Culmaran loop trail

Richmond Range National Park

Affected by closures, check current alerts 

Overview

Culmaran loop trail is an easy walk on the rainforest edge, especially suited to families. Admire the exotic plants found in the drier parts of Richmond Range.

Accessibility
Medium
Distance
0.4km loop
Time suggested
15 - 30min
Grade
Grade 2
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
  • Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
  • Check the weather before you set out as the road to Culmaran loop trail can become boggy or slippery when it rains
  • There is limited mobile reception in this park

This short easy walk along the edge of the rainforest environment is especially suited to families and older people.

Here, you’ll brush past the smooth bright trunks of enormous Sydney blue gums.  Soft green bracken ferns fringe the walking track, while creamy white flowers of clematis and flowering wonga vines make for a lovely accompaniment. The soaring forest, with its many hollow limbs, provides the perfect daytime resting spot for a range of animals and birds, so be sure to bring your binoculars.

Culmaran loop trail provides a fantastic introduction to the vegetation in the drier parts of Richmond Range, and a very pretty walk in the forest.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/walking-tracks/culmaran-loop-trail/local-alerts

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Culmaran loop trail.

Track grading

Features of this track

Distance

0.4km loop

Time

15 - 30min

Quality of markings

Clearly sign posted

Experience required

No experience required

Gradient

Gentle hills: The walk has gentle hills and short slopes. The steepest part of the track is the final 100m, which is a continual uphill slope back to the start of the walk.

Quality of path

Formed track: The walk is mostly hard-packed ground along its length. It can be slippery over the summer months when there are wet leaves on the track.

Steps

Occasional steps: There's a single timber step in the southern part of the loop walk. The rest of the walk is step-free.

Other barriers

Pinch points: The track can narrow in places where tree roots line the path or where plants grow along the trail edge.

Other barriers: There are several tree roots that cross the track in the southern part of the loop.

Getting there and parking

Culmaran loop trail is in the southern precinct of Richmond Range National Park.

To get there:

  • From Casino, drive 40km west along the Bruxner Highway.
  • Turn north into Cambridge Plateau scenic drive near Mallanganee
  • Drive along Cambridge Plateau scenic drive for 9km until you reach Cambridge Plateau picnic area.

The northern route to Cambridge Plateau picnic area, where this track begins, can be closed during extreme weather. The best way to reach the start of the track is from the south via the Bruxner Highway.

Parking

Parking is available in grassy flat areas next to the road at Cambridge Plateau picnic area where this walk begins. It's suitable for long vehicles or those towing a trailer.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Richmond Range National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Peacock Creek campground is a great place to camp in autumn. This clean, open, sunny campground is perfect for camping with wood fires, while watching an array of birdlife by your tent.

Spring

This is a lovely time to drive along Cambridge Plateau scenic drive. See new red tips on the rainforest trees, creamy clusters of flowers on wonga vines, and white flowering clematis vines in full bloom.

Summer

Enjoy the cool of the rainforests during these hot months. The Culmaran Creek walking track is a perfect place to cool off.

Winter

Watch mists rising in the valley below from Cambridge Plateau picnic. On a clear winter's day, you can see all the way east to Wollumbin and Nightcap national parks.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

25°C and 27°C

Highest recorded

27°C

Winter temperature

Average

15°C and 21°C

Lowest recorded

15°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

February

Driest month

August

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

214.6mm

Facilities

There are accessible toilets and picnic tables at Cambridge Plateau picnic area where this walk begins.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Culmaran loop trail is mainly hard-packed ground with gentle hills. There are some parts of the track where people with reduced mobility may need assistance:

  • There's a single timber step in the southern part of the loop
  • There are several tree roots that cross the track in the southern part of the loop.
  • The track can narrow in places where tree roots line the path or where plants grow along the trail edge.
  • The walk can be slippery over the summer months when there are wet leaves on the track.

There's an accessible toilet at Cambridge Plateau picnic area where this walk begins. The toilet has a timber ramp with handrails leading up to the entrance.

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

Culmaran loop trail is in Richmond Range National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

All creatures, great and small

Red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus), Richmond Range National Park. Photo: T Worden

It's a great pleasure to see the golden-tipped bat, listed as a vulnerable and threatened species in NSW, thrive in this environment. Other rare mammal species include Parma wallabies, koalas, spotted-tailed quoll and long-nosed potoroos. Birds listed as vulnerable in this park include rose-crowned fruit-dove and wompoo fruit-dove. The fruit dove's deep, repeated ‘whoop whoop’ call is often heard high up in the trees of thick forest. Brush-turkeys are occasionally seen and if you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the yellow and black flash of a male regent bowerbird as it flitters overhead.

  • Cambridge Plateau picnic area Cambridge Plateau picnic area, close to Casino and Kyogle, is an idyllic spot for picnicking that’s also great for birdwatching.
  • Culmaran loop trail Culmaran loop trail is an easy walk on the rainforest edge, especially suited to families. Admire the exotic plants found in the drier parts of Richmond Range.
  • Culmaran Valley track Culmaran Valley track, near Kyogle, takes you through diverse World Heritage-listed rainforest ecosystems and offers scenic views from its lookouts.

World class listing

Within the rainforest canopy, Richmond Range National Park. Photo: OEH

Rainforests are the earth’s oldest living ecosystems, and the Cambridge Plateau and Bungdoozle area rainforests within the park are part of Australia’s World Heritage Area. They’re a highly significant habitat for a medley of vulnerable and threatened species, which are able to live and breed freely among the protective wet rainforest vegetation.

  • Cambridge Plateau scenic drive From Casino, Cambridge Plateau scenic drive is a comfortable drive along the ridge through scenic rainforest, offering fantastic views.

Yesterday is today

Culmaran loop, Richmond Range National Park. Photo: J Atkins

This landscape lies within traditional country of the Githabul People. Forests within the park have provided Aboriginal people with food, medicine, shelter and materials for tools and weapons for thousands of years. A landmark agreement involving co-management of the park with the local Githabul People brings ongoing benefits to the community.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Profile view of an Albert's lyrebird looking for insects amongst leaf litter on the forest floor. Photo: Gavin Phillips © Gavin Phillips

    Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti)

    The Albert’s lyrebird is much rarer than the superb lyrebird. Distinguished by its richer brown plumage and less elaborate tail feathers, it’s protected as a threatened species in NSW.

  • Koala. Photo: Lucy Morrell

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

    One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

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