Chaelundi campground

Guy Fawkes River National Park

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Overview

This quiet campground is popular with families and 4WD tourers and makes a great base for enjoying walking tracks into Guy Fawkes River National Park.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 7
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, toilets
What to bring Firewood
Group bookings Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry.
Please note
  • Sites are marked. Sites are not powered.
  • This campground is suitable for groups but there are noise restrictions.
  • This is a remote campground, please arrive well prepared.

At this remote, yet welcoming campground, you can camp among the tall forest or at grassy campsites nestled next to the quaint Chaelundi Creek, which is also a lovely spot to swim and paddle when the weather is hot.

The campground is popular with families and 4WD tourers and there’s lots of open space in the campground where kids can play games. It’s an ideal base camp for exploring the walking tracks into the Guy Fawkes River and along the escarpment.

Once you set up camp, head off to the Escarpment walk to view the spectacular Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb lookouts, with remarkable 180-degree views out over the park and Guy Fawkes River.

Red-neck wallabies frequent the campground and threatened brush-tailed rock wallabies can often be seen sunning themselves on the cliffs nearby. The creek is also home to the endangered New England tree frog.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • View of rugged mountain flank and valley shrouded in cloud. Photo © Tina Sullivan

    Chaelundi Falls lookout

    Chaelundi Falls lookout is in Guy Fawkes River National Park along Escarpment walk. It’s a scenic spot with dramatic views of the falls and the valley far below.

  • Rock Wallaby , Escarpment Walk, Guy Fawkes River National Park. Photo © Sean Leathers

    Escarpment walk

    Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.

  • View past rocky crag of Lucifers Thumb to forest-clad mountains, valleys and the Guy Fawkes River. Photo © Tina Sullivan

    Lucifers Thumb lookout

    Lucifers Thumb lookout is in Guy Fawkes River National Park, along Escarpment walk. It’s a great place to soak up stunning views of the Guy Fawkes River Valley.

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/chaelundi-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Chaelundi campground.

Getting there and parking

Chaelundi campground is in Guy Fawkes River National Park. To get there:

From Dorrigo

  • Take the Tyringham Road through to the Grafton/Armidale Road
  • Turn right onto the Grafton/Armidale Road, travel 4km and turn left at Dundurrabin onto Sheepstation Creek Road (gravel road starts).
  • 6km along Sheepstation Creek Road, turn left onto Chaelundi Road.
  • Travel 17km along Chaelundi Road, then turn left onto Misty Creek Road.
  • The campground is 11km down Misty Creek Road

From Grafton

  • Take Grafton/Armidale Road, travel 81km and turn right at Dundurrabin onto Sheepstation Creek Road (gravel road starts).
  • 6km along Sheepstation Creek Road, turn left onto Chaelundi Road.
  • Travel 17km along Chaelundi Road, then turn left onto Misty Creek Road.
  • The campground is 11km down Misty Creek Road

From Ebor

  • Take Grafton/Armidale Road east for 15km
  • Turn left at Hernani onto Marengo Road and proceed for 11km (gravel road starts).
  • Turn right onto Hardens Road and proceed for 12km
  • Turn left onto Chaelundi Road and proceed for 7km
  • Turn left onto Misty Creek Road
  • The campground is 11km down Misty Creek Road

Road quality

Check the weather before you set out as the road to this campground can become boggy when it rains.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • All roads require 4WD vehicle

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Parking

Parking available on site.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Guy Fawkes River National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Great camping weather when the days start cooling off, yet the water in the river is still warm.

Spring

Look out for native wildflowers around Ebor Falls, including everlasting daisies, native violets and small-fruited hakea.

Summer

Paddle in the creek at Chaelundi campground or swim, canoe or fish on Boyd River at Dalmorton.

Facilities

Rubbish bins are not available, so please take your rubbish with you when leaving.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

There may be a limited supply of firewood at this campground, however it’s a good idea to bring your own.

  • Wood barbecues (firewood supplied)
  • Fire rings (firewood supplied)

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

Wheelchairs can access this area with some difficulty.

Prohibited

Generators

Generators are not permitted in this campground.

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

Chaelundi campground is in Guy Fawkes River National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Gold rush

    Adams Hut, Guy Fawkes River National Park: Photo: S Leathers

    Major Edward Parke named Guy Fawkes River after camping nearby on Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, 1845. Gold was discovered in the late 1800s at Ballards Flat and Dalmorton, with the latter once supporting a town of 3,000 people during a short gold rush. A couple of building ruins remain today and old stockmen huts and yards are still present throughout the valleys.

    Routes of time

    Views towards Ebor Falls, Guy Fawkes River National Park. Photo: Tony Karacsonyi

    Archaeological sites suggest that Aboriginal people have occupied these valleys for over 10,000 years. The Guy Fawkes and Boyd rivers once served as important traffic and trade routes linking the tablelands to the coast. Ebor Falls was traditionally named 'Martiam', which means 'Great Falls' in Gumbaynggir language.

    Unique geology

    Views across the escarpment, Guy Fawkes River National Park. Photo: G James

    The north-south line of the Guy Fawkes River cuts through the Demon fault line, a 240-million-year-old crack in the landscape. In the south of the park the Ebor volcano spewed lava across the landscape. This created the Ebor Falls, with their unusual organ pipe-like rock formations.

    • Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
    • Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
    • Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
    • Muurlay Garriirlgundi track Muurlay Garriirlgundi track joins the Upper and Lower Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park. This easy 2km return walk features 6 lookouts, offering different views of majestic waterfalls.
    • Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged landscapes of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.

    Wild about species

    Ebor Falls, Guy Fawkes River National Park. Photo: Jeremy Little

    The park is an incredible biodiversity hotspot. There are over 40 different plant communities and about 1000 plant species in the park, along with 28 threatened plant species, 24 threatened animal species, and significant areas of old growth forest. The endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby can be seen in the rocky areas of the park, while glossy black cockatoos are often spotted throughout the park. The park is also one of the few remaining areas in Australia where purebred dingoes can still be found. The park is a conservation site for one of the most significant areas of wilderness in northern NSW, extending over 84,000ha of the 107,000ha park. This preserves the biodiversity of the park, allowing its natural ecosystems to be kept free from excessive human impact.

    • Ebor Falls A great stop-off between the coast and Armidale along Waterfall Way, Ebor Falls offers spectacular waterfall views and scenic lookouts.
    • Escarpment walk Escarpment walk in Guy Fawkes River National Park is a forest walk that takes hikers past Chaelundi Falls and Lucifers Thumb, all the way to Spring Gully picnic area.
    • Misty Creek lookout Enjoy scenic views from Misty Creek lookout over Guy Fawkes River Gorge, near Coffs Harbour, and Chaelundi campground.
    • Muurlay Garriirlgundi track Muurlay Garriirlgundi track joins the Upper and Lower Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park. This easy 2km return walk features 6 lookouts, offering different views of majestic waterfalls.
    • Upper Falls loop walk With stunning waterfall views, the 360m accessible Upper Falls loop walk is ideal for walking with children. It’s a great way to explore the rugged landscapes of Guy Fawkes River National Park in Ebor.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • A spotted-tailed quoll walks across a moss-covered forest floor at night. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

      Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)

      The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.

    Education resources (1)