It occurs from the Illawarra district (34° S) in New South Wales to Cape York Peninsula at the northern tip of Queensland.

The southernmost limit of its natural distribution is on the volcanic cliffs above the town of Gerroa and nearby on sand in rainforest behind Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales.

Leaves are opposite, simple, with entire wavy margins, smooth, lanceolate, pointed, and gradually tapering to the base.

[1] Fruit is eaten by rainforest birds, including the white-headed pigeon, pied currawong and green catbird.

The bark of Cinnamomum oliveri contains tannin, and also an essential oil, rich in camphor, safrole and methyleugenol or cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol, depending on the chemical variety of the species.