Brindabella National Park
Brindabella National Park lies north-west of the NSW-ACT border abutting Namadgi National Park and covers an area of 18,454 hectares. The importance of the area is enhanced by the protected lands of the Cotter Catchment in the ACT and the Kosciuszko National Park to the immediate south and west.
Enjoying Brindabella National Park
Although there are no facilities, Brindabella National Park provides varied recreational opportunities including:
- bushwalking
- mountain biking
- four-wheel driving
- orienteering
- bird watching and nature study.
Brindabella National Park can be accessed off the Brindabella Road and can only be reached by 4WD vehicles. Bush camping is permitted within camping areas however no camping facilities are currently provided within the park.
People in Brindabella National Park
An example of an artefact scatter
Artefact scatter
Brindabella National Park lies within the tribal boundaries of the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Brungle Aboriginal people. Occupation of the area has been dated to approximately 5000 years before European settlement, however, few occupation sites have been recorded.
The Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Brungle people exploited Bogong moths on the Brindabella Range and appear to have also participated with neighbouring tribes in Bogong Moth feasts on the Bogong Range or Snowy Mountains. Mount Coree was a reliable Bogong Moth aestivation1 site regularly visited by Aboriginal people. Summer base camps from which moth collection trips to the relevant sites on Mount Coree were undertaken have been recorded.
No systematic archaeological survey has been undertaken in the park. Those archaeological sites that have been recorded within the park are generally small surface scatters of artefacts or camp sites associated with summit Bogong Moth access routes and waterways. Many of the records are a result of opportunistic observations and the recorded sites should not be regarded as a comprehensive indication of Aboriginal sites within the park.
Nature in Brindabella National Park
Much of the park supports a forest of red stringybark and scribbly gum, while more sheltered slopes have forests of brown barrel with ribbon gum. Sub-alpine snow gum and mountain gum forests are found on the more elevated sites. Uncommon river oaks fringe cold air drainage areas adjacent to water courses and alpine ash on sheltered southern slopes.
The alpine tea tree, along with 58 other sub-alpine plants are found here at the northern limit of their distribution.
Brindabella supports a diverse range of native animals, including a number of threatened species. The park contains fauna unique to this part of the Alps and is particularly significant as a corridor for native animal movement.
Large mammals you may see in the park include eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies, wombats, wallaroos and swamp wallabies. Ring-tail and brush-tail possums, greater gliders and sugar gliders live in the trees.
Smaller mammals include the echidna, antechinus, southern bushrat and water rat. There are also reptiles such as the blotched blue tongue lizard and copperhead snake in the park.
About 80 species of birds have been seen in the park, including the yellow-tailed black cockatoo and peregrine falcon. Of particular interest to birdwatchers are the powerful owl, pink robin and olive whistler, all of which are threatened.
The park is also home to a number of other threatened species including the northern corroboree frog, common bent-wing bat, yellow-bellied glider and tiger quoll.
Caring for Brindabella National Park: leave no trace
Australia's Alps region is fragile and needs care and protection to survive.
When visiting Brindabella National Park:
- leave your pets at home – they disturb native animals and other park users
- take your rubbish home – no bins are provided
- stay on track – even if it's muddy or dusty, don't widen tracks. Motorised vehicles are not permitted beyond public roads and car parks
- leave animals, plants, rocks and wood where you find them – each has a place in the delicate balance of nature
- use a fuel stove – they are quicker, cleaner and better for the bush. Fires are permitted only in fireplaces provided at campgrounds and picnic areas
- got to go? – use a toilet or take a walk at least 100 paces from water and campsites. Dig 15 cm with a trowel, then cover waste
Discover more about minimal impact recreation and how to leave no trace in the Caring for the Alps section of this site.
More information
For more information about Brindabella National Park:
- Telephone - 02 6229 7000
- Visit - NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change - Brindabella National Park web page
1Aestivate - To pass summer in a dormant or torpid state
Park address/contacts
Park office
Park location
Longitude: 148° 48' E
Key
Links to another web site
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