

    Vehicle access

    • All roads require 4WD vehicle

    Weather restrictions

    • Dry weather only

    By bike

    Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.

    By public transport

    Brindabella National Park is not accessible by public transport.

    Best times to visit

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

    Spring

    Enjoy the milder weather and take in the spectacular views and spring wildflowers as you explore the park on one of the many 4WD trails.

    Summer

    Perfect for a camping weekend on the banks of the Goodradigbee River. Relax under the shade of a river she-oak and see if you can spot a wallaby or kangaroo feeding on the river flats.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    11°C and 29°C

    Highest recorded

    42.5°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    0°C and 12°C

    Lowest recorded

    -10°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    August

    Driest month

    April

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    200mm

    Facilities

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    However you discover NSW national parks and reserves, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Our park and reserve systems contrast greatly so you need to be aware of the risks and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

    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).

    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

    Canberra (53 km)

    Canberra is the home of Australia's Parliament House, National Gallery, National Museum and War Memorial, as well as many more significant cultural and architectural offerings. Kids of all ages love the interactive science and technology at Questacon.

    www.visitnsw.com

    Yass (57 km)

    This historic country town is the home of explorer Hamilton Hume. Discover heritage treasures along the town's Historic Walk and Drive; you can even follow in the footsteps of explorers on the Hume and Hovell Walking Track.

    www.visitnsw.com

    Murrumbateman (74 km)

    Follow the Poacher's Way, a self-drive route that passes through rural townships and tranquil grazing land. Stop along the way to enjoy the region's best cafes, wineries, art galleries and welcoming B&Bs.

    www.visitnsw.com

    Learn more

    Brindabella National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

    Wildlife wonders

    Looking across the mountain range in Brindabella National Park. Photo: OEH

    Brindabella's unique alpine and sub-alpine environment is home to many native animals, including threatened mammals like the spotted-tailed quoll or the yellow-bellied glider. With over 80 different species of birds seen in the park, it's also a birdwatchers haven. Look out for the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and peregrine falcon flying overhead, and have your binoculars handy to spot threatened species like the powerful owl, pink robin and olive whistler.

    • Flea Creek picnic area Pack a picnic and spend the day relaxing by the Goodradigbee River at Flea Creek picnic area. Enjoy a spot of birdwatching, fishing and swimming.

    The alpine huts of Brindabella

    McIntyres Hut, Brindabella National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer

    Brindabella includes several remains of the network of alpine huts that were once scattered throughout the Australian Alps. Visit Hume Sawmill in the north or head west to see McIntyres Hut on the Goodradigbee River. The original hut was built by Les McIntyre in 1948 as a fishing hut, but was burnt down in the late 1990s and was rebuilt by a group of keen 4WDers.

    Lands of the Ngunawal, Wolgalu and Wiradjuri peoples

    McIntyres campground, Brindabella National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer

    Brindabella National Park lies within the tribal boundaries of the Ngunawal, Wolgalu and Wiradjuri people. To this day, the area has a spiritual significance to Aboriginal people. Mount Coree, which stands tall on the western side of the park, is named after the Aboriginal word for moth. Before European settlement, the area was a hunting ground for bogong moths.

    Adventure abounds

    Fishing at Flea Creek, Brindabella National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer

    Brindabella offers a network of alpine trails just waiting to be explored by 4WD or trail bike. There are also several options for bushwalkers to explore the park, and even the opportunity to go horse riding on tracks from Doctors Flat Road northwards. Stay overnight at one of the remote campgrounds, or visit for the day and enjoy a leisurely picnic on the banks of the Goodradigbee River.

    • Flea Creek picnic area Pack a picnic and spend the day relaxing by the Goodradigbee River at Flea Creek picnic area. Enjoy a spot of birdwatching, fishing and swimming.

    Education resources (1)

    What we're doing

    Brindabella National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.