Long Gully picnic area
Budawang National Park
Overview
Long Gully picnic area is a comfortable spot to settle down for the day beside scenic Yadboro River, with nearby swimming and day walks for the experienced hiker.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Budawang National Park in South Coast, Country NSW
- Please note
- The Budawangs is a declared wilderness area and to protect the environment there are some restrictions on group sizes, firewood use and camping locations, including camping in rock overhangs.
- A permit is needed to camp at Cooyoyo Creek over the Easter and October long weekends.
An entrance to Budawang National Park but much more besides, Long Gully picnic area is your first glimpse of the wilderness within. Facilities are basic, but all you need for a terrific picnic is a packed lunch and an appreciation for nature. This is a remote and secluded spot for people wanting to break away from civilisation for a day. The nearby campground lets you stretch it out to a long weekend if you’d prefer.
Settle down beneath a blackbutt tree and watch the wallabies go by, foraging in the undergrowth. Bring a ball and take advantage of the open space beside Yadboro River.
This is also a good jumping-off point for the advanced hiking opportunities into the Budawangs area of Morton National Park, including the Castle; the trail leaves from here. Day walks in the national park should only be attempted by well-equipped, experienced walkers. Don’t forget to tell somebody where you’re going.
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/long-gully-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 Budawang National Park in the South Coast and Country NSW regions
Budawang 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 Long Gully picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Long Gully campground is at the northern end of Budawang National Park. To get there from Milton:
- Follow the signs to Pigeon House Mountain Didthul
- Rather than turning onto Pigeon House Road, continue on Yadboro Road and cross Clyde River, merging onto the Western Distributor.
- Turn right onto Long Gully Road and continue to the campground
Please note, there is no long vehicle access to Long Gully campground.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Long Gully can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- All roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at Long Gully picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Budawang National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The clear autumn weather is perfect for walking to the top of Mount Budawang, which can be covered in scenic clouds.
Spring
As the weather warms up, this is a perfect time to take advantage of Long Gully campground.
Winter
Take a drive along the Western Distributor to view the steep slopes of the Budawang Range from the warmth of your car.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
10.5°C and 25.4°C
Highest recorded
41.1°C
Winter temperature
Average
0.4°C and 12.1°C
Lowest recorded
-9.2°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
199.9mm
Facilities
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
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
Long Gully picnic area is in Budawang National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A natural haven
Budawang supports a wide variety of trees and plants, so budding naturalists will find much of interest here. The eastern slopes of the range contain tall eucalypt forests, temperate rainforest, and several threatened species. There are Budawang ash and pinkwoods as well. Higher up, on the summits of Mount Budawang and Currockbilly Mountain, visitors can see the endemic species of Budawang wallaby grass - it doesn't grow anywhere else in the world.
- Long Gully picnic area Long Gully picnic area is a comfortable spot to settle down for the day beside scenic Yadboro River, with nearby swimming and day walks for the experienced hiker.
Old stock routes
Once European settlers arrived, early exploration of the area concentrated on finding routes across the rugged escarpment country to link the tablelands and coast. Many of the ancient Aboriginal pathways became an important part of the early bridle trail network used for movement of stock. One of these was Wog Wog track, which was used to move cattle from Braidwood to the coast.
Volcanic foundations
Southern Budawang Range is formed on Devonian sediments that were uplifted to form the Budawang Synclinorium. Volcanic rock on the slopes slowly transforms into fertile soil that supports the varied ecosystems of tall moist forest and rainforest. The altitude range in the park is more than 800 metres, though two peaks in the park - Mount Budawang and Currockbilly Mountain - rise to over 1,100m above sea level.
- Mount Budawang trail A challenging yet rewarding walk, cutting through several environments; from grassy woodland to montane forest, and finishing at the summit for scenic views.
