Nunnock campground
South East Forest National Park
Overview
Nunnock campground is a great base for nature lovers to explore the bushwalks, history, 4WD and birdwatching opportunities in South East Forest National Park, near Bombala.
| Number of campsites | 4 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
| Facilities | Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets |
| 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 |
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Located in South East Forest National Park, between Bega and Cooma, this small campground has room for 3 tent sites and 1 camper trailer or caravan. Surrounded by forest, biodiverse swamps and grasslands, it will delight campers, bushwalkers, wildlife spotters and photographers.
Set up your tent or camper then get ready to explore. Nunnock Swamp and Grasslands walking tracks are a great place to start, with 15km of trails taking in this area’s nature and history.
Walk the 4km trail fringing this rare upland swamp to pass through tall wet forest, dry forest and grasslands that burst with flowers in spring and summer. See wedge-tailed eagles soar overhead, while Wilkinson’s leek orchids, native bluebells, and swamp paper daisies peek out from the ground at your feet.
The short, moderate Keys walking track leads from the campground, through grassland and snow gum woodland, and into pastoral history. At Keys Stockyards see wallabies graze where cattle once fed. Continue along Wilkinsons walking track to discover rustic Alexanders Hut, built for yesteryear’s cattlemen.
Back at camp, cook up a hearty meal around the campfire as nightfall brings the chance to see ringtail possums, wombats and, if you're lucky, greater gliders.
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/nunnock-campground/local-alerts
General enquiries
- 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
- Bombala office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm.
- 02 6458 5900
- npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 153 Maybe Street, Bombala NSW 2632
Park info
- in South East Forest National Park in the South Coast and Snowy Mountains regions
South East Forest 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 Nunnock campground.
Getting there and parking
Nunnock campground is in the Tantawangalo area of South East Forest National Park.
To get there from Nimmitabel:
- Drive south for 10km along Snowy Mountains Highway
- Turn right onto Monaro Highway and follow for 4km
- Turn left onto New Line Road and follow for 19km
- Turn left onto Packers Swamp Road and follow around 4km
- Turn right onto Cattlemans Link track then after 600m turn left onto Nunnock Camp Road.
To get there from Bombala:
- Drive east for 19km along Cathcart Road and Mount Darragh Road
- At Cathcart, turn left onto Tantawangalo Mountain Road
- After around 7.5km turn left onto New Line Road and continue 11.5km
- Turn right onto Packers Swamp Road and follow around 4km
- Turn right onto Cattlemans Link track then after 600m turn left onto Nunnock Camp Road.
To get there from Bega:
- Turn off Princes Highway onto Candelo-Bega Road
- At Candelo, turn right onto Eden Street then left onto Sharp Street
- Turn right onto Tantawangalo Mountain Road
- Turn right onto New Line Road and follow for 19km
- Turn right onto Packers Swamp Road and follow around 4km
- Turn right onto Cattlemans Link track then after 600m turn left onto Nunnock Camp Road.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- 4WD required in wet weather
Parking
Parking is available next to campsites
Facilities
- You’ll need to bring your own supply of drinking and cooking water.
- There are no bins at Nunnock campground so you’ll need to take all rubbish away with you.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Fire rings (bring your own firewood)
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
Hard access is via steps or a steep slope, or you'll have to move across a rough surface with obstacles such as potholes, tree roots, and rocks. Assistance will be necessary.
Permitted
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Prohibited
Recreational hunting in NSW National Parks is an illegal activity and is a fineable offence.
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
Nunnock campground is in South East Forest National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Ancient connections
South East Forest National Park is part of the traditional country of the Yuin People, who had a diverse economy and cultural links with neighbouring Aboriginal clans and tribes. South East Forest National Park and the surrounding area provided a diverse food source of animals and fish, a rich resource for weapon and tool construction, as well as a source of medicines and transport. The park protects a number of Aboriginal sites and remains an important landscape for Aboriginal people today.
Old-growth
In the early 19th century, explorers, miners, squatters and timber getters led the way into the area that is now South East Forest National Park. The forests within the park were utilised as resources for many years up until the 1980's when their transition to national park commenced. The old-growth forest contains eucalypt trees in their final cycle of growth; trees that provide many different types of nest or home sites for wildlife. Some animals, like large forest owls and glider possums depend on these forests for hollows that develop over long periods of time. Pipers lookout in the northern part of the park is a good place to see old growth forests. Take the short loop walk to see magnificent views of Bemboka and the Bega Valley below, and walk through towering old growth forest.
Rock on
South East Forest National Park protects unique physical features that are sure to appeal to budding geologists, keen photographers and nature-lovers alike. The huge granite tors at Pheasants Peak are the result of volcanic activity and millions of years of weathering and erosion. For a close up view, take the challenging Pheasants Peak walk, you'll also be rewarded with stunning views towards the Snowy Mountains and down the south coast escarpment. Don't miss the elliptically shaped Jingera complex at Jingera Rock near the town of Wyndham; a sheer syenite rockface that is the first reported complex of its type in Australia.
- Goodenia Rainforest picnic area Combine a barbecue with birdwatching at Goodenia Rainforest picnic area, near Merimbula. The easy Goodenia Rainforest walk starts from this scenic picnic area.
- Myanba Gorge walking track Myanba Gorge walking track is a short walk near Bombala with wheelchair-friendly access to the first lookout. It’s great spot for birdwatching and an idyllic place for a picnic.
- Nunnock Swamp and Grasslands walking tracks Go to South East Forest National Park near both Nimmitabel and Bombala for a day walk through the Far South Coast hinterland. Go birdwatching or camping at Alexanders Hut.
- Pipers lookout A good place to stop for a picnic, but Pipers lookout in South East Forest National Park also features stunning views – take the easy boardwalk to see for yourself.
Wildlife haven
Koalas, powerful owls and giant burrowing frogs are among the threatened species protected within South East Forest National Park. The park also shelters the state's only known populations of endangered long-footed potoroos. Head to White Rock picnic area and look for small conical pits in the ground - evidence of a potoroo's night-time search for fungus. If you're camping overnight at Six Mile Creek or Nunnock campgrounds, listen and watch for nocturnal creatures like gliders and possums.
- Goodenia Rainforest picnic area Combine a barbecue with birdwatching at Goodenia Rainforest picnic area, near Merimbula. The easy Goodenia Rainforest walk starts from this scenic picnic area.
- Waalimma picnic area Located near both Bega and Bombala on the NSW south coast, Waalimma picnic area in South East Forest National Park is great for birdwatching, bushwalking and camping.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
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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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Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)
A nocturnal marsupial and one of the smaller Australian native animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is found across eastern Australia. Populations in the Sydney region have dwindled since European settlement, leaving only endangered colonies in inner western Sydney and at North Head, near Manly. The long-nosed bandicoot has grey-brown fur and a pointed snout which it uses to forage for worms and insects.
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Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)
The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.
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Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.