National park · Australia
Mebbin National ParkMebbin National Park (NSW)
Go for a half day from Murwillumbah or Uki: entry is free, drive Cadell Road to the Cutters Camp day area, walk Big Scrub Loop (1.5 h) or Mount Warning View (2 h), and be out by mid-afternoon; skip it if you only have one Northern Rivers day and have not yet done Border Ranges or Nightcap.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
11 km²4 sq mi
approximate
Established
1999
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
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
- 11 km²4 sq mi
- Small park, roughly 10–11 km²; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1999
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Mebbin is a small, free national park in the Northern Rivers hinterland of New South Wales, west of Murwillumbah on the road to Kyogle. It protects a pocket of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage area — the Shield Volcano group listed in 1986 and extended in 1994 — with red cedar, fig and palm forest on old volcanic soils. There is one campground, Cutters Camp, and two short signed walks: the Big Scrub Loop and the Mount Warning View track. It is a half-day stop rather than a destination park: Border Ranges and Nightcap are bigger, higher and busier, and Wollumbin (Mount Warning) is a separate park whose summit is closed to climbing.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1986Part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Shield Volcano group (listed 1986, extended 1994).
Size and age
11 km²4 sq mi · national park since 1999
Small park, roughly 10–11 km²; boundary figures vary slightly by source (check).
Why go
- Free entry and a short drive from Murwillumbah, Uki or the Tweed coast.
- Two signed walks that fit a morning: Big Scrub Loop through old-growth rainforest and Mount Warning View to a lookout.
- Quiet compared with Border Ranges and Nightcap — you can walk an hour and meet almost nobody.
- Part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage listing, with red cedars, figs and a long bird list.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot and humid; afternoon storms
- FebWettest stretch; leeches on trails
- MarRain easing; green forest
- AprMild, clear; good walking
- MayDry, cool nights
- JunClear, cold mornings
- JulColdest; frost in the valleys
- AugDry; windy ridgelines
- SepWarming, wildflowers, birds active
- OctWarm and mostly dry
- NovWarm; storms build
- DecHot, humid, holiday crowds at Cutters Camp
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainforest birds (whipbirds, bowerbirds, pigeons)Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Most active early morning. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Threatened forest birds around Cutters CampAll year · Present year-round; sightings are never guaranteed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Leeches and ticksDec–Mar · Wet-season problem on shaded tracks. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Snakes and goannasOct–Mar · Warm months; watch where you step off-track. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Murwillumbah
Kyogle Road (Tourist Drive 32) southwest, then right onto Cadell Road to the park; sealed road, last section narrow.
20–30 min
From Uki
Kyogle Road south, then Cadell Road; the closest small town for fuel and food.
15–20 min
From Gold Coast airport (Coolangatta)
Drive south via Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah; hire car needed, no public transport to the park.
1–1.5 h
From Byron Bay
Drive north via Murwillumbah; a long half day if you add the walks.
1.5–2 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Cutters Camp area | Campground, picnic tables, barbecues, toilets and the start of the walking tracks. | Open; camping booked online. |
| Big Scrub Loop | Rainforest circuit through red cedar, fig and palm regrowth. | Open on foot; short, signed. |
| Mount Warning View track | Ridge walk to a lookout toward Wollumbin (Mount Warning). | Open on foot; steep in places. |
| Western forest and gullies | Unmarked management trails and creek lines. | No public tracks; do not wander off the signed routes. |
Sketch map
- 1Cutters Camp campground · Sleep≈-28.445, 153.194Map ↗
- 2Big Scrub Loop trailhead · Trail≈-28.445, 153.192Map ↗
- 3Mount Warning View lookout · Viewpoint≈-28.452, 153.178Map ↗
- 4Cadell Road park entrance · Gate≈-28.438, 153.205Map ↗
- 5Uki · Town≈-28.414, 153.336Map ↗
- 6Murwillumbah · Town≈-28.327, 153.395Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee for NSW national parks; you pay only for camping. |
| Cutters Camp campground | AUD 12–25 | adult per night | 2026 estimate; book online with NSW National Parks before you drive in (check current rate). |
| Vehicle entry | Free | vehicle | No gate or boom; park at the trailheads. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping at Cutters Camp permit or guide
Drones and commercial filming permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Only at Cutters Camp campground; no bush camping anywhere else in the park.
- Dogs and pets
- Not allowed in the park, including in vehicles on park roads.
- Fires
- Only in the provided barbecues and fireplaces at Cutters Camp; check total fire bans before lighting anything.
- Drones
- Not allowed without written approval from NSW National Parks.check
- Plants and rocks
- Do not collect; everything in a World Heritage park stays where it is.
Where to stay
In the park
Cutters Camp campground
The only place to sleep in the park: unpowered tent and small-van sites, picnic tables, barbecues, toilets.
Near the park
Murwillumbah and Uki
Motels, pubs and guesthouses 20–30 min away; the practical base if you do not camp.
Near the park
Tweed Coast (Kingscliff, Cabarita)
Beach apartments about 45–60 min away, useful for a combined coast-and-forest trip.
Safety
Muddy, slippery tracks medium
No phone signal in the valleys medium
Bushfire high
Snakes and ticks low
Accessibility
- The Cutters Camp day area, picnic tables and toilets are reached by car with a short, fairly level walk.
- Both walking tracks are unsealed, uneven and muddy after rain; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the marked tracks; rainforest regrowth is easily damaged by shortcutting.
- Carry out all rubbish — there are no bins beyond the campground.
- Book camping online so numbers stay within the site's capacity.
- Do not feed or call in birds; it changes their behaviour around the camp.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mebbin National Park?
Nothing. There is no entry fee for Mebbin or any NSW national park, and no vehicle charge. You only pay if you camp at Cutters Camp, roughly A$12–25 per adult per night (2026 estimate) booked online in advance.
What are the best hikes in Mebbin National Park?
Big Scrub Loop, a 2 km rainforest circuit from Cutters Camp that takes 1–1.5 hours, and the Mount Warning View track, about 4–5 km return with a climb to a lookout over the Tweed caldera. Both start near the campground; there are no other public tracks.
When is the best time to visit Mebbin National Park?
April to June and September to October: mild, mostly dry and clear. December to March is hot, humid and wet, with leeches, storms and the risk of park closures on high fire-danger days.
Do I need a 4WD to get there?
No. Kyogle Road and Cadell Road to the park entrance and Cutters Camp are sealed and fine for a normal car; the last section is narrow, so take it slowly and watch for oncoming traffic.
Can I camp anywhere in the park?
No. Cutters Camp is the only campground, and bush camping is not allowed. Book online with NSW National Parks before you arrive; there is no reliable walk-in payment.
Is Mebbin the same as Wollumbin or Border Ranges?
No. They are separate parks in the same Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage area. Wollumbin (Mount Warning) is its own park with the summit closed to climbing, and Border Ranges is larger, higher and about an hour further west.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go