Camping in the Hunter

The Hunter covers four quite different trips: the beaches and bays of Port Stephens, the shores of Lake Macquarie, Australia's largest coastal lake, the vineyards around Cessnock, and the World Heritage rainforest of Barrington Tops, where snow falls on the peaks most years. The region starts about 160 km north of Sydney, so any of them works for a long weekend.

Where is the best place to camp in the Hunter?

At Port Stephens, holiday parks are spread around the bays, such as Fingal Bay Holiday Park, close to Tomaree National Park. Around Lake Macquarie, lakeside holiday parks sit on the water at Belmont, Swansea and Wangi Wangi, and in wine country there are parks near Cessnock. For the mountains, Barrington Tops National Park has six campgrounds, including Gloucester River, and up the valley, Reflections Lake Glenbawn is on the lake near Scone.

What is there to do in the Hunter with kids?

At Port Stephens, koalas live in the trees of Tomaree National Park and whales can be seen from the headlands. At Williamtown, Fighter World and the Murrook Culture Centre are near the Stockton camps, and in Newcastle, Fort Scratchley is at Newcastle East. Lake Macquarie is good for fishing, kayaking and boating. Near Cessnock, the Hunter Valley Zoo is close to the wine country parks, and around Scone, Lake Glenbawn is used for water skiing and fishing.

• Merriwa Bottle Museum – Museums and history, Merriwa. Closest campground: Merriwa Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Fighter World – Museums and history, Williamtown. Closest campground: Banksia Grove Village, 1 km
• Hunter Valley Wildlife Park – Animals, Nulkaba. Closest campground: Wine Country Tourist Park, 2 km
• Merrowa Cottage Museum – Museums and history, Merriwa. Closest campground: Merriwa Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Murrook Culture Centre – Museums and history, Williamtown. Closest campground: Banksia Grove Village, under 1 km
• Folk Museum – Museums and history, Gloucester. Closest campground: Gloucester Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Denman and District Heritage Village – Museums and history, Denman. Closest campground: Denman Van Village, under 1 km
• Murrurundi Museum – Museums and history, Murrurundi. Closest campground: Pages River Caravan Park, 1 km
• Scone Historical Museum – Museums and history, Scone. Closest campground: Scone Caravan Park, 1 km
• Gresford District Historical Museum – Museums and history, East Gresford. Closest campground: Camp on Allyn, 1 km
• Maitland Regional Museum – Museums and history, Maitland. Closest campground: Coach Stop Caravan Park, 1 km
• Sketchley Pioneer Cottage – Museums and history, Raymond Terrace. Closest campground: Bellhaven Caravan Park, 1 km
• Monarch Historical Museum – Museums and history, Williamtown. Closest campground: Banksia Grove Village, 2 km
• Chipmunks Playland Belmont – Play, Belmont. Closest campground: Belmont Bayview Park, under 1 km
• Pixie Play Cafe – Play, Rathmines. Closest campground: Summerhill Park, 3 km
• Miniature Golf Course – Play, Beresfield. Closest campground: Tomago Village Van Park, 5 km
• Fort Scratchley Museum – Museums and history, Newcastle East. Closest campground: Stockton Beach Tourist Park, 1 km
• Newcastle Police Station Museum – Museums and history, Newcastle. Closest campground: Stockton Beach Tourist Park, 2 km
• Newcastle Supa Putt – Play, New Lambton. Closest campground: Stockton Beach Tourist Park, 6 km
• SpringLoaded Newcastle – Play, Gateshead. Closest campground: Belmont Bayview Park, 6 km
• Denman Memorial Swimming Centre – Swimming, Denman. Closest campground: Denman Van Village, under 1 km
• Mallabula Sports Complex – Swimming, Mallabula. Closest campground: Koala Shores Holiday Park, under 1 km
• Stockton Swimming Centre – Swimming, Stockton. Closest campground: Stockton Beach Tourist Park, under 1 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in the Hunter?

