Bavayia montana s.l. is endemic to New Caledonia. It is present along the main mountain ranges of Grande Terre from the Panié massif in the north-east (northernmost locality is Mt Mandjélia) to Mé Adéo, east of Bourail. Outlying populations are on the isolated ultramafic massifs of Koniambo and Taom in the northwest. A record from Mt Vulcain requires confirmation. (Bavayia montana s.s. is restricted to Mt Panié, Tchingou and Taom). The greatest diversity of cryptic taxa is in Province Nord. It occurs at elevations between 80 m and 900 m. The extent of occurrence of Bavayia montana s.l. is approximately 8,000 km², whereas for Bavayia montana s.s. is approximately 400 km². The area of occupancy is estimated at Bavayia montana s.l. and Bavayia montana s.s.

[Extent of occurrence was based on a crude measure of overall length times width of the most distant known locations (a rough measure of the line around the points), except for very widespread species where the published areas of the islands were taken. Area of occupancy is a contraction of that rough estimate for extent of occurrence based on where habitat remains.]