Kings Plains Creek campground

Kings Plains National Park

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Overview

In a clearing by the creek, Kings Plains Creek campground, on the New England Tablelands, is a great spot for a family weekend getaway. Pitch your tent for days of bushwalking and relaxation.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 7
Camping type Tent, Don't mind a short walk to tent
Facilities Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, 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
  • There are no marked sites and sites are unpowered
  • This is a remote campground, so please make sure you arrive well-prepared.
  • There is limited/no mobile reception in this park

With its superb location, Kings Plains Creek campground is a hit with adventurous, independent holidaymakers. The family will love spotting grey kangaroos, who tend to appear near the end of the day. Turquoise parrots and tiny diamond firetail finches are also often seen near the campground. As night falls, you’ll hear frogs singing and can even sit quietly on the banks and watch the microbats hunting above the water.

Once you’ve settled in, strap on hiking boots for a walk along the creek to Kings Plains Falls, which only runs after rain. The trail is unmarked and there are areas where rock-hopping is necessary, but this is bushwalking at its best. It takes about 2.5 hours to get to the waterfall and back.

Getting to the campground is easy from Glen Innes or Inverell, but you do need to carry gear along a walking track from the carpark.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • The cascades and surrounding rock formations along Kings Plains Creek walking track. Photo: Jessica Stokes/DCCEEW © Jessica Stokes

    Kings Plains Creek walking track

    Kings Plains Creek walking track is a challenging 3km return walk in Kings Plains National Park, near Inverell. The creekside track leads to Kings Plains Falls, which only flows after rain.

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/kings-plains-creek-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Kings Plains Creek campground.

Getting there and parking

  • From either Glen Innes or Inverell, follow the signs to Kings Plains Road.
  • Take the Jindalee Road turn-off from Kings Plains Road then turn west into the park approximately 2.5km south-west of Jindalee
  • Follow the road to the end to reach the campground

Road quality

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

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available in a gravel carpark next to the campground and is accessed via a walking track.

Best times to visit

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

Autumn

Pleasant days make for great walking conditions around the park.

Spring

Wildflowers come into bloom across the park and attract many bird species, making this a great time for birdwatching.

Summer

It can get very hot at this time of year, so the shaded campsites beside the creek are great for escaping the heat.

Winter

Now's the perfect time to relax by a cosy campfire in the beautiful natural surroundings the park has to offer.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

18°C and 32°C

Highest recorded

41.2°C

Winter temperature

Average

2°C and 20°C

Lowest recorded

–6.3°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

June

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

160mm

Facilities

  • Water is not available at this campground.
  • Rubbish bins are not available – please take rubbish with you when leaving.
  • Firewood is not provided and may not be collected from the park.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

Carpark

Step-free access

There is step-free access around the campground but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over a mixture of hard-packed ground, sand and grass to reach the facilities.

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

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 attraction is in a remote location, so please ensure you’re well-prepared, bring appropriate clothing and equipment and advise a family member or friend of your travel plans.

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 - medium

Kings Plains campground is mostly flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground, grass and some sandy surfaces to reach the facilities.

The toilets at the campground are not accessible or ambulant.

Permitted

Generators

Generators are permitted to be used in some areas within the campground.

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

Kings Plains Creek campground is in Kings Plains National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

All creatures, great and small

Kings Plains camping area, Kings Plains National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Wildlife is abundant in the park, and most easily spotted at dawn or dusk. Keep your eyes peeled for eastern grey kangaroos, wallaroos, swamp wallabies, red-neck wallabies and koalas. The shy platypus also lives along the creek. The park is home to more than 80 species of birds, from beautiful king parrots and yellow-tailed black cockatoos to wedge-tailed eagles and the rare peregrine falcon. Near the rivers, look for cormorants, tall white-faced herons and azure kingfishers. Stands of ironbark, cypress pine and yellow box all feature in the open woodland of Kings Plains National Park. There's even a rare patch of McKie's stringybark, a tall tree that flowers white between March and May. You'll also find uncommon and rare plant species - the grey guinea flower and the yellow-flowering Kings Plain homoranthus - in the park's heath areas. Wildflowers are at their best during spring.

Ancient cultures

Kings Plain Creek, Kings Plains National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

Kings Plains National Park is part of the traditional land of the Ngarrabul Aboriginal people, whose tribal totem is the koala, which they call 'boor-bee'. An Aboriginal person's totem is an animal or plant with a powerful spiritual connection and is never killed or eaten by that person, since it could be an ancestor. For thousands of years, this tradition has ensured koalas were conserved in this area.

Fascinating recent history

Kings Plains National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/Seen Australia

When he rode through the region in 1827, explorer and botanist Allan Cunningham found the first European settlers working the land. Kings Plains National Park was once part of the vast King Plains Station, established in 1838, and for many years an important cattle-grazing property. Today, you can still find evidence of early grazing and mining activity throughout the park, including the remains of huts, mining pits and mullock heaps.

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