At Port Stephens, a track climbs to the summit of Tomaree Head for views up the coast, with WWII gun emplacements on the way. In Barrington Tops, the rainforest has Antarctic beech trees among the eucalypts, tree ferns and mosses, and walks include the Antarctic Beech Forest track, Gloucester Falls and Rocky Crossing; the Blue Gum loop crosses the Williams River on a bridge. Further north, Woko National Park has lyrebirds, wedge-tailed eagles and the threatened brush-tailed rock-wallaby.

• Tomaree Head walking track – Walk, Tomaree National Park. Closest campground: Shoal Bay Holiday Park, 2 km
• Careys Peak walk – Walk, Barrington Tops National Park. Closest campground: Wombat Creek camp, 2 km
• walk to Gloucester Falls – Walk, Barrington Tops National Park. Closest campground: Gloucester River campground, 9 km
• Polblue Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Horse Swamp campground, under 1 km
• Gummi Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Gummi Falls Campground, under 1 km
• Double Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Wombat Creek camp, 1 km
• Basden Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Wombat Creek camp, 1 km
• Cobby's Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Wombat Creek camp, 2 km
• Belmont Baths – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Belmont Bayview Park, under 1 km
• Gap Creek Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Gap Creek campground, under 1 km
• Devils Hole Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Devils Hole campground, under 1 km
• Monkey Face Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Bangalow campground, under 1 km
• Worimi Conservation Lands Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Birubi Beach Caravan Village, under 1 km
• Hunter Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Bushrat's Camp, under 1 km
• MacLeans Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Bushrat's Camp, under 1 km

When is the best time to go camping in the Hunter?

The coast suits summer. Barrington Tops has recorded -17°C and snow sometimes closes the roads, so pack for cold nights outside summer and check National Parks for closures before you go. Trout season in the park runs from October to May, and the Hunter Valley grape harvest runs from mid-January to early March.

Do you need to book campsites in the Hunter?

Barrington Tops campgrounds are booked through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the park can close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

Are there powered sites in the Hunter?

Yes. 8 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Wine Country Tourist Park, Camp on Allyn and Gloucester Holiday Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Barrington Tops from Sydney?

The Hunter Region runs from about 162 to 310 km north of Sydney. Tomaree National Park is about 150 km, the Hunter Valley wine region about 130 km, Muswellbrook about 243 km and Scone about 271 km from Sydney. Gloucester and Dungog are the nearest towns to Barrington Tops.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Tomaree National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Lake Macquarie (New South Wales)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Barrington Tops National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Lake Glenbawn" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Hunter Region" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Woko National Park" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Hunter Valley wine region" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "Barrington Tops National Park".

