The best camping near Barrington Tops National Park

One of the few places in Australia where you can see snow in the rainforest, Barrington Tops National Park features some of the last remaining cool temperate rainforest in the country and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage area. The park is made up of two linked plateaux: Barrington Tops in the north and Gloucester Tops to the east. The rocky escarpments, alpine meadows, snowgum forests, cliff-top lookouts, waterfalls, and fern-filled riverside valleys are magnets for bushwalkers, mountain bikers, and four-wheel drive, although you don’t need a 4WD to get to popular picnic areas and riverside camping spots. A haven for wildlife, expect to see kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, platypus, and lyrebirds. 

• Best for families: Gloucester River Campground has lots of open space and kids love splashing about in the shallow river and watching the wallabies graze the grassy flats. 
• Best for 4WD: Junction Pools is only accessible by the rocky 4WD-only Barrington Trail, but getting there is all part of the fun.
• Best for camper trailers: Polblue Campground is on top of the range, 1450 metres above sea level. The walking track is a good place to see wildflowers and wildlife, although it sometimes snows up here.

1. Not all campsites charge a camping fee, but all campsites in NSW national parks, even the free campsites and remote walk-in camping areas, must be pre-booked online before you arrive.
2. The Gloucester River and Polblue camping areas are the most popular, but apart from Christmas and Easter, you can usually secure a campsite booking just a few days out.
3. Check the national park’s website or ask at the Gloucester or Scone visitor information centres for any road closures and alerts before arriving.

The high peaks and rainforest gullies of the Barrington Tops are great for escaping summer humidity on the coast, but weather conditions can change quickly, so always be prepared with warm clothes and good wet weather gear. Dustings of snow are not uncommon in winter, and nights are cold. Spring is a good time to see ground orchids, carpets of everlasting daisies, and other wildflowers, particularly around Polblue camping area and on the Barrington Trail.

• Barrington Tops is about 320 kilometres northwest of Sydney—37 kilometres from Dungog and 42 kilometres from Gloucester. To get to the Barrington Tops Plateau area, use the very scenic (but unsealed) Barrington Tops Forest Road between Gloucester and Scone.
• Wet weather can sometimes close the unsealed access roads, which involve several causeway crossings subject to flash flooding.
• The 4WD Barrington Trail is closed each year between 1 June and 30 September. You can still access the camping grounds, but only by foot or mountain bike.
• Campfires are permitted in most camping areas, but only on low-fire danger days. Bring your own firewood, as you are not allowed to collect it in the park.

• Well worth the visit for those camping near the Peel Valley, Chaffey Dam is an engineering marvel surrounded by pristine parkland.
• A lakeside getaway in the Barrington Coast region, Smiths Lake is a great alternative to the often bustling, nearby beaches.
• The calm waters behind Lostock Dam are perfect for campers looking to get out for a paddle or swim.
• A doorway into another era, Gloucester Tops is an ancient snow gum forest segmented by picturesque creeks.
• An historic venue and an interesting tale in revival, the Tamworth Showgrounds have evolved over the last century to be the impressive event space that it is today.
• Chichester Dam is a popular destination for camping and outdoor recreation. With ample space for tents and campers, it offers a scenic setting for nature enthusiasts. The area provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, and exploring the surrounding beauty.