Type

Picnic areas

Where

Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve in Country NSW

Accessibility

Easy

Please note

There is limited mobile reception in this reserve.

Set among eucalypts and native apple, Moolarben picnic area is a grassy, shaded spot within Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. Come and enjoy a barbecue with family, friends, your bushwalking club, or fellow birdwatching fans. Look out for birds and animals around Moolarben, such as eastern grey kangaroos, emus, red neck wallabies and, if you’re lucky, an endangered regent honeyeater. Keep those binoculars close.

Over 160 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve and you don’t need to go far to see or hear them. Look out for a colourful flash of lorikeet, parrot or rosella, which are common to this area.

Access to Castle Rocks walk is nearby, so it’s easy to take a hike with a view either before or after your barbecue. This easy 8km walk offers fabulous views of sandstone pagoda features. You’ll definitely want to take your camera along.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Visitor info

Maps and downloads

Learn more

Back and forth

After Europeans settled in the region, Munghorn Gap became a route for horse and bullock teams connecting Wollar, Merriwa and Mudgee. Evidence of past blacksmithing, timber-cutting, peat and coal mining, prospecting, and quarrying can still be found in and around the reserve.

Birds of a feather

As far as birdwatchers are concerned, Munghorn Gap is a happening place to go twitching. Over 164 different species of birds inhabit the reserve either permanently or seasonally, and many of these are rare and uncommon. They come in all shapes and sizes, from Australia's tallest bird, the emu, to the country's smallest, the 8-9cm weebill. Many are brightly coloured, such as rare scarlet honeyeaters and flame robins, while others like jackie winters and tree martins are more subdued in appearance. Bowerbirds and lyrebirds can be seen in Munghorn Gap along with national favourites like kookaburras, magpies and galahs. Birds of prey include wedge-tailed eagles, whistling kites, collared sparrowhawks, peregrine falcons and brown goshawks. After dark the boobook and owls - powerful, barking, and barn -take over for the nightly hunt.

Let's get physical

Great Dividing Range stretches the length of Eastern Australia and creates an interface between the western plains and the mountains. Munghorn Gap is one of the lowest points of the range and lies on the extreme western edge of the Sydney-Bowen geological basin. Parts of the reserve drain into Cudgegong River and, in turn, the Macquarie River system.

Trading places

Munghorn Gap has been inhabited by Aboriginal people for over 12,000 years. Once a major trading route between the Blue Mountains and the plains, Munghorn Gap continues to be a significant place to local Wiradjuri people.