Camping in central/northern NSW

[Champion_Munch]

Hi all,

Planning a short camping trip with my partner in April, interested in venturing a little further south than usual to visit somewhere new. We're based in Brisbane but happy to drive quite a few hours (drove to Blue Mtns last year, so anywhere else will be shorter than that!) to visit a park with a nice campsite and plenty of short/relatively easy walks (say, up to 4 hours). Any thoughts/recommendations? Between us we've done lots of camping in QLD, but not camped anywhere in NSW before (except Mt Warning and Blue Mountains). Keen to experience something varied or different, but any tips would be great!

Cheers,
Munch

[perfectlydark]

You could try Barrington Tops. Beautiful park with plenty of places to walk. A bit closer to you than the blue mountains too!

[ofuros]

Yuraygir N.P.....Pebbly Beach camping area, roll out of your tent onto the beach, swim in the bay.
Kayak up freshwater Station Ck. Walk north or south along the coastal path.
Rhythmic waves will lull you to sleep...

Access at low tide.
4wd across Station Ck or leave your car at Station Ck campground & walk across.

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resou ... raygir.pdf
,

[ofuros]

Washpool N.P.
Coombadjha Camping Area is nice....walk in only. Park your car, walk across the creek & camp on the grassy area
on the other side. Keeps the trailers & caravaners at bay. Couple of picnic tables plus small firepits
There's eels in the creek. A shallow pool for swimming upstream or deeper pool downstream.
Short walks & a longer walk (Gibraltar-Washpool World Heritage walk)
I like to stop in there on my way back from trout fishing around the Dorrigo area.
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... r-pdf.ashx


All in the same area....
New England NP.
Toms Cabin for hire within New England NP
Short Escarpment walks.
Long walk..New England Wilderness Walk, 3 days one way. You can arrange pickup at the other end.
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... f-map.ashx
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... f-map.ashx

Guy Fawkes NP. Chaelundi camp area beside a small creek.
Views, Escarpment walk, Lucifers Thumb + Guy Fawkes River wilderness walk
Can get cold there, -10c at certain times of the year.
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... f-map.ashx
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... i-pdf.ashx

Cathedral NP
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... f-map.ashx

Platypus flat camp area in the Nymboi Binderay NP is another nice spot, on the banks of
the Nymboida river.

Dorrigo NP
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre..info centre for other Np's in the area.
skywalk boardwalk, short rainforest walks, waterfalls...
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... walks.ashx
http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/m ... o-pdf.ashx

Got a bit carried away....but I love the Grafton, Dorrigo & Armidale area.

[Grabeach]

Mt Kaputar NP. Not quite as spectacular as the Warrumbungles, but the camping area was less crowded and more natural. Or at least it was a couple of decades back.

[Champion_Munch]

Hi all,

Thanks for the suggestions... had fun checking out all the national parks mentioned. We'll have 7-8 days all up, so we would have plenty of time for exploring. From the suggestions so far, leaning towards either the Washpool/Gibraltar NP area, or hitting up the New England/Cathedral/Dorrigo/Guy Fawkes parks a bit further south. Barrington Tops and Kaputar look spectacular but a bit further to drive (yes I did say that we wouldn't mind a big drive, but if there are other great places a bit closer that we haven't visited...would need a compelling reason to drive those extra few hours ) and we prefer mountains and rainforest to the beach.

One thing I forgot to mention was we only have a 2WD - are these places 2WD friendly?

Cheers,
Munch

[ofuros]

Yes.

[Champion_Munch]

I think we're sold on the New England area... so now to decide which campsite is best! New England NP only seems to have a single camping area for just 10 tents... but doesn't require booking? How do you secure a spot, or do you just hope for the best?

Are there nicer campsites elsewhere nearby?

[ofuros]

Thungutti camp area...just turn up & do a slow lap to find a good spot.
Occasionally empty, but more than likely one or two campers there.
Bring your own firewood for the fireplaces.

5mins back down the road, on the corner where you crossed the Styx river on the way in, is another camp area. Free.
Can be empty but tends to get used by caravans or the trailer crowd.

