Hidden Treasure picnic area
Copeland Tops State Conservation Area
Overview
Hidden Treasure picnic area, near Gloucester, is the ideal spot for a picnic or barbecue. It's also the access point for Hidden Treasure track and guided tours of Mountain Maid gold mine.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Accessibility
- Medium
- What to
bring - Drinking water, lunch, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, clothes for all weather conditions
- Please note
- There's no drinking water or mobile reception in this park.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch.
All paths in Copeland Tops lead from Hidden Treasure picnic area. This lovely picnic spot, in a red cedar and dry rainforest setting, is situated at the main entrance of the park and is the access point to Basin Loop and Hidden Treasure tracks as well as being the meeting point for guided tours through historic Mountain Maid gold mine.
Enjoy a barbecue or picnic before or after exploring the park. Or just relax for the day and make the most of this picnic area. Keep your binoculars handy for birds such as wompoo fruit-doves and glossy black-cockatoos. Listen out for the rare stuttering frog and look up for koalas munching leaves or dozing in the eucalypts. Animals such as spotted-tailed quolls, brush-tailed phascogale and numerous types of microbats are most likely to be seen at dusk and after dark.
Also see
-
Hidden Treasure track
Take a walk through the rainforest along Hidden Treasure track in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. You'll pass remnants of the area's mining heritage, including a historic boiler and disused mine entrance.
-
Mountain Maid gold mine
Guided tours through Mountain Maid gold mine are available for visitors to Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. Walking tours start from Hidden Treasure picnic area.
-
Basin loop track
Basin loop track continues from Hidden Treasure track to form a longer walk with scenic views of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area via historic Old Copeland Road.
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/hidden-treasure-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 Copeland Tops State Conservation Area in the North Coast region
Copeland Tops State Conservation Area 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 Hidden Treasure picnic area.
Getting there and parking
On entering Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, park in the carpark at the end of Copeland Road, to which Hidden Treasure picnic area is adjoined.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There's a hard-packed ground and gravel carpark at the picnic area. There's also bus parking. 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 Copeland Tops State Conservation Area.
Spring
This season offers mild walking conditions as well as the chance to witness bird migration. For instance, the wompoo fruit-dove – Australia's largest fruit dove – migrates from lower elevations in winter to upland forests in the warmer months.
Summer
There's nothing like rainforest to keep you cool; it's always several degrees less beneath the protective canopy, so enjoy following the park's walking tracks and finding shady places to picnic during the hotter months. The park's raised elevation also contributes to these milder conditions.
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this park, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet at the picnic area. You can reach the toilet from the carpark by crossing over gravel onto a timber and enviro-mesh ramp.
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
There are accessible picnic tables set on concrete slabs at the picnic area.
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
There's step-free access around the picnic area along paths made of hard-packed ground and gravel. There's may be some uneven ground and rocky surfaces.
Ramps and slopes at the picnic area have a maximum gradient of 1:14.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- There's step-free access around the picnic area along hard-packed ground and gravel pathways.
- There may be some uneven ground and rocky surfaces.
- Ramps and slopes at the picnic area have a maximum gradient of 1:14.
- There's an accessible toilet, which you can reach via a timber and enviro-mesh ramp.
- There are accessible picnic tables
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
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
Hidden Treasure picnic area is in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
From little things big things grow
From the delicate epiphytes, only one cell in width, to the gnarled sprawling branches of the ancient grey myrtles, each plant has its place within the ecosystem of the rare dry rainforest. The tract within Copeland Tops is the largest accessible section in the district of Gloucester. Take a walk through the green corridors overhung by strangler figs, shatterwood and grey myrtle. On the ground between mossy rocks and on the sides of trees grow birds nest ferns, staghorns, elkhorns and orchids. The rare stuttering frog is commonly heard around these parts, its call emitting from a preferred habitat of stream-side leaf litter. Its repetitive song is often joined by the screech of glossy black-cockatoos, the "wollack-wa-hoo" of the wompoo fruit-dove and the unpredictable calls of lyrebirds. At night, the masked, powerful and sooty owls come out to hunt and hoot.
- Basin loop track Basin loop track continues from Hidden Treasure track to form a longer walk with scenic views of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area via historic Old Copeland Road.
- Copeland Tops twilight tour Experience the magic of Copeland Tops at twilight. Explore Hidden Treasure track and the historic buildings of Mountain Maid gold mine on this evening tour near Gloucester.
- Exploring the rainforest Join us and explore a unique rainforest environment on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Geography excursion at Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. Students will conduct field exercises and learn what makes rainforest areas so special.
- Hidden Treasure track Take a walk through the rainforest along Hidden Treasure track in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. You'll pass remnants of the area's mining heritage, including a historic boiler and disused mine entrance.
- Junior ranger: Mountain Maid gold mine tour Step back in time this school holidays and uncover the hidden treasures of Mountain Maid gold mine at Copeland Tops.
Land of plenty
This is the traditional lands of the Worimi and Biripi people who live in the area and previously moved around in response to the seasonal availability of food. Such a broad ecosystem would have provided many resources for medicinal, ceremonial and cultural purposes. It is very likely that people travelling from the coast to Barrington Tops area would have passed through Copeland Tops. Their history will forever be an integral part of this landscape.
Striking it rich
It was the red cedar cutters who, battling to log 'red gold' in this unforgiving terrain from the early 1800s, first discovered gold here in 1875. The area soon became known as Copeland and over the next 60 years more than 50 gold mines were dug in the area. According to the records, over 1800kg of the valuable metal were extracted during that time. Many relics of this mining heritage remain in the form of historic sites and derelict equipment. However, the bushland and rainforest now dominate once again.
- Basin loop track Basin loop track continues from Hidden Treasure track to form a longer walk with scenic views of Copeland Tops State Conservation Area via historic Old Copeland Road.
- Copeland Tops twilight tour Experience the magic of Copeland Tops at twilight. Explore Hidden Treasure track and the historic buildings of Mountain Maid gold mine on this evening tour near Gloucester.
- Hidden Treasure track Take a walk through the rainforest along Hidden Treasure track in Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, near Gloucester. You'll pass remnants of the area's mining heritage, including a historic boiler and disused mine entrance.
- It's gold! Stage 3 History students will learn about the critical role national parks play in preserving our unique native plants, animals and rich cultural heritage. Learn about the long history of mining in the area and see where gold-hungry souls toiled in Mountain Maid gold mine – one of New South Wales’ longest-running operational gold mines.
- Junior ranger: Mountain Maid gold mine tour Step back in time this school holidays and uncover the hidden treasures of Mountain Maid gold mine at Copeland Tops.