Junction Pools campground
Barrington Tops National Park
Overview
Accessed by 4WD trail, Junction Pools campground offers mountain biking, swimming, and fishing, in Barrington Tops National Park plateau region between Scone and Gloucester.
| Number of campsites | 5 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Don't mind a short walk to tent |
| Facilities | Barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets |
| What to bring | Firewood |
| Bookings | Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online. |
| Group bookings | This campground is not suitable for group bookings. |
| Please note |
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If you yearn to camp under the stars and enjoy a remote wilderness experience, load up the 4WD and head to Junction Pools campground. High in the pristine wilderness of the plateau country within Barrington Tops National Park, between Scone and Gloucester, you’ll experience the unique landscape of sub-alpine wetlands that hark back to the last ice age.
While this remote region houses many unique species, you’re more likely to see eastern grey kangaroos, wombats, and swamp wallabies grazing the grasslands and open forests of the plateau country. Swim the cool, clear mountain streams, try your hand at trout fishing or hike along the Aeroplane Hill walking track. When night settles in, cook up the catch of the day over a campfire and soak up the sounds of the bush.
Take a virtual tour of Junction Pools campground captured with Google Street View Trekker.
Also see
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Edwards Swamp walking track
Edwards Swamp walking track is a great way to explore the sub-alpine plateau of Barrington Tops National Park. 7km one-way, it’s also an ideal day walk if you’re camping at Junction Pools campground.
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Aeroplane Hill walking track
Aeroplane Hill walking track offers scenic views, wildlife, and wetlands in the sub-alpine region of Barrington Tops National Park, between Scone and Gloucester.
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Barrington trail
Take the challenge of the Barrington trail, a 4WD trail in Barrington Tops National Park. Open between October and May every year, plan your 4WD camping holiday now.
Map
Map
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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/junction-pools-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
Operated by
- Gloucester office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6538 5300
- npws.barringtontops@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 59 Church Street, Gloucester NSW 2422
Park info
- in Barrington Tops National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Barrington Tops National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Junction Pools campground.
Getting there and parking
Junction Pools campground is in the Barrington Tops precinct of Barrington Tops National Park.
From Gloucester:
- Take Thunderbolts Way; this road becomes Scone Road and Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- Turn left into Barrington trail at Barrington trail picnic area located on the left after passing Devils Hole.
- Follow Barrington trail for around 12km to Junction Pools campground.
From Scone:
- Take the Hunter Road from Scone
- Turn right on to Moonan Brook Road, then turn left on Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- Turn into Barrington trail, which is on the right 1km past Polblue.
- Follow Barrington trail for around 12.5km to Junction Pools campground.
Barrington trail is only open to vehicles from October 1 to May 31. At other times, this campground is only accessible by walking or cycling (12km one-way) when the 4WD access trails close. Temporary closures may occur during this period due to weather conditions. Check alerts for current closures.
Road quality
Roads may become slippery in wet weather.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- All roads require 4WD vehicle
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
There's an informal gravel carpark at the campground.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Barrington Tops National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Take to the park's walking tracks to make the most of cooler and drier daytime weather.
Spring
Look out for ground orchids and other wildflowers along the Polblue Swamp walking track.
Summer
Look out for the eastern water dragon basking on rocks around the streams.
Facilities
Water is available at this campground, but it’s advisable to boil or treat the water before drinking.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Barbecue facilities
- Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
The campground is in remote wilderness and the ground is uneven and grassy. There are no pathways from the parking area to the unmarked campsites.
Permitted
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Keep campfires small or use a camp stove instead.
Prohibited
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
Junction Pools campground is in Barrington Tops National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
World Heritage-listed rainforests
The rainforests in Barrington Tops National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area; the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. The World Heritage Area is a direct window into the past and the future, providing a link to the ancient pre-human world and a stunning and irreplaceable record of life on our planet. You can explore the rainforest on one of the park's many walking tracks, like the Honeysuckle Forest track, the Rocky Crossing walk or the Antarctic Beech Forest track. Listen out for the lyrebird whose mimicking calls ring out through the rainforest.
- Antarctic Beech Forest walking track Antarctic Beech Forest walking track offers rainforest, cascades, scenic views, and birdwatching in Barrington Tops National Park, near Gloucester.
- Careys Peak walking track Easy Careys Peak walking track offers picnicking, scenic views, birdwatching, and historic heritage in the sub-alpine region of Barrington National Park, near Scone.
- Cobark Park picnic area Take a break at Cobark Park picnic area to plan your adventures in the plateau region of Barrington Tops National Park—1 hour from Gloucester.
An ancient landscape
Barrington Tops National Park and the adjoining State Conservation Area are the traditional land of several Aboriginal groups, including the Worimi and Biripi people, the Gringai clan of the Worimi people and Wonnarua people. The rainforests of Barrington Tops offered a wealth of resources for Aboriginal people, including many edible fruits, like the native cherry, lilly pilly and figs. Today, the history of Aboriginal people in Barrington Tops is recorded in oral history and in the presence of Aboriginal sites. Barrington Tops National Park protects ancient campsites, scarred trees and sacred ceremonial places.
A dramatic wilderness
Most of Barrington Tops National Park is declared wilderness; large, natural areas of land that, together with their native plants and animal communities, remain essentially unchanged by modern human activity. Wilderness areas in NSW represent the largest, most pristine natural areas within NSW - the last of Australia's wild and untamed places. The edges of the wilderness area of Barrington Tops are easily accessible; some of the most spectacular views in the park are from Careys Peak and Devils Hole and Thunderbolts lookouts. You'll notice the varied textures of the forest below you, with the ranges of the Barrington Wilderness running east and south from the plateau like the fingers of an outstretched hand.
- Barrington trail Take the challenge of the Barrington trail, a 4WD trail in Barrington Tops National Park. Open between October and May every year, plan your 4WD camping holiday now.
- Gloucester Tops circuit Walk through snow gum woodland and ancient rainforest to lookouts and waterfalls, along the Gloucester Tops circuit. This 8km loop combines 3 popular and scenic walks in Barrington Tops National Park.
- Majestic Barrington mountain bike tours Enjoy spectacular scenery as you cycle through Barrington Tops National Park and beyond on this supported mountain bike tour with Aussie Bike or Hike, near Gloucester.
- Rocky Crossing walk Rocky Crossing walk along Williams River offers scenic rainforest views, wildlife and birdwatching on a long easy track in Barrington Tops National Park, near Dungog.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.
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Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.
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Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
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Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
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Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.
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Rufous scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens)
The vulnerable rufous scrub-bird is a small, ground-foraging bird that lives only in isolated rainforest areas of south-eastern Australia.