Myrtle Scrub scenic drive

Where

Cottan-Bimbang National Park in North Coast, Country NSW

Distance

14km one-way

Time suggested

30min

Grade

Easy

What to
bring

Hat, sunscreen

Please note

• There is limited mobile reception in this park
• Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch

Because Cottan-Bimbang overlays Oxley Highway, it’s possible to get a sense of it without leaving the beaten path. But interested travellers and keen road-trippers will want to take advantage of an additional driving route that threads 14km through the deeper recesses of the park along an unsealed road.

Myrtle Scrub scenic drive, in the western section of Cottan-Bimbang, connects with the highway at either end and offers scenic views of old-growth wet eucalypt forest and rainforest. Take it at your own pace, watching out for lyrebirds or brush turkeys scurrying across the road. At night, you might even catch a glimpse of a bandicoot or potoroo.

Another good idea is to bring lunch and take advantage of the picnic spot next to Cells River, with its magnificent timber bridge – a relic of the former forestry management of the area. Cells State Conservation Area, in the centre of the park, is a great destination for people interested in traces of gold mining history. If you decide to go walking, be sure to plan ahead and bring a GPS.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info