national park in Australia
Oceania > Australia > New South Wales > Mid-North Coast > Cottan-Bimbang National Park

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

Understand

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History

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The park was established in 1999.

Landscape

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Flora and fauna

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Climate

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Visitor information

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Get in

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Map
Map of Cottan-Bimbang National Park

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).

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

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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

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  • 1 Stockyard Creek Rest Area, cnr Oxley Hwy and Stockyard Creek Road. Although it is technically 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.

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, though.

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

Eat and drink

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You must bring your own supplies to the park.

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

Sleep

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Lodging

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Camping

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  • 1 Maxwells Flat campground, Causeway Rd, Bulga Forest, 1300 072 757 (domestic). $6 (flat fee).

Backcountry

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Stay safe

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Go next

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Routes via Cottan-Bimbang National Park
Coonabarabran Walcha W B56 E  Wauchope Port Macquarie



This park travel guide to Cottan-Bimbang National Park is a usable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.