Bents Basin campground
Bents Basin State Conservation Area
Overview
A great family camping spot in Sydney, Bents Basin campground offers sites for tents, trailer and caravans in a scenic location by the water – go fishing and kayaking.
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
|---|---|
| Where | 525 Wolstenholme Avenue, Greendale, NSW, 2745 - in Bents Basin State Conservation Area |
| Facilities | Amenities block, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, drinking water, public phone, showers, toilets, electric power |
| What to bring | Firewood, camping equipment, tent |
| Opening times | The entry gate to the campground on Wolstenholme Ave is locked daily from 6pm (May to August) or 8pm (September to April). Gate codes will be emailed after you book. |
| Entry fees |
Park entry fees are not included in your camping fees. |
| Group bookings | Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry. |
| Please note | Check in 2pm, check out before 10am. |
Bents Basin offers a camping experience that is within easy reach of urban Sydney suburbs. It’s an open, grassy campground bordered by trees on one side and featuring Bents Basin on the other.
Take your pick of campsites, pitch your tent or bring your caravan or trailer along. It’s a great choice whether you are going family camping or camping with a larger group.
Once you’ve set up camp, what you do next is up to you; relax by the Basin, take a walk along Caleys lookout track, go for a paddle or try your hand at fishing, or if you’re feeling hungry, start up the barbecue to cook your lunch.
You’ll find excellent facilities, including a camp kitchen ideal for group bookings and hot showers – a welcome luxury after a day exploring this park.
Map
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/bents-basin-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Bents Basin State Conservation Area in the Sydney and surrounds region
Bents Basin State Conservation Area is open 8am to 6pm from May to August and 8am to 8pm from September to April. The park may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. Day passes are available from on-park pay machines that accept coins and credit cards, and you can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Bents Basin campground.
Getting there and parking
Bents Basin campground is in the central precinct of Bents Basin State Conservation Area. To get there:
- From The Northern Road, take Greendale Road west at Bringelly
- Turn left into Wolstenholme Avenue and continue to the park entrance. Please note, access is via Wolstenholme Avenue only.
- Continue through the park entrance and follow the signs to the campground.
The entry gate to the campground on Wolstenholme Ave is locked daily from 5pm (May to September) or 8pm (October to April).
You'll get a gate code after you book, to enter/exit the campground when the gates are closed. Note down the code before you leave home because mobile phone reception is limited. If you did not receive the gate code after booking, contact 13000 72757.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
2 vehicles are permitted per booking. In most cases, you can park immediately next to your tent, trailer or caravan. There are also marked parking spaces where camping is a short distance from your vehicle (less than a 20m walk from car to camping area). Near the amenities block, you’ll find a carpark with 15 spaces and another with 5 to 6 places (a 30m walk from carpark to amenities block).
Best times to visit
Bents Basin State Conservation Area is a great place to visit all year round. Head to the park for a camping weekend in spring, a weekend picnic in the winter sun or a sunny summer day for lots of water activities.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
15°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
45°C
Winter temperature
Average
3°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
-6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
156mm
Facilities
- Camping is only permitted in designated camping areas. Campsites are unmarked and suitable for motorhomes, caravans, camper trailers, campervans and tents.
- The campground can fit 250 campers.
- Campsites have no power.
- There's a commercial style camp kitchen available for hire. Please book online. It includes a stove, double refrigerator, sink and hot water facilities.
- A large picnic shelter for functions up to 50 people is also available for hire. There are power points and lighting.
- We encourage you to take your rubbish with you, but there are some rubbish bins available.
Amenities
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
- Fire rings (bring your own firewood)
Carpark
Drinking water
Public phone
An emergency telephone is located at the amenities block in the campground. It is pre-programmed with emergency contacts. There is no mobile reception at the campground however some reception is available near the entry gate on Wolstenholme Ave.
Showers
- Hot showers
Electric power
The camp area is unpowered however there are power points in the amenities block for hairdryers and shavers, and also in the hire camp kitchen and shelter.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
This campground is fully wheelchair accessible. The amenities block features dedicated disabled facilities fitted with a disabled keying. Before you arrive, contact the Scheyville office on 02 4572 3100 to get access.
This campground is generally flat and grassy. A paved path leads gently uphill from closest parking and camping area to amenities block (about 50m).
Permitted
Chemical toilets are permitted but don't empty them in the national park.
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Campfires are permitted in the shared wood barbecues and fire rings throughout the campground. You can bring your own fuel stove, gas/coal barbecue or firepit but it must be elevated off the ground.
You can use heat beads, charcoal and briquettes but you must discard them in heat bead bins when you're finished.
Prohibited
Amplified music is not permitted. For the benefit of all campers, please keep any noise down and stop by 10pm.
Chemical toilets can't emptied in campground amenities.
Gathering firewood
Generators
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Bents Basin campground is in Bents Basin State Conservation Area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal heritage
Bents Basin State Conservation Area is the traditional land of the Gundungurra, Dharawal and Darug people. Also known as Gulguer (meaning whirlpool or spinning), Bents Basin is associated with an awful aquatic creature called Gurungadge or Gurungaty. This creature is prominent in the area's ancestral stories. Archaeological finds suggest the area was also an important trading place. Bents Basin and the adjoining Gulguer Nature Reserve protect a variety of Aboriginal rock art and artefacts.
Bygone days
Explorer and botanist George Caley was the first European to visit the area in 1802 and afterwards collected plant specimens for preservation. The area was later used as a stopping point for early settlers travelling from the developing east. If you're interested in the local history of western Sydney, be sure to check out the historic inn, established in the 1860's and listed on both the state and National Heritage Register, you'll find it near Peppercorn picnic area.
Fascinating and fun
The basin itself is what draws most people here. Known as a scour pool, this geological formation is like a small lake, created over time by fast-flowing floodwaters exiting the gorge about 30-40km/hr. At 22m deep, its waters travel 150km before reaching the ocean. In addition to that, it's heaps of fun to visit for a spot for swimming, fishing, paddling and liloing.
Rare communities
A visit to the park allows you to see majestic Camden white gums in one of only two known naturally-occurring populations. Look out also for Cumberland Plain woodland which once blanketed almost 30% of the Sydney Basin. Today, its scattered fragments cover less than 6% and remain under threat. Important fauna species include the regent honey eater, Cumberland Plain land snail, eastern bentwing bat, sooty owl and the glossy black cockatoo.
- Caleys lookout track Caleys lookout track is a short and steep walk through bushland of Bents Basin State Conservation Area near Penrith. Take your lunch – it’s a great spot for a picnic.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)
One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.
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Eastern snake-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis)
Found across most of NSW, the eastern snake-necked turtle, also known as the eastern long-necked turtle, can be found in swamps, lakes and inland waterways. This freshwater turtle is carnivorous and lives most of its life submerged on the water’s edge, searching for worms and snails.
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Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.
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Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)
The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.
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Cumberland Plain land snail (Meridolum corneovirens)
The endangered Cumberland Plain land snail is only found on the Cumberland Plain, west of Sydney. During drought it digs deep into the soil to escape harsh conditions. Its brown shell is thin and fragile.