Willis picnic area is in the southern (Lower Snowy) precinct of Kosciuszko National Park. To get there from Snowy Region Visitor Centre:

• Drive 1.5km along Kosciuszko Road
• Turn left onto Barry Way and drive 70.3km south
• Turn right into the Willis picnic area carpark, immediately adjacent to Barry Way.

Road quality

Check the weather before you set out as the road to Willis picnic area can become boggy when it rains

• Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

• 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

• 4WD required in wet weather

Parking

There's a hard-packed ground carpark at the picnic area.

Toilets

There's an accessible non-flush toilet that can you can reach along a gravel path from the carpark.

• Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

There's an accessible picnic table set directly into the ground. You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground to reach it.

Barbecue facilities

• Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
• Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

Carpark

Step-free access

The picnic area is step-free, but the ground is uneven and sloped. The slopes have a maximum gradient of 1:14. People with reduced mobility may need assistance to get around if not on the picnic area's pathways.

There's a gravel path to the toilets and an informal hard-packed ground and grass path to the river.

• Step-free outdoor pathways

• Willis picnic area factsheet
• Willis picnic area map (900.2KB pdf)

Disability access level - medium

The picnic area is step-free and there are outdoor pathways to the toilets and the river, but the ground is uneven and sloped. People with reduced mobility may need assistance to get around the picnic area when not on the pathways.

There is an accessible toilet and picnic table.

The picnic area has a hard-packed ground carpark, but there are no designated accessible parking spots.

• Lower Snowy drive (Barry Way) Lower Snowy drive is a sprawling road trip that takes travellers past picnic spots, swimming holes, campgrounds and lookouts in the Snowy River valley.

• Pilot Wilderness mountain bike ride (Alpine Way to Barry Way) Pilot Wilderness mountain bike ride in Kosciuszko National Park is a challenging, long-distance mountain bike trail that is suited to experienced mountain bike riders.
• Snowy River wilderness experience Paddle the iconic Snowy River on a 5-day adventure in remote Kosciuszko National Park. Camp in Byadbo Wilderness with your Aboriginal guide on this unforgettable experience.

Animals

• 

  Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

  The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

• 

  Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

  With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

• 

  Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

  The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

• 

  Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

  The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

• 

  Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

  One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

• 

  Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

  One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.

• 

  Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

  Found throughout Australia, the tawny frogmouth is often mistaken for an owl due to its wide, powerful beak, large head and nocturnal hunting habits. The ‘oom oom oom’ call of this native bird can be heard echoing throughout a range of habitats including heath, woodlands and urban areas.

• 

  Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

  One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

• 

  Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

  A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

• 

  Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

  With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

• 

  Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)

  The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.

Plants

• 

  Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

  An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

• 

  Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

  Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

• 

  Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

  Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.