Camping in Central NSW

Central NSW is gold country, star country and zoo country all at once. Bathurst, founded in 1815, is the oldest inland British settlement in Australia and saw the first payable gold in 1851; the Warrumbungles became Australia's first certified Dark Sky Park in 2016; and Dubbo's open-range zoo is one of the best-known family outings in the state.

Where is the best place to camp in Central NSW?

It helps to pick a base. Around Bathurst, NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park is the main holiday park, and out at Hill End, about 75 km away, the Village Campground sits in the old gold town itself. Dubbo, Orange and Mudgee each have town parks within reach of their main sights. In the north, Warrumbungle National Park has its vehicle camps at Camp Blackman and others, and Coolah Tops has simple camps up on the plateau.

What is there to do in Central NSW with kids?

In Dubbo, Taronga Western Plains Zoo is an open-range zoo with white, black and Indian rhinos, and the Old Dubbo Gaol is in the middle of town. At Parkes, the Dish, a 64-metre radio telescope that helped relay the Apollo 11 moon landing, is about 20 km north of town. In Bathurst, the National Motor Racing Museum sits at Mount Panorama. Hill End is managed as a historic site, where Bernhardt Holtermann found the largest specimen of native gold ever discovered in 1872, and in Gulgong, the Holtermann Museum carries his name.

• National Motor Racing Museum – Museums and history, Mount Panorama. Closest campground: Chase Campground C, under 1 km
• Old Dubbo Gaol – Museums and history, Dubbo. Closest campground: NRMA Dubbo City Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Chrysler Car Museum – Museums and history, Grenfell. Closest campground: Grenfell Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Henry Lawson Centre Gulgong – Museums and history, Gulgong. Closest campground: Gulgong Tourist Park - Gday, under 1 km
• Gulgong Pioneers Museum – Museums and history, Gulgong. Closest campground: Gulgong Tourist Park - Gday, 1 km
• McFeeters Motor Museum – Museums and history, Forbes. Closest campground: Forbes Lions Park, under 1 km
• Parkes Motor Museum – Museums and history, Parkes. Closest campground: Currajong Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Pioneer Park Machinery Museum – Museums and history, Parkes. Closest campground: Currajong Caravan Park, under 1 km
• The Henry Parkes Centre – Museums and history, Parkes. Closest campground: Currajong Caravan Park, under 1 km
• The Hitchen House Military Museum – Museums and history, Gilgandra. Closest campground: Gilgandra Caravan Park, under 1 km
• The King's Castle Elvis Exhibit – Museums and history, Parkes. Closest campground: Currajong Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Mudgee Museum & Historical Society – Museums and history, Mudgee. Closest campground: Riverside Caravan and Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Dunedoo Historical Museum – Museums and history, Dunedoo. Closest campground: Dunedoo Caravan Park, under 1 km
• The Lachlander Museum – Museums and history, Condobolin. Closest campground: Riverview Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Grenfell Art Gallery – Museums and history, Grenfell. Closest campground: Grenfell Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Forbes Historical Museum – Museums and history, Forbes. Closest campground: Forbes Lions Park, under 1 km
• Gulgong Holtermann Museum – Museums and history, Gulgong. Closest campground: Gulgong Tourist Park - Gday, under 1 km
• Coonamble Historical Museum – Museums and history, Coonamble. Closest campground: Coonamble Riverside Caravan Park, 1 km
• Dubbo Regional Museum And History Centre – Museums and history, Dubbo. Closest campground: Western Plains Tourist Park, 1 km
• Western Plains Cultural Centre – Museums and history, Dubbo. Closest campground: Western Plains Tourist Park, 1 km
• The Alan Walker Memorial Baths - Gulargambone Swimming Pool – Swimming, Gulargambone. Closest campground: Gulargambone Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Condobolin Swimming Pool – Swimming, Condobolin. Closest campground: Riverview Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Cowra Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Cowra. Closest campground: Cowra Van Park, under 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in Central NSW?

