Bar Mountain lookout

Border Ranges National Park

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Overview

Bar Mountain lookout in World Heritage-listed Border Ranges National Park offers scenic views out over Warrazambil Wilderness Area.

Type
Lookouts
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
Opening times

Bar Mountain lookout is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

Please note
  • This park is in a remote location, so please be well-prepared and tell a family member or friend about your travel plans.
  • Consider having reasonably full fuel tanks before arriving as there are no service stations near the park. The closest fuel is at Kyogle, Nimbin or Mount Burrell.

Part of Bar Mountain circuit, this scenic lookout sits atop an escarpment over Collins Creek, offering spectacular views of Black Hand Mountain and beyond to Mount Lindesay and Mount Barney.

The lookout is located about halfway along the track, a walk of approximately one hour from Bar Mountain picnic area. As a result, it’s particularly popular with keen bushwalkers and birdwatchers.

Keep your eyes open for carpet pythons sunning themselves on the track, as well as lyrebirds, land mullets, and the quickly darting red-necked pademelon.

The rainforest gives way to tall wet forest at the escarpment edge near the lookout, which is dominated by flooded gum and blackbutt. Below in Collins Creek, subtropical rainforest flourishes, with the bright red blooms of flame trees visible amongst the canopy in summer.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/bar-mountain-lookout/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Bar Mountain lookout.

Getting there and parking

Bar Mountain lookout is in the eastern precinct of Border Ranges National Park. To get there:

From Murwillumbah:

  • Travel south-west on Kyogle Road to Lillian Rock, then turn right onto Williams Road.
  • Travel along Williams Road 2.7km to Creegans Road. Travel 5.8km along Creegans Road to the park boundary.
  • From the park boundary, continue 7.3km along Tweed Range Scenic Drive to Bar Mountain picnic area, which is clearly signposted on your left.

From Lismore:

  • Travel north to Nimbin, then continue north on Blue Knob Road to Kyogle-Murwillumbah Road.
  • Turn left (west) towards Kyogle, continue for 5km to Williams Road, then turn right onto Williams Road.
  • Travel along Williams Road 2.7km to Creegans Road. Travel 5.8km along Creegans Road to the park boundary.
  • From the park boundary, continue 7.3km along Tweed Range Scenic Drive to Bar Mountain picnic area, which is clearly signposted on your left.

From Kyogle:

  • Travel north along Summerland Way 14km to Wiangaree
  • At Wiangaree, turn right onto Lynchs Creek Road, then travel east along Lynchs Creek Road 12km to Forest Road, following the signs to Border Ranges National Park.
  • Turn right onto Forest Road and continue 4.5km to the park boundary
  • From here, continue on Tweed Range Scenic Drive for 25km to Bar Mountain picnic area, which is clearly signposted on your right.

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)

Weather restrictions

  • 4WD required in wet weather

Parking

Parking is available at Bar Mountain picnic area. Access to the start of the walking track is directly opposite.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Border Ranges National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

A picnic at Border Loop lookout and picnic area is a must during autumn. It's also a popular spot to see the historic Border Loop railway line.

Spring

The perfect time to get away from it all on a family camping trip. Sheepstation Creek campground is a great base for exploring Border Ranges National Park.

Summer

Watching the sunrise from Pinnacle lookout offers the best views of the crater escarpment, Wollumbin-Mount Warning and the coast. You're bound to find it a breathtaking experience.

Winter

Take in the park's scenery from the comfort of your car or motor home as you drive along the Tweed Range Scenic drive. Be sure to take some breaks along the way though – you don't want to miss the views.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

18°C and 30°C

Highest recorded

42.9°C

Winter temperature

Average

8°C and 22°C

Lowest recorded

-0.3°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

February

Driest month

September

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

321mm

Facilities

Toilets and picnic facilities are available at Bar Mountain picnic area, where this walk begins.

Drinking water is limited or not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

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

Bar Mountain lookout is in Border Ranges National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Aboriginal heritage

Pinnacle lookout, Border Ranges National Park. Photo: Murray Vanderveer

The dramatic landscapes of the Border Ranges National Park echo the historical ties connecting the region's Aboriginal people to Country. The Githabul People trace their identity and spirituality to this Country and it is central to their Dreaming. The park protects many ancient sites and continues to be a place of great significance today.

Abundant wildlife

Peron's tree frog (Litoria peroni), Border Ranges. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

Being part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, makes this park a truly special place to visit. This region has the highest concentration of marsupial, bird, snake and frog species in Australia, so you're bound to come across a cute creature or two during your visit. While you're in the heart of this remarkable rainforest make sure you listen out for the call of the Alberts lyrebird, and while you're picnicking, keep your eye out for the rare, local fauna that thrive in this lush, protected wilderness.

  • Border Loop walk Walk the short and easy Border Loop walk through World Heritage-listed rainforest. Enjoy spectacular views from the lookout and finish with a picnic at the end.

Picture perfect

Brindle Creek walking track, Border Ranges National Park. Photo: John Spencer

A landscape photographer's dream, you'll be spoilt for choice in trying to capture the sheer scale and beauty of this epic rainforest from the many lookouts dotted throughout the park. Be sure to carry your camera up to the Pinnacle lookout at sunrise for a breathtaking birds-eye view of the crater escarpment all the way down to the NSW coastline. Don't forget to change your camera setting to panoramic for the perfect mantelpiece shot.

World Heritage wonder

Brindle Creek walking track, Border Ranges National Park. Photo: John Spencer

The rainforests of the Border Ranges National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. World Heritage Areas are irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration - places of such value that the international community has agreed they must be conserved for all time. You can explore this World Heritage-listed rainforest on one of the many walking tracks, like the short Pinnacle walk that provides spectacular views of Wollumbin and the Tweed Valley 1km below.

  • Bar Mountain circuit Take the short and easy Bar Mountain circuit walk to the lookout where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of World Heritage-listed rainforest.
  • Border Loop walk Walk the short and easy Border Loop walk through World Heritage-listed rainforest. Enjoy spectacular views from the lookout and finish with a picnic at the end.
  • Brindle Creek picnic area Pack up a picnic and set off along the Tweed Range Scenic drive to explore Border Ranges National Park. Stop off at Brindle Creek picnic area for a picnic and walk.

Plants and animals you may see

Animals

  • Satin bowerbird. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    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.

  • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

    Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

  • Long-nosed bandicoot, Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: Narelle King

    Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

    A nocturnal marsupial and one of the smaller Australian native animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is found across eastern Australia. Populations in the Sydney region have dwindled since European settlement, leaving only endangered colonies in inner western Sydney and at North Head, near Manly. The long-nosed bandicoot has grey-brown fur and a pointed snout which it uses to forage for worms and insects.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)