Brindingabba National Park

Closed due to current alerts 

Overview

Brindingabba National Park, about 2 hours from Bourke, bursts with colour. See red kangaroos, green budgies, pink cockatoos and heaps of yellow flowers on a scenic drive, then camp out under the stars.

Read more about Brindingabba National Park

Wildlife is booming at Brindingabba National Park, located near the New South Wales–Queensland border on Budjiti and Kurnu Baakandji Country. You have a good chance of seeing red kangaroos and a huge variety of birds, including emus. You could be lucky enough to spot a brolga with its distinctive orange head. 

Arrive by the scenic Hungerford-Bourke Road which is part of the Dowling Track outback driving route through channel country. Then drive around tree-lined creeks, red clay deserts, grasslands, woodlands and the mulga plains of outback NSW.

There are lots of places to stop and train your binoculars or camera on the wildlife, scenery and wildflowers. Woodlands are a haven for birds including rare grey-crowned babblers, Hall’s babblers and mistletoe birds. Among the trees or on the grasslands you could find an echidna foraging among the leaf litter. Stop by a waterhole for an early evening or morning bird watching session and you may see zebra finches and rainbow bee-eaters.

The park is ablaze with colour from late Autumn to early Spring, when yapunyah and lancewood trees have cascades of bright yellow flowers and wildflowers on the mulga shrubland range in colour from lilac and pink to white to reddish brown. Sunsets are often spectacular, and you can vie with your friends as to who can take the best photo.

The park has many Aboriginal cultural items such as wells and stone artefacts. Please keep to marked tracks to avoid disturbing them.

After your outback adventure, pitch a tent at the campground and stretch out on the ground under a carpet of stars.

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/visit-a-park/parks/brindingabba-national-park/local-alerts

Contact

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Brindingabba National Park.

Getting there and parking

Brindingabba National Park is around 175 km north-west of Bourke and 75 km south-east of Hungerford.

From Bourke: 

  • Drive 175km north-west of Bourke down scenic Hungerford-Bourke Road which is part of the Dowling Track outback route from Bourke to Birdsville. 
  • Turn right at the sign to Brindingabba campground and drive for about 800m down an unsealed road. 
  • Park at the campground.

From Hungerford:

  • Drive 75km south-east down scenic Hungerford-Bourke Road towards Bourke. 
  • Turn left at the sign to Brindingabba campground and drive for about 800m down an unsealed road. 
  • Park at the campground.

Parking

Road quality

  • Weather can change quickly. Unsealed roads may become muddy and impassable, even after light rainfall. During and after rain, unsealed roads in the park and Bourke Shire will close. Fines apply for driving on closed roads.
  • Be prepared to leave early if rain is forecast or wait until roads reopen. 

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • Most roads require 4WD vehicle

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Parking

Parking is available at Brindingabba campground

Best times to visit

 

Autumn

In late autumn, lancewood and yapunyah trees have clusters of bright yellow flowers. The climate is pleasanter than in summer months.

Spring

Eremophilias and sennas on the mulga shrublands are in bloom, giving a lovely burst of colour. 

Winter

Many plants and trees are flowering. Nights can be cold so bring a jacket.

Facilities

Toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

Visitor info

Safety messages

However you discover NSW national parks and reserves, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Our park and reserve systems contrast greatly so you need to be aware of the risks and take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

  • Brindingbabba National Park is a remote and rugged place. The nearest fuel is at Bourke 175km away or The Royal Mail Hotel, Hungerford, Qld, which is 75km away. Bring enough fuel with you.
  • Bring plenty of drinking water, extra food and fuel. 
  • If you’re camping, bring enough firewood for cooking.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

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).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Water activities

Beaches, rivers and lakes in NSW national parks offer lots of opportunities for water activities. Please take care in the water and find out how to help your family and friends stay safe around water.

Brindingabba National Park

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

Permitted

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Bring your own firewood

Camping


Cycling

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

Hunting in NSW National Parks is an illegal activity and is a fineable offence.

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

Brindingabba National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      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.

    • Red kangaroo, Sturt National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

      The red kangaroo is one of the most iconic Australian animals and the largest marsupial in the world. Large males have reddish fur and can reach a height of 2m, while females are considerably smaller and have blue-grey fur. Red kangaroos are herbivores and mainly eat grass.

    • Echidna. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      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.

    • Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo: Kelly Nowak

      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.

    • Tawny frogmouth. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

      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.

    Plants

    • Mulga. Photo: Jaime Plaza

      Mulga (Acacia aneura)

      Mulga are hardy Australian native plants found throughout inland Australia. With an unusually long tap root, the mulga is able to withstand long periods of drought.

    • River red gum, Murrumbidgee Valley National Park. Photo: Paul Childs

      River red gum (Eucalpytus camaldulensis)

      Australian native plants, majestic river red gum trees are widespread across Australian inland river systems. The river red gum is a dominant tree species of the Murray-Darling basin which spans NSW, Queensland and Victoria. This iconic native eucalypt grows to a height of 30m and is thought to have a lifespan up to 500-1000 years.

    Environments in this park

    What we're doing

    Brindingabba 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.