In the Warrumbungles, the Grand High Tops track gives views of The Breadknife and Belougery Spire, and the dark skies are made for stargazing, with Siding Spring Observatory next to the park. Near Orange, Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano and the highest peak in the Central Tablelands at 1,397 metres, has walking tracks to Bald Hill, and Federal Falls has cliffs and cascading water. Coolah Tops has waterfalls that drop off the plateau, giant grass trees and snow gums.

• Grand High Tops track – Walk, Warrumbungle National Park. Closest campground: Balor Hut camp, under 1 km
• Memorial Hill Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Spicers Park Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Coxs Creek Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Cox's Creek campground, under 1 km
• Eagle Waterfall – Waterfall. Closest campground: Hurleys camp, under 1 km
• Whittaker Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Self Containted Caravan Area 24HR Limit, 12 km
• McPhillamy Park Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: McPhillamy Campground B, under 1 km
• Proprietary Mine South Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Peak Hill Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Point Wilderness – Lookout. Closest campground: Ogma Saddle camp, under 1 km
• Dow's Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Dows camp, under 1 km
• Freeguards Prospect – Lookout. Closest campground: Dows camp, under 1 km

Do you need to book campsites in Central NSW?

For the national parks, yes: Warrumbungle's hut and gated camping needs a permit through the visitor centre. Mount Panorama camping gets busy around the Bathurst 1000 in October and the 12 Hour in February, so check race dates before you book there.

Are there powered sites in Central NSW?

Yes. 17 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Village Campground, Tottenham Caravan Park and Camp Blackman 2. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Bathurst from Sydney?

Bathurst is about 203 km west-north-west of Sydney, Parkes about 355 km, Dubbo about 400 km by road, and Warrumbungle National Park about 550 km north-west.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Bathurst, New South Wales" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Hill End, New South Wales" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Warrumbungle National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Dubbo" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Parkes, New South Wales" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Mount Canobolas" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Coolah Tops National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in Central NSW

