Bindarri National Park
Overview
Close to Coffs Harbour, Bindarri National Park offers 4WD touring routes, mountain bike trails, walking tracks and scenic spots for picnicking, swimming and birdwatching.
Read more about Bindarri National Park
Just 20km inland from Coffs Harbour, Bindarri National Park is a beautiful natural playground just waiting to be explored.
See the headwaters of Urumbilum River drop over the Great Escarpment, carving a series of spectacular waterfalls in its rugged mountain ravine. Drive through pockets of old-growth forest, lush subtropical rainforest, and tall eucalypt forests, while catching glimpses of the coast in the distance.
Enjoy exploring by 4WD or cycling on remote mountain bike trails. Swim in the crystal clear waters of Urumbilum River or just relax in one of the scenic picnic spots. The kids will love splashing in the water, spotting frogs and looking for platypus at Bindarray picnic area.
Hidden away in the mountains, you’ll barely see another soul at Bindarri, yet you’ll see plenty of local wildlife. Listen for lyrebirds calling in the rainforest and watch for swamp wallabies and red-necked pademelons in the forest.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/bindarri-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the North Coast region
Bindarri National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
-
-
Coffs Harbour office
02 6652 0900
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - 4/32 Edgar St, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
-
Email: npws.coffscoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
-
Coffs Harbour office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Bindarri National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Coffs Harbour to the eastern precinct of the park:
- Take Coramba Road west from central Coffs Harbour
- Turn left at Karangi onto Upper Orara Road
- Turn right at Upper Orara onto Dairyville Road and follow to the park entrance
From Coffs Harbour to the western precinct of the park:
- Take Coramba Road west from central Coffs Harbour
- Continue to Coramba, then turn left onto Eastern Dorrigo Way.
- After the Ulong turn-off, take the next left onto Corfes Road and follow to the park entrance.
Parking
- Bindarray picnic area See on map
Vehicle access
- Most roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options to Coffs Harbour, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Bindarri National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Get off the beaten track and take your 4WD through pristine bushlands, stopping to see the magnificent Bangalore Falls.
Spring
Enjoy picnicking and swimming by the river and easy walking to see spectacular waterfalls.
Summer
Take a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of Urumbilum River.
Winter
Head off on your mountain bike and explore the remote forest trails.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
43.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
7°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
-3.2°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
781.9mm
Facilities
Maps and downloads
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.
Nearby towns
Coffs Harbour (23 km)
Coffs Harbour is a coastal city on the North Coast, packed with things to do. It's surrounded by lush forests and national parks.
Bellingen (57 km)
Bellingen is a laid-back, tree-lined town with a New Age vibe. It's set in a luxuriant valley beside the Bellinger River.
Grafton (89 km)
Grafton is a gracious, historic city in the Clarence Valley farming district. It's situated on the broad Clarence River and surrounded by river flats.
Learn more
Bindarri National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Traditional Aboriginal lands
The deep gorges, cascading waterfalls and lush forests of Bindarri National Park are the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr people. The park is named after the Gumbaynggirr word 'Bindarray', which means 'many creeks'. Many Aboriginal sites have been identified as places used by local Aboriginal people for camping, tool-making, ceremonies and dreaming stories.
Biodiversity hotspot
Bindarri National Park is considered a ‘biodiversity hotspot’ due to the number of rare and threatened species found here, such as the palm orchid, fish bone fern and southern quassia. The park also provides an important corridor of native vegetation linking the hinterland and plateau habitats of the World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park with the coastal habitats of Bongil Bongil National Park. It's also home to a range of wildlife including an abundance of bird species,wallabies, possums and spotted-tailed quolls, as well as threatened species such as koalas, platypus, owls and bats. You might also spot the brown-speckled giant barred frog or the giant panda snail - the largest snail in Australia,with a shell measuring up to 12cm long.
- Bangalore Falls walking track Bangalore Falls is a must-see destination with superb waterfall views from the lookout, just a short walk along an easy walking track, and a great place for a picnic.
- Bindarray picnic area Escape the crowds and head to Bindarray picnic area. Enjoy 4WD touring, birdwatching, wildlife watching, swimming, liloing, paddling and picnicking by Urumbilum River.
- Orara Escarpment 4WD touring route Orara Escarpment 4WD touring route goes from Coffs Harbour through pristine forest, with spectacular waterfalls and idyllic picnic and swimming spots along the way.
- Plateau Circuit loop trail Cycle through lush subtropical rainforest and eucalypt forest. See spectacular waterfalls and enjoy beautiful picnic and swimming spots, close to Coffs Harbour.
A bygone era
Walking out to Bangalore Falls, you might notice the large stumps standing as reminders of the parks former days of logging. Known as the 'cedar getters', the first Europeans arrived in this region in the mid-1800s. However, logging did not start until 1863. By 1880, concerns that Orara Valley would be cleared called for the declaration of Forest Reserve No 642, which later became Orara West State Forest in 1917.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Bindarri National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.