Culgoa River campground

Culgoa National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Located in north central NSW, Culgoa River campground is an ideal resting place for well-equipped, independent travellers, with picnic tables and several short walks close by.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 5
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Picnic tables, carpark, toilets
What to bring Drinking water, cooking water, firewood
Price There are no camping fees at this campground but a $6 booking fee applies.
Bookings Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online.
Group bookings This campground is not suitable for group bookings.
Please note
  • Sites are unmarked and unpowered
  • This campground is the preferred location for caravan camping in this national park

The remoteness of Culgoa National Park makes it an attractive option for extended stays, and Culgoa River campground is the ideal resting place for well-equipped, independent travellers. Offering camping a short walk from Culgoa River (which is often dry), this scenic spot doubles as a place to picnic, making it a perfect break from road touring or adventure hiking.

Spring and autumn are ideal times to settle down in tranquil silence surrounded by gidgee trees and vibrant red soil. Culgoa River campground is remote without being isolated, offering you the best of both worlds. Be sure to pack an ample supply of food and water, and then forget about everything and revel in the solitude, with parrots and waterbirds brushing through the cypress pines above and grey kangaroos foraging around the shrubs below.

Between birdwatching, fishing and relaxing, you might like to take advantage of the nearby day walks, with several easy tracks leading through the scenic pines or along the river bank. A good place to start is Mirri Mirri Yurun (River Bank walk).

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map legend

Map legend

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/culgoa-river-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

  • in Culgoa National Park in the Outback NSW region

  • Culgoa National Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Culgoa River campground.

Getting there and parking

Culgoa River campground is in the Burban Grange precinct of Culgoa National Park. To get there:

  • Take the unsealed road north-east of Bourke for 180km, or the unsealed, dry weather road north of Brewarrina for 120km.
  • The campground is 14km from the southern entrance of the park

The small townships of Weilmoringle, on the south-west side of Culgoa, and Goodooga, on the east side of Culgoa, offer no fuel, so please ensure you have enough before departure. The larger towns of Bourke and Brewarrina are good places to stock up.

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

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Parking

Parking is available at Culgoa River campground.

Best times to visit

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

Spring

After reasonable winter rains, the park erupts with blooms of native wildflowers, and animals begin to raise their young.

Summer

Summer in Culgoa can be incredibly hot, so hiking should be attempted by experienced walkers only. For everybody else, this is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the coolness of Culgoa River.

Winter

This is a great time to settle in at Culgoa River campground, with winter the best time for walking in the park. Wildlife is still abundant and birdwatching is superb.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

21°C and 34.9°C

Highest recorded

46.4°C

Winter temperature

Average

5.7°C and 19.6°C

Lowest recorded

-3.3°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

August

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

207.1mm

Facilities

  • Water is not available at this campground.
  • Rubbish bins are not available, so please take your rubbish with you when leaving.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Carpark

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.

This is a remote campground, so please make sure you arrive well-prepared.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach, the rocks or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing and rock fishing safety tips.

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).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Paddling safety

To make your paddling or kayaking adventure safer and more enjoyable, check out these paddling safety tips.

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.

Prohibited

Noise restrictions apply at this campground

Gathering firewood

Firewood is not provided and may not be collected from the park.

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

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

    Historic heritage

    Culgoa claypans, Culgoa National Park. Photo: OEH

    Charles Sturt was the first European explorer to venture here, in 1829, but colonial pastoralists were not far behind. By the 1860s, settlements were established right across the region, with large properties like Byerawering, Cawwell and Burban Grange, where Culgoa River campground can be found today. Culgoa National Park is committed to conserving the pastoral history of the area.

    Iconic plants and animals

    Culgoa River walk, Culgoa National Park. Photo: Dinitee Haskard

    Culgoa has enough animals to keep even the most knowledgable naturalist glued to their binoculars: 24 mammals, 170 species of bird, 29 lizards, seven types of snake, and 15 types of frog. If you're lucky, you might spot a long-necked tortoise - there are many varieties in the park. Even more special, Culgoa has one of the largest koala populations in northern NSW. 

    • Culgoa Connellys track Culgoa Connellys track is an easy 8km return trail through open coolabah woodlands, with plenty of animals to see and opportunities for birdwatching and astronomy.
    • Yuwura Yurun Yuwura Yarun (Sandhill track) offers the most comprehensive walk in Culgoa National Park, crossing diverse habitats and offering birdwatching and picnicking opportunities.

    Rich cultural life

    Nebine Creek, Culgoa National Park. Photo: OEH

    Aboriginal Australians have a long relationship with Culgoa. Murrawarri people, from the Gandugari group, consider it traditional land and it has significant archaeological and cultural value. Other tribal groups include the Ngemba, Ngaampaa, Paakandji, Morawari and Budjiti, who work with the NPWS in discussions of land management. Today, Murrawarri descendants reside in the area around the park, including the townships of Weilmoringle, Brewarrina, Goodooga, Bourke and Enngonia. These people retain a strong oral history of the region, expressed as traditional knowledge, beliefs, personal history and attachment to the landscape.

    Under the shade of a coolabah tree

    Culgoa National Park. Photo: OEH

    Culgoa is the only national park in NSW with Brigalow-gidgee woodland. It also has the largest continuous tract of coolabah woodland left in the state, meaning plenty of opportunities to settle down in the afternoon 'under the shade of a coolabah tree'.

    • Culgoa Connellys track Culgoa Connellys track is an easy 8km return trail through open coolabah woodlands, with plenty of animals to see and opportunities for birdwatching and astronomy.
    • Mirri Mirru Yurun Mirri Mirru Yurun (River Bank walk) is an easy 1km walk along Culgoa River, with opportunities for wildlife viewing and a place to stop for a barbecue afterwards.

    Education resources (1)