10mins away, along the Forest Way turn off, on the Point Lookout rd is Hyatt Flats. Free.
Lumpy bumpy hill descent and ascent when returning. Clay based dirt track in, which turns very slippery on
the wet rainy days, if your car has plenty of tread on it's tyres you'll be ok.
Lots of flat green grassy camping spots on the banks of the Styx. Pools & riffles.

Between the small town of Ebor & Point lookout you'll pass Cathedral Rock N.P.
Barokee camp area lies within, another option.

If you change your mind & feel like a warm, glowing pot belly stove, glass of red, romantic type getaway, there's a few cabins with 5mins
of Point Lookout in the New England NP.
5mins away....http://www.moffatfalls.com.au/index.php
On the edge of the NP.....http://twostyx.com.au/
In the NP itself......http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/new ... ommodation

There's lots more camp options in the area, but further away in other NP's or State forests....Enjoy yourselves.

Ooroo,
ofuros

[phan_TOM]

Thungutti camp area...just turn up & do a slow lap to find a good spot.
Occasionally empty, but more than likely one or two campers there.
Bring your own firewood for the fireplaces.

5mins back down the road, on the corner where you crossed the Styx river on the way in, is another camp area. Free.
Can be empty but tends to get used by caravans or the trailer crowd.

I'd recommend the thunguttti camp area over the one down the road and I'm sure you'll get a spot. You're right in the National Park in a beautiful little spot surrounded by rainforest whereeas the free spot on the Styx river is cow paddocks and farmland so it's nowhere near as nice. There's also a great walking track right from the campground that leads you through the rainforest and woodlands and links up with all the other walks, just pull on your boots and your away. It's nice and cool up there so I'd take ofuros advice and pack some firewood too... hmm, I'm making myself envious

Between the small town of Ebor & Point lookout you'll pass Cathedral Rock N.P.
Barokee camp area lies within, another option.

That's another nice little spot or you can drive another 15k and head into the northern section of Cathedral Rock NP and stay at native dog creek. It's a nice open spot among the woodlands, grasslands and boulders. There's direct access to a couple of walks including woolpack rocks and the cathedral rock. You can also paddle on the native dog creek if you have a kayak or something.

make sure you stop at Ebor Falls if you are up that way too, it's only about 2 minutes off the main road and well worth a look. It's a really well maintained park with a clifftop walk and viewing platforms of the upper and lower falls as well as the valleys below. It's a great spot for a picnic.

[Champion_Munch]

Thanks phantom and ofuros. Sounds like Thungutti it is! Would it be an issue finding a camping spot, even over the easter long weekend? We'll be arriving on the sunday or monday, most likely.

[WarrenH]

Champion_Munch, G'day.

Are you the cycle polo player and long-distance cyclist called 'Munch'. Who crossed the Nullabor, while mastering stealth camping? If you are? ... we should be asking you where best to camp!

Warren.

[Champion_Munch]

hahaha no, unfortunately not

[WarrenH]

Champion_Munch, thank you. Have a great trip.

Warren.

[awildland]

Hi champion munch. Am joining this thread late but have to to say you have been given great advice from oufuros and phantom. And it was nice to see you found our blog and I hope that helped with your trip planning.

Easter can be busy at thungutti camp ground. Only stayed there once at Easter a few years ago and all spots were taken but some people (including the friends we took) didn't stay all weekend because it can also be very wet and sometimes cold that time of year - don't mean to put a dampner on things. If u are arriving on the Monday I reckon you should be fine.

Must do is sunrise at point lookout! See phantoms awesome post and photos on here in the NSW section.

Have fun

[Champion_Munch]

Hey guys,

Weather forecast isn't so promising for the east coast over the next few days/week... so now thinking more of heading inland, Mt Kaputar or Warrumbungles look like good options. Any thoughts for the best of camping options in either area? Or other NPs that are more likely to be dry over this time?

Cheers,
Munch

[Champion_Munch]

Hi all,

A little while ago now... but just wanted to say thanks for all the tips and advice! We ended up staying the week at Thungutti, New England NP is stunning... we had mostly good weather apart from a thunderstorm on the first night and a bit of rain on the last day. Rainforest is beautiful and the lookouts are incredible! With a bit of creativity I imagine you could link almost all of the walking tracks into a super awesome day hike... well worth a return visit one day.

Some pics below

[ofuros]

Glad you enjoyed it Champion Munch.....it's a great place to relax & explore.