SE Forest National Park

SE Forest National Park is a national park in the Sapphire Coast region of southeastern New South Wales. It sits in between the Snowy Mountains and the Sapphire Coast, providing a unique blend of coastal and temperate wet rainforests from the Gondwana era.

At 1,151.77 km² (444.70 sq mi), it is easily one of the larger national parks in the state. It is home to one of the last patches of continuous wilderness today.

Understand

Visitor information

The park has two offices – one in Bombala and one in Meribula. They have different opening hours, though.

• 1 Bombala Office, 153 Maybe St, Bombala, ☏ +61 2 6458 5900, npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au. M–F 8:30AM–4PM. (updated Nov 2023)
• 2 Merimbula Office, 47 Merimbula Dr, Merimbula, ☏ +61 2 6495 5000, npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au. M–F and some weekends 10AM–3PM. (updated Nov 2023)

Get in

Sign denoting the park's entrance

The park is huge – and there exactly isn't one entrance to the park, but rather smaller roads leading into various different parts of the park. Unlike nearby Kosciuszko or Beowa National Parks, the roads to SE Forest National Park are poorly-maintained gravel roads (except Snowy Mountains Highway passing through), some of which can become impassable after rain. It also means that you will need a car to visit the park.

There are two main ways of entering the park: from the Snowy Mountains via Bombala or Cooma, and from the Sapphire Coast via Bega and Merimbula. The park is large, so there isn't one exact "preferred" entry into the park.

From the Merimbula area, your route depends on where you want to go since the park is dispersed patches of forest. Most commonly, you'd be using Mount Darragh Road west, especially if you're travelling to the central areas of the park, including Goodenia Rainforest. However, for some of the more northerly points of interests, such as the Fred Piper Memorial Lookout, you would use the Snowy Mountains Highway (B72). Unfortunately, the points of interest are far too dispersed to give a generalised overview of how to get in. The same applies if you're coming from Bombala: but instead of Mt Darragh Rd, it's Cathcart Rd.

Fees and permits

The national park is free to visit; this includes all parking spaces. The only fees that apply are camping fees, which as of 2024 are $6 per night.

See

• 1 Myanba Gorge lookout, Myanba Rd. It isn't one, but three lookouts, including a boardwalk. It's a 900-m walk from the nearest carpark, and is doable for most people. Be warned that access may be restricted during heavy rain or snowfall. (updated Nov 2023)
• 2 Myrtle Mountain lookout, Myrtle Mountain Lookout Rd. You see mountains in the distance, but what you'd really be here for is the parks' lush fern forest. There is also a picnic area next to the lookouts, and lyrebirds frequent the area. (updated Nov 2023)
• 3 Pipers lookout (Fred Piper Memorial Lookout), Snowy Mountains Hwy (B72), Bemboka (no exact address – enter Pipers lookout or Fred Piper Memorial Lookout onto your preferred GPS application). 24/7. A roadside lookout (which makes it one of the more easily accessible lookouts) with great views over the escarpment and valley the lookout sits on. It's right next to a short 500-m boardwalk leading you toward two other lookouts with lush ferns. The road is also perfect to photograph the highway mixing in with the dark green landscape. (updated Nov 2023)

Do

• Nunnock Swamp and Grasslands walking tracks
• Goodenia Rainforest walking track
• Pheasants Peak walking track

Buy, eat and drink

There are no shops in the park – all supplies will need to be brought with you. This includes water.

The only designated picnic area is 3 Waalimma picnic area on Waalimma Rd in Nungatta, but there are also some picnic benches at some of the lookouts.

Sleep

Camping

• 1 Alexanders Hut campground, Nunnock Wilkinsons Track, Tantawangalo. Although it is a spacious marked campground, it only has room for 1 campsite (thus not suitable for group bookings). It is close to the 4-km trail around Nunnock Swamp. (updated Apr 2024)
• 2 Nunnock campground, Nunnock Cape Rd/Keys Walking Track, Coolumbooka. (updated Nov 2023)
• 3 Postmans campground, Postmans Track, Tantawangalo. (updated Nov 2023)
• 4 Six Mile Creek campground, 2859 Tantawangalo Mountain Rd, Tantawangalo, ☏ +61 2 6458 5900. (updated Nov 2023)
• 5 Waratah Gully campground, Wog Way, Paddys Flat. (updated Nov 2023)

Go next

• Kosciuszko National Park – the largest national park in the state, directly accessible via the Snowy Mountains Highway.
• Beowa National Park is a nearby coastal national park and is much more popular than SE Forest for good reason.