Map of campgrounds in the Hunter

87 campgrounds

• Wine Country Tourist Park — Nulkaba, NSW. caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wifi
• Camp on Allyn — East Gresford, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Gloucester Holiday Park — Gloucester, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Ferndale Camping Area — Bandon Grove, NSW. caravan sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Finchley Camping Area — Big Yengo, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, tent sites, toilets
• Ingenia Holidays One Mile Beach — One Mile, NSW. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Koala Shores Holiday Park — Lemon Tree Passage, NSW. dump point, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Pademelon Park Camping Area — Upper Allyn, NSW. caravan sites, pets allowed, tent sites, toilets
• The Pines Camping Area — Martinsville, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Turpentine Camping Area — Martinsville, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Bangalow campground — Martinsville, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Bretti Reserve — Bretti, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Dobbie Rim Camping Area — Upper Allyn, NSW. caravan sites, pets allowed, tent sites
• Gap Creek campground — Martinsville, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Gloryvale Reserve — Tibbuc, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Gloucester River campground — Invergordon, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Gunyah Camping Area — Upper Allyn, NSW. caravan sites, pets allowed, tent sites
• Horse Swamp campground — Moonan Brook, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Little Murray campground — Barrington Tops, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• McNamara Park — Broke, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Old Camp Camping Area — Upper Allyn, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Polblue overflow camping — Moonan Brook, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• The Basin Camping Area — Murrays Run, NSW. bbq, tent sites, toilets
• Washpools campground — Middle Brook, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• White Rock Camping Area — Upper Allyn, NSW. pets allowed, tent sites, toilets
• Woko campground — Dewitt, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Blacksmiths Lakeside Holiday Park — Blacksmiths, NSW. showers, toilets
• Devils Hole campground — Barrington Tops, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter
• Gummi Falls Campground — Tomalla, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter
• Morisset Showground Camping — Morisset, NSW. dump point, powered sites
• Reflections Lake Glenbawn - Holiday Park — Glenbawn, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Scone Caravan Park — Scone, NSW. showers, toilets
• Sheepskin Hut Campground — Doyles Creek, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Soldiers Point Holiday Park — Soldiers Point, NSW. powered sites, tent sites
• Watagan Headquarters Camping Area — Quorrobolong, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Black Swamp camp — Barrington Tops, NSW. bbq
• Blue Gums campground — Yengo National Park, NSW. bbq
• Denman Van Village — Denman, NSW. powered sites
• Junction Pools campground — Barrington Tops, NSW. picnic shelter
• Manning River Camping Area — Barrington Tops, NSW. pets allowed
• Mountain Arm campground — Yengo National Park, NSW. bbq
• Shoal Bay Holiday Park — Shoal Bay, NSW. tent sites
• Wombat Creek camp — Barrington Tops, NSW. bbq
• Youngville Camping Area — Mount Royal, NSW. tent sites
• Active Holidays BIG4 Soldiers Point — Soldiers Point, NSW
• Australian Motorhomes Tourist Park — Twelve Mile Creek, NSW
• Banksia Grove Village — Williamtown, NSW
• Bays Holiday Park — Anna Bay, NSW
• Bellhaven Caravan Park — Heatherbrae, NSW
• Belmont Bayview Park — Belmont, NSW
• Belmont Pines Lakeside Holiday Park — Belmont South, NSW
• Big 4 Karuah Jetty — Karuah, NSW
• Birubi Beach Caravan Village — Anna Bay, NSW
• Birubi Sands — Anna Bay, NSW
• Bushrat's Camp — Quorrobolong, NSW
• Cara Court Caravan Park — Dunolly, NSW
• Cascades campground — Barrington Tops, NSW
• Coach Stop Caravan Park — South Maitland, NSW
• Country Acres Caravan Park — Mcdougalls Hill, NSW
• Emerald Tiki Village Caravan Park — Anna Bay, NSW
• Fingal Bay Holiday Park — Fingal Bay, NSW
• Ganyamalbaa Beach Camping Area — Fern Bay, NSW
• Halifax Holiday Park — Nelson Bay, NSW
• Heatherbrae Holiday Village — Heatherbrae, NSW
• Ingenia Holidays Hunter Valley — Cessnock, NSW
• Karuah Caravan Park — Karuah, NSW
• Lake Liddell Recreation Area — Muswellbrook, NSW
• Lake Macquarie Village — Morisset, NSW
• Maitland Caravan Park — Maitland, NSW
• Mecca Caravan Park — Wyee, NSW
• Merriwa Caravan Park — Merriwa, NSW
• Middle Rock Holiday Resort — One Mile, NSW
• Mt Warrawolong Campground - GNW — Olney, NSW
• Pages River Caravan Park — Murrurundi, NSW
• Pinaroo Leisure Park — Muswellbrook, NSW
• Riverside Cabin and Van Park — Muswellbrook, NSW
• Salamander Bay Village — Salamander Bay, NSW
• Samurai Beach Camp Ground — One Mile, NSW
• Stockton Beach Tourist Park — Stockton, NSW
• Summerhill Park — Wangi Wangi, NSW
• Sunstrip Park — Blacksmiths, NSW
• Swansea Gardens Lakeside Holiday Park — Swansea, NSW
• The Retreat Port Stephens — Anna Bay, NSW
• Tomago Village Van Park — Tomago, NSW
• Wangi Point Lakeside Holiday Park — Wangi Wangi, NSW
• Worimi Beach camp — Fern Bay, NSW
• Worimi Traditional Owners Camp (C) — Bobs Farm, NSW

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