Bindarri National Park is one of our favourite places to run in the Coffs hinterland.
It is close enough to be part of regular life, but wild enough to feel like a proper escape. Within around 35 minutes of central Coffs Harbour, you can leave the coast behind and find yourself among steep rainforest climbs, quiet forest roads, creeks, waterfalls and dense subtropical forest.
What keeps drawing us back is how much the landscape changes within a relatively small area. One run can move from a long, steep climb to flowing forest road, shaded gullies and narrow singletrack. There is very little autopilot running here. The terrain asks you to pay attention, but the forest has a way of settling you at the same time.
In summer, that contrast is even stronger. While the coast can be hot and exposed, Bindarri often feels cooler, damper and quieter. You notice the smell of wet earth, the sound of creeks below the road and, if you are lucky, the unmistakable calls and movement of lyrebirds through the forest.
Getting to Bindarri from Coffs Harbour
The eastern side of Bindarri is surprisingly close to Coffs. From central Coffs Harbour, take Coramba Road west, turn left at Karangi onto Upper Orara Road, then turn right at Upper Orara onto Dairyville Road and follow it towards the national park. Allow roughly 35 minutes to reach the eastern area.
The proximity to Coffs Harbour is part of the appeal. In little more than half an hour you can move from the coast into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and feel completely removed from town.
For us, there are three main areas we keep coming back to.
1. Pine Road and the lower Bindarri access
If you want the most direct introduction to Bindarri, start near the bottom of Pine Road at the end of Dairyville Road. This is the closest of the three areas to Coffs and probably the most dramatic way to enter the park on foot.
Pine Road gets to work immediately. The climb is steep and sustained, so we will often hike the sharper sections and run where it makes sense rather than worrying too much about pace. It’s called “Pine Pain” on Strava for a very good reason!
One of our favourite outings is to climb Pine Road to the top, follow Range Road across to Bangalore Falls, then return the same way. It comes out at roughly 14 km with about 750 m of ascent — a compact run that still feels like a proper mountain outing.
If we want something longer, we can continue down Loudens Road and use Urumbilum Creek Road to build a bigger loop. That is where Bindarri starts to open up: rather than one prescribed route, there are forest roads and connections that can be combined differently depending on the day, the weather and how far you want to go.
There is also a great swimming hole back near the lower end of the run, which makes this side of the park particularly appealing in summer. A hard climb, a few hours in the forest and a swim at the finish is a pretty good combination.
The eastern precinct is also becoming more significant as work continues on the Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk, a multi-day walking route through Dorrigo and Bindarri national parks that is planned to finish at Bindarray picnic area. It is another reminder that these forests are not just somewhere to move through quickly; they are landscapes worth spending time in and getting to know.
2. Langleys Road
If Pine Road is the steep and dramatic option, Langleys Road is the more gradual and flowing one.
We usually access it from the top of Eastern Dorrigo Way, near the Tallowwood Country marker. From there, Langleys Road unfolds through lush forest and gives you the feeling of being deep in the hinterland without beginning with the sharp climb of Pine Road.
It is one of our favourite roads for steady running. You can settle into an aerobic rhythm, let the kilometres accumulate and still feel completely immersed in the forest. It is lush, quiet and full of birdlife; lyrebirds are a regular part of the soundtrack.
This is the option we would lean towards if we wanted the Bindarri experience without the immediate physical commitment of Pine Road. It is still adventurous, but the adventure arrives more gradually.
3. Bangalore Falls Picnic Area
The third area we keep returning to is Bangalore Falls Picnic Area. It is a good base for a run or hike, there is a drop toilet, and you are already up in the park — so you can start exploring without first climbing the escarpment from Dairyville.
The singletrack to Bangalore Falls is one of the highlights. It has that classic Bindarri feel: shaded rainforest, damp earth, creeks and a trail that asks you to stay present rather than switch off. It is not about chasing pace. It is about moving well through a beautiful place.
From this side you can also extend further through the park and, when access allows, connect towards Urumbilum Creek and the day-use area. It gives you more options to turn a short visit to the falls into a longer day out.
If you want a strong dose of Bindarri without putting a steep Pine Road climb at the very start of the day, Bangalore Falls is a great place to begin.
A place that keeps opening up
Those three areas are the ones we return to most often, but they are only part of the picture. If you are adventurous, there are more waterfalls, forest roads and corners of Bindarri to explore.
That is one of the reasons we love it. Bindarri is not a place we feel like we have “done”. The more we run there, the more it seems to open up — another road, another waterfall, another way of connecting sections together.
It is especially good in summer. The elevation, shade and rainforest can make the park feel noticeably cooler than the coast, and there is something restorative about spending a few hours beside creeks and under a thick canopy when the day is hot elsewhere.
More than anything, running here is a good reminder that a run does not have to be measured only by distance or pace. The climbs build strength, the terrain develops skill and resilience, but the value of the day is also in noticing where you are — listening for lyrebirds, stopping at a waterfall, sharing the trail with friends, or simply being somewhere quiet for a while.
That is a big part of what Gondwana Running is interested in: running that connects us more deeply with place rather than simply using a landscape as a backdrop. Bindarri gives us challenge and adventure, but it also gives us perspective. That is why we keep coming back.
Before you go
- Road, track and day-use-area access can change, particularly after rain or during park works.
- Bring your own drinking water and carry what you need for the distance you are planning.
- Some roads are remote and can become boggy in wet weather.
- Check current NSW National Parks alerts before setting out.
- Leave no trace and give wildlife, waterways and other park users plenty of space.
Looking for more places to run around the Coffs Coast? Explore Coffs Coast trail networks.
Leave a Reply