A long-running native title claim against large parts of the New South Wales Southern Tablelands has been dropped.

The claim, by Don Bell on behalf of the Ngunnawal people, covered from Goulburn, Yass and Cootamundra down to Bredbo but excluded the ACT.

It wanted traditional rights recognised over these areas, except for freehold farmland and exclusive leaseholds.

In the Federal Court in Canberra today, Mr Bell requested that the claim be dropped, primarily because he did not have the money to continue the case.

The court granted that request.