Minyon Grass picnic area
Nightcap National Park
Overview
Minyon Grass picnic area, at the base of Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park, near Lismore, is a beautiful place for lunch, offering a range of rainforest walks.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Nightcap National Park in North Coast
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- The weather in the area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go bird watching
On the eastern edge of Nightcap National Park, near Lismore, Minyon Grass picnic area has beautiful views of the cascading falls and the surrounding forest. It’s a little quieter than popular Minyon Falls lookout, making it ideal for wildlife and birdwatching enthusiasts.
Relax at the picnic tables, and enjoy a leisurely lunch on the edge of the rainforest. Look skywards for soaring peregrine falcons, or to the forest floor for brush turkeys and Albert’s lyrebird. Male Albert's lyrebirds have long, ribbon-like tail plumes. You might even hear the call of the threatened Fleay’s barred frog.
If you feel like a walk, head along Minyon Falls walking track and enjoy the invigorating waterfalls close up. The pools at the base of Minyon Falls are a great spot for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day.
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/picnic-areas/minyon-grass-picnic-area/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 Nightcap National Park in the North Coast region
Nightcap National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather, fire danger or management operations.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about the Minyon Grass picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Minyon Grass picnic area is in the eastern precinct of Nightcap National Park. To get there:
From Bangalow
- Follow Bangalow–Lismore Road to Clunes. Turn right onto James Gibson Road, right onto Mackie Road, and then right onto Rosebank Road.
- Drive through Rosebank village and follow Repentance Creek Road, turn left onto Upper Coopers Creek Road, and then left onto Minyon Falls Road.
- Continue on this road until you reach the park entrance and Minyon Grass picnic area is on the left.
From Lismore
- Head north on Dunoon Road through the villages of Modanville, Dunoon and Doroughby.
- Just past Dorroughby Hall, turn left onto Nightcap Range Road and follow through to Whian Whian State Conservation Area entrance.
- Continue until you reach the Peates Mountain Road intersection, where you’ll pass Minyon Falls picnic area. Minyon Grass picnic area is a further 1.7km.
From the north
- Turn right onto Coolamon Scenic Drive, off Pacific Highway. At the village of Federal, continue north along Federal Road then turn left onto Repentance Creek Road.
- After Coopers Creek crossing, turn right onto Upper Coopers Creek Road then left onto Minyon Falls Road.
- Continue on this road until you reach the national park entrance. Minyon Grass picnic area is at the top of the hill on the left.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Minyon Grass picnic area can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Minyon Grass picnic area. It can be a busy place on the weekend, so parking might be limited.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Nightcap National Park. Here are some of the highlights: Weather in the northern rivers region is generally mild in winter ranging to hot in summer. It can be very wet (the park receives the highest annual rainfall in NSW) and misty so check local weather conditions and pack suitable clothes as well as a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
40°C
Winter temperature
Average
6°C and 19°C
Lowest recorded
-0.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
350mm
Facilities
Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Amenities
Picnic tables
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
- Assistance may be required to access this area
- The picnic tables and toilets are wheelchair-accessible
Prohibited
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
Minyon Grass picnic area is in Nightcap National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal heritage
Nightcap National Park is the traditional land of the Bundjalung People, in particular the Widjabul People who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. The park contains many ancient sites of cultural significance, including ceremonial and sacred sites that are still used by local Aboriginal people today. The creeks, plants, animals and landscape of the park feature in the stories, teachings and practices of Aboriginal people that continue to be passed on today.
Ancient rainforest
Nightcap National Park's rainforests are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the largest area of subtropical rainforest in the world. They are a living link to the environment of ancient Australia and give us insight into the environment of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana.
This lush and diverse conservation area protects a number of vulnerable and threatened species such as the rufous scrub bird, red goshawk, sooty and masked owls and regent bowerbirds. It is also home to the recently discovered nightcap oak, which can grow up to 40m high.
Ground-breaking protests at Terania Creek in the late 1970's paved the way for the park's creation and international recognition as a Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage site in 1986.
- Minyon Falls guided rainforest tour Journey through ancient rainforest to Minyon Falls on a 5-hour tour with Wild Byron. You’ll see the stunning creeks, waterfalls and wildlife of Nightcap National Park.
- Minyon Falls walking tours Join Earthbound Tours for a guided walk to Minyon Falls, located in Nightcap National Park, near Byron Bay. You'll walk through ancient rainforest for an up-close look at these spectacular falls.
- Protesters Falls walking track Protesters Falls walking track leads through superb World Heritage rainforest before arriving at spectacular waterfalls in Nightcap National Park, near Lismore.
- Terania Creek picnic area Terania Creek picnic area is a great place for a family picnic or barbecue. Close to the carpark, walking tracks and waterfalls, its home to birds and goannas.
Frogs galore
The rainforest creeks in Nightcap National Park are home to a number of threatened frogs, including Fleay's barred frog and the pouched frog. You might see Fleay's barred frogs hiding under leaf litter near streams or foraging for food on the rainforest floor, but you're more likely to hear their chorus, a distinctive 'arrrrrrk'. This rare frog feeds mainly on insects and invertebrates, so crickets, moths and beetles make a good meal. Keep your eyes open for this pale brown frog around Terania creek at the base of Protesters Falls.
- Byron glow worms and hinterland forest experience Discover Byron Bay’s spiritual side and see glow worms and enchanting forest sights on this guided outing with Rise Up – Byron Conscious Tours. You'll delight your senses and relax your mind as you explore the wilderness in and around Nightcap National Park.
- Goorgana walking track Goorgana walking track is ideal for experienced bushwalkers keen to tackle the challenging iconic peaks in Nightcap National Park.
- Minyon Falls guided rainforest tour Journey through ancient rainforest to Minyon Falls on a 5-hour tour with Wild Byron. You’ll see the stunning creeks, waterfalls and wildlife of Nightcap National Park.
- Night vision rainforest walks in Byron Bay Discover elusive native animals at night as you strap on a pair of special goggles and venture out for a thrilling rainforest tour beneath the stars with the friendly guides of Vision Walks Eco Tours.
- Terania Creek picnic area Terania Creek picnic area is a great place for a family picnic or barbecue. Close to the carpark, walking tracks and waterfalls, its home to birds and goannas.
History buffs
Nightcap National Park contains a number of sites of historical interest, including a flying fox on the Googarna track. The flying fox was used to lower logs 500m down to the Kunghur mill during the 1940s and 1950s. The historic Nightcap track provided the first bridle track and telegraph line between the Richmond and Tweed valleys in the 1870s, and today you can explore this track on foot, camping overnight in the bush.
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.
-
Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.
-
Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
-
Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
-
Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.
Plants
-
Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.
-
Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.