108 campgrounds

• Village Campground — Hill End, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, dump point, picnic shelter, picnic tables, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Tottenham Caravan Park — Tottenham, NSW. camp kitchen, caravan sites, dump point, laundry, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Camp Blackman 1 — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Camp Blackman 2 — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, powered sites, tent sites, toilets
• Camp Blackman 3 — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, powered sites, tent sites, toilets
• Parkes Cabins — Parkes, NSW. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Gilgandra Caravan Park — Gilgandra, NSW. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Greenbah Creek campground — Baldry, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Wanda Wandong campground — Obley, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Camp Walaay — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, powered sites, tent sites
• Cowra Showground Caravan Park — Cowra, NSW. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, toilets
• Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp campground — Kelgoola, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• The Barracks campground — Coolah, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, toilets
• Dunedoo Caravan Park — Dunedoo, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, toilets
• Grenfell Caravan Park — Grenfell, NSW. pets allowed, powered sites, showers, toilets
• John Oxley Caravan Park — Coonabarabran, NSW. drinking water, dump point, powered sites, toilets
• Trangie Caravan Park — Trangie, NSW. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Ben Hall campground — Piney Range, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Camp Wambelong — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Coolah Home Base and Caravan Park — Coolah, NSW. camp kitchen, powered sites, tent sites
• Cox's Creek campground — Coolah, NSW. bbq, picnic tables, toilets
• Dandry Gorge campground — Baradine, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Federal Falls Camping Area — Canobolas, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Nangar campground — Eugowra, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• NRMA Dubbo City Holiday Park — Dubbo, NSW. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Reflections Cudgegong River Holiday Park — Yarrabin, NSW. caravan sites, dump point, tent sites
• Abercrombie Access campground — Abercrombie River, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Albert Park Rest Area — Albert, NSW. showers, toilets
• Amy Anderson Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• Big River campground — Mogo, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Black Gate Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• Brackens Hut campground — Coolah, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Bruinbun Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• Canobolas Caravan Park — Orange, NSW. powered sites, tent sites
• Cowra Van Park — Cowra, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Forbes River Meadows Caravan Park — Forbes, NSW. powered sites, tent sites
• Glendora campground — Hill End, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter
• Gulargambone Caravan Park — Gulargambone, NSW. dump point, powered sites
• Holy campground — Piney Range, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Honeyeater Flat Camping E — Munghorn, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Johnsons Hole Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• Randwick Hole Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• Reflections Lake Burrendong - Holiday Park — Mumbil, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Spring Gully campground — Mogo, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Tattersalls Hole Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites, toilets
• The Pines Camping Area — Coolah, NSW. bbq, toilets
• Wallaby Rocks Campground — Crudine, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Balor Hut camp — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq
• Bushlands Tourist Park — Windeyer, NSW. caravan sites
• Cave Hole Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites
• Colour City Caravan Park — Orange, NSW. tent sites
• Danu camp — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq
• Discovery Parks - Dubbo — Dubbo, NSW. tent sites
• Grimleys Hotel Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites
• Hurleys camp — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq
• Mary Flynn Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites
• Molong Caravan Park — Molong, NSW. tent sites
• Native Dog Reserve — Bruinbun, NSW. tent sites
• Ogma Saddle camp — Warrumbungle, NSW. bbq
• Pincham camp — Warrumbungle, NSW. picnic tables
• Sunny Corner Recreation Reserve — Sunny Corner, NSW. tent sites
• Tooraweenah Tourist Park — Tooraweenah, NSW. powered sites
• Ace Caravan Park — West Wyalong, NSW
• BIG4 Mudgee Holiday Park — Mudgee, NSW
• Billabong Camp — Dubbo, NSW
• Burbie camp — Warrumbungle, NSW
• Chase Campground — South Bathurst, NSW
• Chase Campground B — South Bathurst, NSW
• Chase Campground C — South Bathurst, NSW
• Chase Campground D — South Bathurst, NSW
• Coonamble Riverside Caravan Park — Coonamble, NSW
• Currajong Caravan Park — Parkes, NSW
• Double D Caravan Park — Peak Hill, NSW
• Dows camp — Warrumbungle, NSW
• Dubbo Holiday Park — Dubbo, NSW
• Enduro Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Forbes Apex Riverside Tourist Park — Forbes, NSW
• Forbes Holiday Park — Forbes, NSW
• Forbes Lions Park — Forbes, NSW
• Gulgong Tourist Park - Gday — Gulgong, NSW
• Gunneemooroo camp — Warrumbungle, NSW
• Max Cameron Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Max Cameron Campground A — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Max Cameron Campground B — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Max Cameron Campground C — Mount Panorama, NSW
• McPhillamy Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• McPhillamy Campground A — Mount Panorama, NSW
• McPhillamy Campground B — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Motorhome Park Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Mudgee Valley Park — Mudgee, NSW
• NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park — Kelso, NSW
• Orchard Campground — South Bathurst, NSW
• Orchard Campground A — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Orchard Campground B — South Bathurst, NSW
• Orchard Campground C — South Bathurst, NSW
• Paddock Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Peak Hill Caravan Park — Peak Hill, NSW
• Reid Sulman Campground — Mount Panorama, NSW
• Riverside Caravan and Tourist Park — Mudgee, NSW
• Riverview Caravan Park — Condobolin, NSW
• Self Containted Caravan Area 24HR Limit — Orange, NSW
• Shadforth Reserve Rest Area — Shadforth, NSW
• Spicers Park Caravan Park — Parkes, NSW
• Turon Gates campground — Running Stream, NSW
• West Wyalong Caravan Park — West Wyalong, NSW
• Western Plains Tourist Park — Dubbo, NSW
• Westview Caravan Park — Dubbo, NSW
• Zoofari Lodge — Dubbo, NSW

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.