Currently the subject of intense scientific study, this frog's distribution seems to be rapidly shrinking and it is regarded as extremely rare, and the reasons for its decline are not well understood. It is known from 15 discrete locations in north-eastern Victoria (four of which are presumedextinct) and two in southern NSW most of which occur on the north-west side of the Great Dividing Range. Altitude at these sites ranges from 200 to 1110m above sea level. Although the Spotted Tree Frog occurs in scattered, geographically isolated populations, numbers can sometimes be locally high. This was the case up until quite recently at Bogong Creek in southern NSW, where the highest density population was recorded, but for unknown reasons it has declined rapidly in the past few years.

Unlike other frogs, it has been known to bask in open sunlight. Adults inhabit wet gullies and streams in both wet and dry forest. Adult grow to approximately 42-70mm.

Tadpoles can be found in moving water, in streams and stream side ponds. Tadpoles are dark brown with black spots, the fins are flecked with brown. Adults have a warty back, an indistinct or hidden tympanum (ear) and are either green or brown, often spotted or flecked with green.