Cottan-Bimbang National Park

Cottan-Bimbang National Park (occasionally Cottan-bimbang National Park) is a small national park on the border of the Mid-North Coast and Southern New England regions of New South Wales. The national park isn't incredibly popular by any means, other than providing a short stopover for travellers on the Oxley Highway either up or down the giant ascent/descent of the Great Dividing Range.

Unlike most highways that pass through small national parks, this park is different due to the sheer length of the windy pass down the Oxley Highway – nowhere else in Australia can you find a 44-kilometre-long mountain pass which truly feels endless as it takes over an hour to traverse.

Understand

History

The park was established in 1999.

Visitor information

• NSW Parks and Wildlife Service website

Get in

The core of the national park is only accessible via car. There are coaches use Oxley Highway (B56), but do not stop anywhere along the park and even if they did stop, it wouldn't be of much use since the highlight of the park requires a car (it's a scenic drive). Nonetheless, the scenery of the park can still be enjoyed if you book a good seat on the coach (namely the 371/373 or 372/374).

Irregardless of whichever side you come from, you will need to embrace very windy roads. From Walcha, head 64 km east to the park then follow signage to the scenic drive. The main highway also passes through the national park and has very similar scenery, so if you aren't super comfortable with driving on unpaved roads, you don't exactly miss out on much. From Port Macquarie, head 109 km west (or 100 km from the freeway exit at Wauchope) also on the Oxley Highway and then follow signage to the scenic drive.

Although both sides of the road are windy, the side from Walcha is in a far better condition than from Wauchope, with the Walcha side having a 110 km/h speed limit.

Fees and permits

The park is free to enter and it is always open except during times of bad weather. Check the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service website before visiting.

Get around

The only connecting piece of infrastructure is the Oxley Highway that cuts right between the park. NSW Trainlink coaches do not stop in the park, meaning if you want to actually get out an explore the park, you will need a car. However, if you just want to observe the scenery and lack a car, the coach does just fine.

See

• 1 Stockyard Creek Rest Area, cnr Oxley Hwy and Stockyard Creek Road. Although it is a rest area, its location near the edge of a 180° bend has resulted in it becoming an unofficial lookout somewhat popular with photographers. Other facilities here include a public toilet (the only one anywhere in the vicinity) and a barbecue area. (updated Sep 2024)

Do

Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive

The primary highlight of this park is Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive (marked on the map with a black outline), a 14-kilometre alternative road to the Oxley Highway. Although it is possible to see the scenery from the Oxley Highway, this road allows you to get in much deeper into the wet rainforest. It is not sealed, but it is still relatively easy to drive on (takes roughly 30 minutes, assuming you hover at 30 km/h). Avoid this road if it is raining or if the visibility is poor.

If you happen to go at the right time during mating season, the scene of lyrebirds may surprise you.

Buy

Goes without saying that a park that lacks most facilities also lacks shops.

Eat and drink

You must bring your own supplies to the park.

There is an eatery along the highway, but it is not inside the park.

• 1 Gingers Creek Bush Resort, 10789 Oxley Hwy, Mount Seaview, ☏ +61 2 6777 7511. W–M 8AM–5PM. A bush resort and coffee shop. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

Lodging

Gingers Creek Bush Resort offers some basic accommodation but it isn't large or well-established by any means – you're much better off staying in Walcha or Wauchope but the need fot this is not generally very high given what's to see mostly lies on the highway.

Camping

• 1 Maxwells Flat campground, Causeway Rd, Bulga Forest, ☏ 1300 072 757 (domestic). The park's sole singular campground in the southeast corner of the park. The main appeal to it is its sheer isolation as it's far away from pretty much anywhere. $6 (flat fee). (updated Sep 2024)

Backcountry

Backcountry camping is generally forbidden in NSW and Cottan-Bimbang is no exception.

Stay safe

If you're going out onto the trails, general advice that applies to almost anywhere else in NSW applies. However, there aren't many trails in the park to begin with, eliminating much of that risk.

During rain, the highway can get very foggy and visibility is poor. Take extra precaution and if you're in a motorbike, please don't use the opposite lane to overtake drivers.

Go next

Routes via Cottan-Bimbang National Park

Coonabarabran ← Apsley Falls ←

W B56 E

→ Wauchope → Port Macquarie

Your only practical options are to continue onto either side of the Oxley Highway, either toward Wauchope or towards Walcha. There is a side gravel road to Manning Valley but this is slow and inefficient – it's much faster to travel to this region via Wauchope.