Brindabella National Park
Overview
For a day trip or weekend break from Canberra, you can’t miss Brindabella National Park, with spectacular views, 4WD trails, walking, and fishing.
Read more about Brindabella National Park
Just a short drive from Canberra, Brindabella National Park offers a remote alpine bush experience, a great day trip or weekend escape for the whole family.
With an extensive network of challenging 4WD trails, the park is an excellent location for registered 4WD touring and trail bikes and even has some mountain bike riding opportunities. Your journey will take you through unique mountainous terrain covered with red stringybark and scribbly gums, and across ridgelines with scenic views of the entire Brindabella range.
Breathe in the fresh mountain air and take in the spectacular views from many of the trails. On a clear day, you can see Canberra in the distance and across the Australian Alps to the south.
Visit the historic site at McIntyres Hut. Then take a moment to stop at the picturesque Flea Creek campground and picnic area, great for picnicking, fishing and camping.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/brindabella-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Country NSW and Snowy Mountains regions
Brindabella National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Queanbeyan office
02 6229 7166
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. - Level 3, 11 Farrer Street, Queanbeyan NSW 2620
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Email: npws.alpinequeanbeyan@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Queanbeyan office
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Tumut Region Visitor Centre
02 6947 7025
Contact hours: 9am to 5pm daily. Closed Christmas Day. - The Old Butter Factory, 5 Adelong Road, Tumut NSW 2720
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Email: tumutrvc@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Tumut Region Visitor Centre
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Brindabella National Park.
Map
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Canberra:
- Travel west along Uriarra Road to Brindabella Road
- The dirt road starts along Brindabella Road, which takes you to the southern edge of Brindabella National Park.
There is no public access to the eastern side of the park from Mountain Creek Road. Doctors Flat Road is a private road, and is locked between Mountain Creek Road and Maginot trail.
Road quality
Access to McIntyres Hut, Lowell's Flat and Flea Creek campgrounds not recommended for camper trailers as the trails are very steep.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- All roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
Brindabella National Park is not accessible by public transport.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Brindabella National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
Enjoy the milder weather and take in the spectacular views and spring wildflowers as you explore the park on one of the many 4WD trails.
Summer
Perfect for a camping weekend on the banks of the Goodradigbee River. Relax under the shade of a river she-oak and see if you can spot a wallaby or kangaroo feeding on the river flats.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
11°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
42.5°C
Winter temperature
Average
0°C and 12°C
Lowest recorded
-10°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
August
Driest month
April
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
200mm
Facilities
Maps and downloads
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.
Nearby towns
Canberra (53 km)
Canberra is the home of Australia's Parliament House, National Gallery, National Museum and War Memorial, as well as many more significant cultural and architectural offerings. Kids of all ages love the interactive science and technology at Questacon.
Yass (57 km)
This historic country town is the home of explorer Hamilton Hume. Discover heritage treasures along the town's Historic Walk and Drive; you can even follow in the footsteps of explorers on the Hume and Hovell Walking Track.
Murrumbateman (74 km)
Follow the Poacher's Way, a self-drive route that passes through rural townships and tranquil grazing land. Stop along the way to enjoy the region's best cafes, wineries, art galleries and welcoming B&Bs.
Learn more
Brindabella National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Wildlife wonders
Brindabella's unique alpine and sub-alpine environment is home to many native animals, including threatened mammals like the spotted-tailed quoll or the yellow-bellied glider. With over 80 different species of birds seen in the park, it's also a birdwatchers haven. Look out for the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and peregrine falcon flying overhead, and have your binoculars handy to spot threatened species like the powerful owl, pink robin and olive whistler.
- Flea Creek picnic area Pack a picnic and spend the day relaxing by the Goodradigbee River at Flea Creek picnic area. Enjoy a spot of birdwatching, fishing and swimming.
The alpine huts of Brindabella
Brindabella includes several remains of the network of alpine huts that were once scattered throughout the Australian Alps. Visit Hume Sawmill in the north or head west to see McIntyres Hut on the Goodradigbee River. The original hut was built by Les McIntyre in 1948 as a fishing hut, but was burnt down in the late 1990s and was rebuilt by a group of keen 4WDers.
Lands of the Ngunawal, Wolgalu and Wiradjuri peoples
Brindabella National Park lies within the tribal boundaries of the Ngunawal, Wolgalu and Wiradjuri people. To this day, the area has a spiritual significance to Aboriginal people. Mount Coree, which stands tall on the western side of the park, is named after the Aboriginal word for moth. Before European settlement, the area was a hunting ground for bogong moths.
Adventure abounds
Brindabella offers a network of alpine trails just waiting to be explored by 4WD or trail bike. There are also several options for bushwalkers to explore the park, and even the opportunity to go horse riding on tracks from Doctors Flat Road northwards. Stay overnight at one of the remote campgrounds, or visit for the day and enjoy a leisurely picnic on the banks of the Goodradigbee River.
- Flea Creek picnic area Pack a picnic and spend the day relaxing by the Goodradigbee River at Flea Creek picnic area. Enjoy a spot of birdwatching, fishing and swimming.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Brindabella National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.