Bird Tree picnic area
Middle Brother National Park
Overview
Bird Tree picnic area offers access to some of the largest blackbutt trees in NSW, with a short trail perfect for walking with children and plenty of places to picnic.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Middle Brother National Park in North Coast
- What to
bring - Drinking water
- Please note
- There is limited mobile reception in Middle Brother National Park
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch
Middle Brother National Park may look small from the outside, but inside are two big surprises. Surviving years of local logging, Bird Tree and Benaroon are two of the largest blackbutts in the entire state. Bird Tree picnic area is the ideal place to visit these imposing giants, with a short loop through old growth forest perfect for walking with children and requiring only moderate fitness.
But the trees aren’t the only attraction here. Remember to look up as you walk along the trail as koalas can be spotted sleeping in the eucalypts during the day. Also, a host of different birds like glossy black cockatoos, king parrots, and wedge-tailed eagles live in the area. If birdwatching is of interest to you, there’s much to turn your head here. A night walk is equally rewarding, with owls and ring-tailed possums on the prowl. After your stroll, find a place to picnic at one of the convenient tables, soaking up the atmosphere. It’s easy to spend a whole afternoon here, enjoying the forest sounds and sense of seclusion.
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/bird-tree-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 Middle Brother National Park in the North Coast region
Middle Brother 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 the Bird Tree picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Bird Tree picnic area is in Middle Brother National Park. To get there:
- Turn west off Pacific Highway at TV Road, following it until you reach the intersection with Grey Gum Ridge Road.
- Turn left and drive 1.8km before reaching the Mudfords Road intersection
- Turn right and continue along Grey Gum Ridge Road for 1.2 km, then turn right into Bird Tree trail.
- A walking track at the end leads to Bird Tree picnic area
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Bird Tree picnic area can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- 4WD required in wet weather
Parking
Parking is available at Bird Tree picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Middle Brother National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Any time of year is great for visiting Bird Tree and Benaroon, but come in autumn to escape the summer heat and settle down for a relaxing picnic.
Spring
In late spring, North Brother wattle flowers with bright yellow spikes, adding a scenic flourish to the park.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 25.6°C
Highest recorded
25.8°C
Winter temperature
Average
5.9°C and 17.3°C
Lowest recorded
5.3°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
310.6mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Picnic tables
Carpark
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.
Learn more
Bird Tree picnic area is in Middle Brother National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A history of timber harvesting
The Three Brothers Mountains have also become a symbol of shared heritage between Aboriginal people and European settlers. Without knowing it, Captain Cook gave the mountains the same name when he passed through the area hundreds of years ago. More recently, Middle Brother Mountain has a long history of timber harvesting, which links it with nearby towns in the Camden Haven area like Johns River, Batar and Kew. Thankfully, the timber harvesters did not take all of the area's natural treasures, which you can see during a visit to Bird Tree picnic area.
Aboriginal influence
Middle Brother has significant cultural importance to the local Birpai people, the traditional owners of this land. Middle Brother Mountain is part of Aboriginal legend and is connected, through story, to North Brother Mountain in nearby Dooragan National Park. The influence of Aboriginal culture is so large here that Benaroon, the enormous tree that draws many visitors every year, is actually named after the local word for 'blackbutt'.
Plantlife great and small
Middle Brother National Park features two of the largest living blackbutt trees in the state, Bird Tree and Benaroon. But it also plays host to acacia courti, a species of wattle found only in the area of the Three Brothers Mountains. Visit the park in late spring to see the wattle in full bloom.
- Bird Tree picnic area Bird Tree picnic area offers access to some of the largest blackbutt trees in NSW, with a short trail perfect for walking with children and plenty of places to picnic.
