National park · Australia
Cottan-Bimbang National Park
Treat Cottan-Bimbang as a 30–60 minute break on the Oxley Highway, not a destination: drive the 14 km (8.7 mi) Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive in the dry, use the Stockyard Creek rest area, and skip it entirely if anyone in the car gets motion sickness.Treat Cottan-Bimbang as a 30–60 minute break on the Oxley Highway, not a destination: drive the 8.7 mi (14 km) Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive in the dry, use the Stockyard Creek rest area, and skip it entirely if anyone in the car gets motion sickness.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
250 km² (97 sq mi)97 sq mi (250 km²)
approximate
Established
1999
Best months
Apr–Jul
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 250 km² (97 sq mi)97 sq mi (250 km²)
- Roughly 250 km² of wet eucalypt forest and rainforest straddling the Great Dividing Range; the gazetted figure varies by source (check).
- Established
- 1999
- Best months
- Apr–Jul
- Permits
- For some areas
Cottan-Bimbang National Park is a 250 km² strip of wet eucalypt forest and warm temperate rainforest straddling the Great Dividing Range on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast, established in 1999 and managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. It has no staffed visitor centre, no formed walking tracks and no entry fee: the reason to leave the highway is the 14 km unsealed Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive, and the reason most people never stop is the Oxley Highway itself, which crosses the park on a roughly 60 km descent with nearly 400 bends between Walcha and Wauchope. Treat it as a break in a long drive rather than a destination, and skip the detour entirely if anyone in the car gets motion sick.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1999.
Size and age
250 km² (97 sq mi)97 sq mi (250 km²) · national park since 1999
Roughly 250 km² of wet eucalypt forest and rainforest straddling the Great Dividing Range; the gazetted figure varies by source (check).
Why go
- The Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive is a 14 km (8.7 mi) unsealed loop off the highway that puts you inside the wet rainforest instead of looking at it through a windscreen.The Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive is a 8.7 mi (14 km) unsealed loop off the highway that puts you inside the wet rainforest instead of looking at it through a windscreen.
- The Oxley Highway descent through the park is one of the longest continuous mountain passes in Australia — about 60 km (37 mi) and nearly 400 bends between Walcha and Wauchope.The Oxley Highway descent through the park is one of the longest continuous mountain passes in Australia — about 37 mi (60 km) and nearly 400 bends between Walcha and Wauchope.
- Stockyard Creek rest area is the only toilet and picnic stop for a long stretch of the highway, and its position on a 180° bend makes it a de facto lookout.
- In winter and early spring the forest is loud with lyrebirds, which display and call through the mating season.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanHot and humid; afternoon storms
- FebWettest stretch; fog on the pass
- MarCooling; green forest
- AprMild, clear, dry road
- MayCrisp mornings; lyrebirds active
- JunCold nights; lyrebird season
- JulColdest; clearest views, frost
- AugCold, windy; lyrebirds still calling
- SepWarming; wildflowers
- OctMild but storm season starts
- NovHot spells; afternoon storms
- DecHot, humid, holiday traffic
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superb lyrebird (display and song)May–Aug · Mating season; best chance on quiet forest edges. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Wet eucalypt and rainforest birdsMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Eastern grey kangaroos and wallabiesAll year · Often near the highway at dawn and dusk — slow down. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Leeches on wet forest tracksDec–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Port Macquarie
Oxley Highway west via Wauchope; the park boundary starts about 100 km (62 mi) from the highway turn-off.Oxley Highway west via Wauchope; the park boundary starts about 62 mi (100 km) from the highway turn-off.
1.5–2 h
From Walcha
Oxley Highway east; the park is about 64 km (40 mi) away and the road on this side is in better condition.Oxley Highway east; the park is about 40 mi (64 km) away and the road on this side is in better condition.
1–1.5 h
From Sydney
Drive or train to Port Macquarie or Wauchope, then the Oxley Highway west; NSW TrainLink coaches run the highway but do not stop in the park.
