The word "Comboyne" is a corruption of the local Biripi people's name for "a place of kangaroos" (Gambuyn).

[4] Previously, the area was covered in sub-tropical rainforest which has almost all been cleared by the early 20th century.

The early explorers originally sought the valuable timber of the Australian Red Cedar.

[8] The Comboyne plateau is a scarp-bounded paleoplain located between the central north coast of New South Wales and the Great Dividing Range.

[10] The plateau has a wet, sub tropical climate,[11] though subject to frost and occasional snow.