Two Dams picnic area
Beni State Conservation Area
Overview
Refuel and go birdwatching at Two Dams picnic area in Beni State Conservation Area. A great picnic area near Dubbo in central west NSW, it’s also a good starting point for bushwalking or cycling.
- Type
- Picnic areas
- Where
- Beni State Conservation Area in Country NSW
- Opening times
Two Dams picnic area is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
- What to
bring - Sunscreen, hat, drinking water
- Please note
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching.
Two Dams picnic area is a great place to pause amidst the bushland beauty of Beni State Conservation Area. As the name suggests, this picnic area is positioned near two small dams. Its location, just 10km from Dubbo CBD, makes it easy for stopping in before work, during a lunch break or while travelling.
Watching and sitting by the water is a great way to relax and unwind. Pack a thermos or some lunch and take a seat at the picnic table, or simply bring a water bottle to rehydrate after bushwalking or cycling.
At Two Dams picnic area, you can also enjoy birdwatching to your heart’s content. As well as ducks and waterfowl, you’ll find a colourful range of woodland birds you’d never have the chance to see in the city. Look out also for animals nearby – wallabies often stop in for a drink at the dams.
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/two-dams-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 Beni State Conservation Area in the Country NSW region
Beni 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 Two Dams picnic area.
Getting there and parking
On entering Beni State Conservation Area:
- Turn left from Whitewood Road onto Western Boundary trail
- Turn right onto Pine Ridge trail
- Turn left onto Pimlico trail
- Turn right onto Wattle Gully trail and travel approximately 250m to Two Dams picnic area on the left-hand side
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Two Dams picnic area can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at just off Wattle Gully trail, a short walk from the dams.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Beni State Conservation Area. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Take a leisurely walk or jog along the trails and creek lines that criss-cross the park Enjoy the gentle autumn sun and head to the sandstone creek lines to view old Aboriginal grinding grooves and artefacts .
Spring
Come along for the Beni Spring Spin cycling event (organised by the Dubbo Mountain Bike Club). Enjoy a 20km family ride or test yourself with the 40km or 60km treks. Go walking, cycling or driving around the area to enjoy the array of wildflowers blooming at this time of year .
Summer
Plan an evening visit to hear the resident frogs calling from the dams' edges. Avoid the heat by visiting first thing in the morning. As birds are such early risers, you'll be treated to a wealth of sights and sounds before the rest of the world is even out of bed. .
Winter
Head to the picnic area between the two dams on a crisp winter morning and keep warm with a cup of billy tea. Watch as you sip, keeping an eye out for wallabies emerging for a morning drink. See Australia's floral emblem up close as the park's abundant wattle trees burst into fluffy, yellow bloom .
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
16°C and 34°C
Highest recorded
44.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
3°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
-5.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
202.2mm
Facilities
- Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park.
Picnic tables
Maps and downloads
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
Two Dams picnic area is in Beni State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Australian landscapes
This is a great place to bask in majestic Australian bushland and remnant native forest. Abundant cypress and ironbark woodland give you a typical taste of central west NSW, but you'll also find some small patches of the white box, yellow box and Blakely's red gum woodland endangered ecological community. There are wattle trees abound, along with a myriad of shrubs, which transform into a riot of wildflowers in spring. Be sure to stay on marked tracks and - delicate ground orchids are found in Beni State Conservation Area.
- Two Dams picnic area Refuel and go birdwatching at Two Dams picnic area in Beni State Conservation Area. A great picnic area near Dubbo in central west NSW, it’s also a good starting point for bushwalking or cycling.
Get out and about
Bushwalking, running, cycling and horse riding are popular activities for Dubbo residents and visitors alike. Ride along one of the many criss-crossing trails - you'll find 45km of double track - but don't forget that these are shared with walkers and vehicles. If you're serious about cycling, why not join the annual Beni Spring Spin, held right here in the park? And if you're not sure which trails to explore on your visit, grab a brochure from the park office or information bay.
In the sky, and on the ground
Beni State Conservation Area is an important habitat for a number of threatened woodland birds, including the brown treecreeper, speckled warbler and varied sittella. Look out for the red-capped robin and eastern ringneck during the day, and in the evening you might hear the hoot of boobooks owls, tawny frogmouths and the threatened barking owl. It's possible you'll see an echidna, swamp wallaby or wallaroo, along with a variety of lizards, frogs and the odd goanna, too.
- Two Dams picnic area Refuel and go birdwatching at Two Dams picnic area in Beni State Conservation Area. A great picnic area near Dubbo in central west NSW, it’s also a good starting point for bushwalking or cycling.
Our first Australians
Beni State Conservation Area contains a number of creek lines once used by local Aboriginal groups for water, food and shelter. To see evidence of this, make a beeline for one of the area's sandy creeks or gullies. There, you can see some small artefacts and grinding grooves - indentations made by Aboriginal people sharpening their axes and tools on the sandstone.