Murray Scrub lookout
Toonumbar National Park
Overview
For easily-accessible scenic views of World Heritage-listed landscape in the Northern Rivers, the Murray Scrub lookout is not to be missed.
- Type
- Lookouts
- Where
- Toonumbar National Park in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Easy
- What to
bring - Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
- Please note
- Check the weather before you set out as the road to Murray Scrub lookout can become boggy when it rains.
- There is limited/no mobile reception in this park.
Pack a picnic, camera and binoculars for a visit to the Murray Scrub lookout; a magnificent place to take in amazing views over the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage areas. You’ll get picture perfect panoramas of Murray Scrub, Glassy Mountain and Dome Mountain, the remains of the 23-million-year-old Focal Peak shield volcano.
A visit to the lookout is a feast for all the senses. Fragrant cool clean air rises with the call of the rainforest pigeons echoing up from the rainforest valley below. You’re also likely to enjoy spectacular flashes of red and green as Australian king parrots flitter in the trees around you.
In spring, the rainforest itself is a canvas full of colour, and in cooler months, rising mists turn the scenery into a serene dreamscape.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/murray-scrub-lookout/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Toonumbar National Park in the North Coast region
Toonumbar National Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Murray Scrub lookout.
Getting there and parking
Murray Scrub lookout is in Toonumbar National Park. To get there from Kyogle:
- Leave the Summerland Way and travel west via Kyogle and Murray Scrub Road (approximately 35km). Where Toonumbar Forest Drive meets Murray Scrub Road, follow Toonumbar Forest Drive for approximately 8km.
- To reach the northern end of the park, take Coxs Road, which leaves the Summerland Way about 8km west of Grevillea to join Toonumbar Forest Drive.
- Follow Toonumbar Forest Drive from the park entrance for approximately 9km
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available in a small, hard-packed ground carpark at the lookout.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Toonumbar National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Take a spectacular scenic drive through the rainforest on Toonumbar Forest Drive Picnic at Sherwood lookout and soak up the spectacular views to Mount Lindesay and the McPherson Range .
Spring
Witness the burst of colour of new red leaf tips on giant red cedars from the soaring vantage point of the Murray Scrub lookout. Or gaze up at the glowing canopy from down below on the Murray Scrub walking track.
Summer
Camp at Iron Pot campground where you can drink from and swim in the pristine waters of Iron Pot Creek. On a hot summer day, enjoy a walk through the cool, shady rainforest at Murray Scrub walking track. .
Winter
Watch mist rise from the rainforest valleys below from Murray Scrub lookout.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
15°C and 30°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
210mm
Facilities
Step-free access
The lookout area is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. From the carpark, you'll need to cross over hard-packed ground to reach the timber lookout platform.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
Murray Scrub lookout is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. From the carpark, you'll need to cross over hard-packed ground to reach the lookout platform.
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park.
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.
Learn more
Murray Scrub lookout is in Toonumbar National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Living Aboriginal history
Immerse yourself in Toonumbar National Park’s rich Aboriginal history. The park is part of the historic Githabul Nation native title claim. The area is traditional country of the Githabul People and almost wherever you look from the Murray Scrub and Sherwood lookout, these places are of deep, ongoing cultural significance. The forests and landscapes of the park are as physically rich as they are culturally; food, medicine, tools, weapons and shelter were derived from the land for thousands of years.
Nature’s own twitter
At any time, the peaceful rainforest can erupt in an incredible chorus of song – rare bird species such as sooty owls, white-eared monarchs and the Wompoo fruit-dove, all enjoy tweeting along to their favourite tune. The performance is not only great for birdwatchers to get a closer look at the wonderful birdlife, but also a soothing experience for all nature-lovers. Just don’t forget your binoculars.
- Murray Scrub walking track Murray Scrub walking track is an easy and beautiful walk through shaded rainforest, accessible from Kyogle in Northern NSW.
- Sherwood lookout Pack a picnic and spend some time at Sherwood lookout at Toonumbar National Park, Sherwood Ranges, with scenic views of an old volcano.
Rocks of ages
Twenty-three million years ago, Toonumbar National Park was alive with volcanic activity. Now, the dormant, eroded volcano is the bedrock of a landscape that’s one of the most spectacular parks in New South Wales. The peaks of Dome Mountain (915m), Glassy Mountain (920m) and Edinburgh Castle (893m) are eroded remains from the Focal Peak shield volcano, the same one active 23 million years ago. Incredible views, extraordinary habitats and beautiful rock formations are its legacy.
- Murray Scrub lookout For easily-accessible scenic views of World Heritage-listed landscape in the Northern Rivers, the Murray Scrub lookout is not to be missed.
- Murray Scrub walking track Murray Scrub walking track is an easy and beautiful walk through shaded rainforest, accessible from Kyogle in Northern NSW.
Wild-a-rama
Camping is a great way to take advantage of one of Toonumbar National Park’s most fantastic assets – its wildlife. The diverse plant life at this park makes it an ideal place for an equally diverse range of animals. You’ll find some super rare species here, such as spot-tailed quoll and red-legged pademelon. Other interesting species you might encounter are yellow-bellied gliders, koalas, small-eyed snakes and carpet pythons.
- Murray Scrub walking track Murray Scrub walking track is an easy and beautiful walk through shaded rainforest, accessible from Kyogle in Northern NSW.
World Heritage-listed rainforest
The rainforests of Murray Scrub and Dome Mountain of Toonumbar National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. With this incredible abundance of rainforests, your senses certainly won’t be short of things to take in. Keep your camera in hand and explore the vast rainforests along hiking trails. You’ll find white booyong, Bangalow palms, birds nest and staghorn ferns and rare rainforest vines in these forests. There’s also old growth forests of tallowwood and flooded gum.
- Murray Scrub lookout For easily-accessible scenic views of World Heritage-listed landscape in the Northern Rivers, the Murray Scrub lookout is not to be missed.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti)
The Albert’s lyrebird is much rarer than the superb lyrebird. Distinguished by its richer brown plumage and less elaborate tail feathers, it’s protected as a threatened species in NSW.