Barrington Tops (Edit)

By Michael Whyms
Published 26-Jul-06 07:25 PM

Conveniently nestled between the Pacific and New England Highways in New South Wales, Barrington tops provides an abundance of things to see and do, and is only 3-4 hours from Sydney.

The Barrington Tops National Park is accessed via its major surrounding centres, in Gloucester and Dungog from the Pacific Highway, and Scone from the New England Highway. Gloucester is the main place for accommodation and information in the area. The National Park is heritage listed and therefore activities are strictly governed to protect this magnificent area. However there are approximately nine state forests bordering the park, where more activities are permitted.

An ancient volcano, the steep cliffs provide fantastic views of the surrounding area from an altitude in places of over 1,500 metres above sea level. The altitude also provides for the occasional snowfall, and many changing climates that encourage a variety of different habitats. The area was once used as a hideout for the notorious bushranger Captain Thunderbolt. Authorities knew he was in the area, however the nature of the terrain prevented his capture for six years.

My trip started after a week relaxing at Forster, and I set off to complete the holiday with a week at the idyllic riverside campsite. I had seen plenty of photos of the area that did nothing but whet the appetite for a good spot. So I set off and about an hour later I was in Gloucester for some supplies and camping equipment repairs.

Essential guides for this area are the Barrington Towns guide, which is available in Gloucester and Dungog, and a Lower North Coast Forest Map, which provides excellent information on campsites, tracks and attractions in the area and surroundings. I also purchased a Barrington Tops National Park Tourist map from the Gloucester newsagent and I found this the most helpful.

Tracks in the area range from 2wd/easy to hard 4wd, however all tracks are subject to closure in snowy or wet conditions. These closures are restricted to the winter/spring period Đ June 1 to 30 September. A visit to the Gloucester offices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to find out which tracks were closed also revealed that tracks can also be closed in summer, mainly because of fire.

Activities in the area include hiking and sightseeing, white water rafting, sky diving, mountain bike and horse riding, fishing and of course four wheel driving for all skill levels. 2000 year old beech forests, art galleries and wineries, mine tours and museums in nearby Dungog and Gloucester are just some of the tings to see and do for the not so adventurous. The highlight of the museums is the Paterson Rail motor Museum. There is also the open air cinema at the Gloucester cattle sale yards during the summer months.

The road from Gloucester to Scone is one example of the easier end of the scale. It provides a relatively scenic drive and numerous campsites along the way that are full of facilities to accommodate a lunch stop, or an overnight stay or longer. They provide the opportunity for a quiet spot by a river, or in the case of the more popular sites, a good base for further exploration of the area.

These include Polblue, Cobark, Dilgry, DevilŐs Hole, Horse Swamp and Manning River camping areas. Toilets, tables, shelter, BBQŐs and water are available at the more popular campsites Đ for example Polblue, with some of them available at the others. The camping areas and picnic areas are separate, so donŐt rely on shelter or BBQŐs if you intend on camping as they will be a short walk away.

Most of the campsites are well illustrated in tourist material, however I was disappointed on arrival as many show signs of overuse and I hope that this is simply the result of the dry weather.

The pick of the tracks are also in this area, as all of the tracks in the National Park have been closed to vehicle access. NPWS advised that Barrington Trail was the only track subject to regular closure, and this was the only track closed when I was there (good weather). Harder tracks include Thunderbolts Trail, Tugalow Trail and Bullock Brush Road. The area around Gummi Falls Camping area has three river crossings.

Gummi Falls camping area is the hardest to get to and has no facilities. This would be the first camping area inaccessible if tracks were closed.

A gentle drive can be found almost anywhere in the area, and I found parts of Tourist Drive 23, Rawdon Vale Road, and Gloucester Tops Road all very relaxing and scenic. The latter two roads have several concrete fords across rivers for added effect.

Livestock are frequently found on the roads in this area, as well as the Barrington Tops Forest Road as you come out of the bush on the road to Scone. Most farms have no boundary fences along the roads, with the occasional cattle grid dividing them from their neighbours.

So there I was, unable to find the campsite I was looking for and my trip ending in a great day trip and a night in a motel in Scone. If I had to pick the ideal site it would be Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park, which is a modest Caravan Park with plenty of space for camping and a good fire. The bonus of staying here is the 500 acres of private Four Wheel Drive park attached to the property. Entry is included in your accommodation fee however they cater more to four wheel drive clubs and larger groups with their own insurance. Bookings can be made on 6558 3155.

Barrington Tops is definitely great place for a day trip or more and it was incredibly quiet during the week.

↑ Top