5–6 h
Open the page →
From Mid-North Coast plan
Where to base yourself on the coast and how the Oxley Highway fits a driving loop.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Oxley Highway corridor | The sealed highway through the park, with the long descent and the Stockyard Creek rest area. | Open to all vehicles; no stop needed beyond the rest area. |
| Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive | A 14 km (8.7 mi) unsealed alternative road looping through wet rainforest off the highway.A 8.7 mi (14 km) unsealed alternative road looping through wet rainforest off the highway. | Open in dry weather; avoid after rain or in low visibility. |
| Maxwells Flat | The park's only campground, in the southeast corner near Bulga Forest. | Booked camping only; reached by Causeway Road, partly unsealed. |
Sketch map
- 1Stockyard Creek rest area · Gate≈-31.402, 152.124Toilet, barbecue and picnic tables; the only facilities in the park.Map ↗
- 2Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive (northern end) · Trail≈-31.336, 152.015Approximate; the drive leaves the Oxley Highway west of the main descent.Map ↗
- 3Maxwells Flat campground · Sleep≈-31.487, 152.187Southeast corner of the park, off Causeway Road.Map ↗
- 4Park centre (approximate) · Headquarters≈-31.351, 152.134Approximate; the park has no staffed visitor centre.Map ↗
- 5Walcha · Town≈-30.985, 151.593Approximate; nearest town west of the park.Map ↗
- 6Wauchope · Town≈-31.457, 152.729Approximate; nearest town east of the park.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate coordinates for orientation only; the park has no single visitor entrance.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entry fee for NSW national parks; you pay only for camping. |
| Maxwells Flat campground | AUD 6 (≈ US$4) | night | Flat fee per night, booked through NSW National Parks (check current rate). |
| Vehicle access to Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive | Free | vehicle | Free; unsealed road, no gate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping at Maxwells Flat permit or guide
Backcountry camping no permit
Park rules
- Backcountry camping
- Not permitted in NSW national parks, including Cottan-Bimbang; camp only at Maxwells Flat.
- Fires
- Use only the fireplaces provided at Maxwells Flat; check total fire bans before lighting anything.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed or approach wildlife; lyrebirds are easily disturbed at display sites.
- Roads after rain
- The scenic drive is unsealed and can be slippery or fogged in; turn back rather than push on.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park, including in the car on the scenic drive.
Where to stay
In the park
Maxwells Flat campground
The park's only campground; basic, isolated, book ahead.
Near the park
Port Macquarie or Wauchope
Full range of motels and holiday parks, 1.5–2 h east.
Near the park
Walcha
Small town with motels and pubs, about 1 h west.
Safety
Motion sickness on the Oxley Highway high
Fog and low visibility medium
Wildlife on the road medium
Isolation at Maxwells Flat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Oxley Highway and the Stockyard Creek rest area are sealed and reachable by any vehicle.
- Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive is unsealed gravel; not suitable for low-clearance vehicles or caravans.
- There are no formed, wheelchair-accessible walking tracks in the park.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the road and formed tracks; the wet forest understorey recovers slowly.
- Take all rubbish out — there are no bins beyond the rest area.
- Keep quiet and distant at lyrebird display sites so the birds are not driven off.
- Check total fire bans and use the provided fireplaces only.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Cottan-Bimbang National Park?
Nothing. NSW national parks do not charge entry fees, so driving the Oxley Highway and the Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive is free. The only cost is camping at Maxwells Flat, a flat per-night fee booked through NSW National Parks (check the current rate).
What are the best hikes in Cottan-Bimbang National Park?
There are no formed walking tracks. The main thing to do is drive: the 14 km Myrtle Scrub Scenic Drive through the rainforest, plus the Oxley Highway descent itself. Walking is limited to short strolls from the Stockyard Creek rest area and around Maxwells Flat.
When is the best time to visit Cottan-Bimbang National Park?
April to July. The road is driest, the forest is clear of summer growth, and lyrebirds are displaying and calling in the winter mating season. December to February brings heat, humidity, storms and the worst fog on the pass.
Do I need a 4WD for the scenic drive?
No, but it is unsealed gravel. A normal car is fine in dry weather; avoid it after rain, in fog, or with a caravan or low-clearance vehicle.
Can I get there without a car?
Not usefully. NSW TrainLink coaches run the Oxley Highway between Port Macquarie and Walcha but do not stop in the park, so you would only see the scenery from the window.
Is it worth stopping if I get car sick?
Probably not. The pass through the park has nearly 400 bends over roughly 60 km and takes over an hour. If motion sickness is a problem, use another route rather than pushing through.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go