Tunnel Road picnic area
Woomargama National Park
Overview
Located at the entrance to Woormagama National Park, near Holbrook, Tunnel Road picnic area is an idyllic spot where you can experience birdwatching, walking and wildflower displays in spring.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Please note
- The weather in this area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- There is limited mobile reception in this park
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to bird watch
The restoration of the old quarry site at Tunnel Road picnic area is both pretty and impressive. Lots of native plants and bushes – flowering common fringe myrtle with its pale-pink blooms and stunning yellow bitter-peas among them – have been planted to ensure that this quiet spot is as scenic and beautiful as it is peaceful.
Located at the main entrance to Woomargama National Park, this is a great spot to cook up a barbecue. After your feast, stretch your legs with a short walk around the picnic area, or a ride on your mountain bike. Many animals, including wombats, echidnas and wallabies can be seen around here, so the kids will love it.
There is also a map of the entire park on display, so if you’re really enjoying your time at Tunnel Road picnic area, you can work out where else you might like to explore.
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/tunnel-road-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 Woomargama National Park in the Murray-Riverina and Snowy Mountains regions
Woomargama 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 Tunnel Road picnic area.
Getting there and parking
Tunnel Road picnic area is on the western edge of Woomargama National Park. To get there from Albury:
- Travel north on Hume Highway
- Take the Woomargama exit
- Turn right into Tunnel Road and travel about 10km to the park’s boundary
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Tunnel Road picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Woomargama National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The crisp air offers excellent conditions for exploring either on foot or by mountain bike.
Spring
Many of the wildflowers are in bloom; including the pale-pink common fringe myrtle; native fuchsia, with its red bell-shaped flowers, and the yellow bitter-peas.
Summer
Camp in the bushland by Basin Creek, where it's cool, at Tin Mines campground.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 30°C
Highest recorded
43.7°C
Winter temperature
Average
5°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
–2.8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
August
Driest month
February
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
124mm
Facilities
- You'll need to bring your own drinking and cooking water
- You are encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Assistance may be required to access this area.
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
Tunnel Road picnic area is in Woomargama National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Outstanding attractions
This wild landscape offers activities for all. Pitch a tent at one of the two campgrounds and use it as a base for exploring the surrounds. Pull on your hiking boots and hit the many trails that cross the park. They also offer a great ride if you fancy testing your limits on a mountain bike. It doesn't have to be quite so full-on though. There are many beautiful wildflowers and animals that are best observed quietly, and photographers will love the view from Norths lookout.
- Norths Lookout Offering scenic views of Murray Valley, Snowy Mountains and Riverina, see Australian landscapes from Norths lookout, where you can picnic and relax.
- Tunnel Road picnic area Located at the entrance to Woormagama National Park, near Holbrook, Tunnel Road picnic area is an idyllic spot where you can experience birdwatching, walking and wildflower displays in spring.
Slice of history
Talk about an interesting past - Woomargama has just that. In 1924, explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell set off from Sydney to see if there was an overland route to Melbourne. While you're there, you'll appreciate how difficult their hiking must've been. Hume and Hovell walking track, a 440km bushwalking trail from Yass to Albury, almost directly follows their footsteps. Before it was named a national park, parts of Woomargama were mined for tin and used as grazing land.
Tall timber
Situated in the transition zone between the mountainous NSW south-west slopes and the broad plains of the Riverina district, Woomargama has a vast range of forest and woodland communities. It contains the largest remnant community of box woodlands on the south-west slopes and is also home to the rare phantom wattle, which flowers golden yellow in spring.
- Norths Lookout Offering scenic views of Murray Valley, Snowy Mountains and Riverina, see Australian landscapes from Norths lookout, where you can picnic and relax.
Wild things
Some of the more common animals you'll see are echidnas, wombats, gliders, kangaroos and wallabies. These natives are best spotted in the early morning or late afternoon when they're most active. There are rare creatures too: listen for the 'ark' calls of the brown toadlet which lives in burrows or under rocks. Look upwards to catch a flash of colour as a bright green superb parrot flies overhead.
- Tunnel Road picnic area Located at the entrance to Woormagama National Park, near Holbrook, Tunnel Road picnic area is an idyllic spot where you can experience birdwatching, walking and wildflower displays in spring.