Captains Flat

Tallaganda National Park

Spring has finally sprung and it is the perfect time to get back to exploring the many national parks the Queanbeyan-Palerang region has on offer. You may have already read all about the magical Monga National Park or visited the Big Hole and caves of Deua National Park, but have you heard about the ancient forests of Tallaganda National Park and State Forest?

Tallaganda National Park spreads over thousands of hectares in the southern parts of the region, near Captains Flat. Thanks to its huge variety of unique forest environments, it provides visitors with exceptional opportunities for bushwalking, camping, mountain biking, orienteering, and four-wheel driving.

At its highest points, you will find subalpine snow gums and high-altitude swamps, while on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range you’ll come across tall ribbon gum and narrow-leaved peppermint.

Nestled in these trees are up to 55 species of birds, from nocturnal white-throated nightjars and owls to pink robins, olive whistlers, flame robins and glossy black cockatoos. The forest is also a favourite to tree-dwelling animals, such as the greater glider, sugar glider and eastern pygmy possum, which you might catch a glimpse of as dusk falls. Similarly, you are also likely to spot echidnas, spotted-tail quolls and red-necked wallabies roaming about in the bush.

Read on to find out all you need to know for a day trip or a weekend getaway in the serenity of the diverse Tallaganda.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE 19/20 BUSHFIRES AND COVID-19, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK THE NSW NATIONAL PARKS WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON CAMPGROUND, PICNIC AREA AND TRACK CLOSURES.

Tallaganda National Park

Tallaganda

Facilities at Mulloon Creek campground, Tallaganda National Park

  • Camping
  • Barbecues
  • Picnic areas
  • Toilets

Directions

From Canberra/Queanbeyan:

  • Take Kings Highway east of Queanbeyan for about 3km, then turn right onto Captains Flat Road.
  • Turn left onto Briars–Sharrow Road.
  • Turn right onto Hoskinstown Road, then turn right through Hoskinstown Village.
  • Immediately turn left onto Forbes Creek Road, and continue following this through the park.

From Braidwood:

  • Take Kings Highway through to Bungendore.
  • Turn left onto Ellendon Street and continue down Hoskinstown Road and through the village.
  • Turn left onto Forbes Creek Road, and continue following this through the park.

Parking

  • Mulloon Creek campground provides free, easily accessible parking (Follow Forbes Creek Road on to Mulloon Firetrail). See on map

Highlights

  • Tallaganda offers a wide range of activities for active travellers. Hop on a mountain bike and follow the fire trails across the park. Go four-wheel driving throughout the park’s unique range of forest environments.
  • If simply escaping the hustle and bustle of city life is more your speed, set up camp alongside Mulloon Creek. Enjoy a relaxing picnic in the ancient forest while listening to birds chirping away.
  • Because of its several different forest environments, Tallaganda is home to a plethora of animals – and perfect for wildlife spotting. The national park is home to echidnas, red-neck wallabies and the spotted-tail quoll as well as up to 55 species of birds.

Tallaganda National Park

Recommendations

Pack a topographic map, plenty of water, and other essentials with you before heading out to Tallaganda. Whether you’re bushwalking, mountain biking or four-wheel driving, you should always carry a map and water with you. As many other national parks in Queanbeyan-Palerang, Tallaganda hasn’t yet been discovered by most visitors in the region. This means you’ll likely get to enjoy the park in perfect solitude.

The Mulloon Creek Campground is 2WD accessible, but the numerous fire trails of the park are perfect for 4WD exploration. Keep in mind, though, that cars will need adequate clearance to cross the creek if coming from the west. This is particularly the case after rain.

The best times to visit are spring and summertime. Springtime in Tallaganda is exceptionally beautiful with the wildflowers in bloom attracting lots of birds. If you head to the higher altitudes, you will see the yellow sticky everlasting and pink trigger plants. In the summertime Tallaganda offers the perfect escape from the heat of Canberra. The temperature in the forest is usually a bit cooler than the capital and Mulloon Creek provides a refreshing break to dip your toes in to while cooling down beneath tall eucalyptus trees.

Tallaganda National Park

If you’re out exploring Tallaganda, or any other hidden gems of Queanbeyan-Palerang, don’t forget to share your experience by tagging us with #visitqueanbeyanpalerang.

 

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