The Barracks campground

Coolah Tops National Park

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Overview

The Barracks campground is a secluded camping area, great for small groups looking for a tranquil place to come back to after a day of walking or mountain biking.

Accommodation Details
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle
Where Grass Trees Trail, Coolah, NSW, 2843 - in Coolah Tops National Park
Facilities Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, toilets
What to bring Firewood
Price There are no camping fees at this campground but a $6 booking fee applies.
Group bookings Book up to 40 people or 9 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry.
Please note

Sites are unmarked and unpowered.

Arriving at The Barracks campground, you’ll find a lovely shaded camping area nestled beneath the tall eucalypt forest beside a small creek. It’s a modest campground, great for little groups looking for a tranquil place to relax after a day of walking or mountain biking in the park. It also makes for a beautiful picnic spot to sit by the gently flowing creek, enjoy a hot cuppa and a bit of lunch.

Wander along Grasstrees track through a stand of giant ancient-looking grasstrees. Standing over 4m tall, they’re several hundred years old.

Back at base, sitting in the comfort of your camping chair, you might spot a group of red-necked wallabies bouncing through the bush, or catch a glimpse of a wombat as it waddles through the campground.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • At Norfolk Falls, water cascades over a steep rocky cliff set in bushland.  Photo: Nick Cubbin/DPIE

    Norfolk Falls picnic area

    Norfolk Falls picnic area is in Coolah Tops National Park near The Barracks and Coxs Creek campgrounds. It’s a lovely rest stop when exploring the park’s beautiful waterfalls, walks and lookouts.

  • Norfolk Island Creek cascades down a rocky cliff at Norfolk Falls lookout. Photo: Michael Sharp © Michael Sharp

    Norfolk Falls lookout

    Norfolk Falls lookout is located at the end of Norfolk Falls walk, in Coolah Tops National Park. It’s a great spot to view the cascading waterfall along Norfolk Island Creek, plunging 35m into a pool.

  • Views across the Warrumbungle Range from Pinnacle lookout, Coolah Tops National Park, near Coolah. Photo: Leah Pippos © DPIE

    Pinnacle lookout

    Pinnacle lookout is a scenic spot in Coolah Tops National Park, near Coolah. A short drive from The Barracks campground, it offers sweeping views across the Liverpool Plains and Warrumbungle Range.

  • View past 2 wallabies on the escarpment edge to a patchwork of wide-open plains, hills and distant mountains.  Photo: Barry Collier © Barry Collier

    Bundella lookout

    Bundella lookout offers vast panoramic views across plains and mountains, near Coolah. Enjoy a scenic picnic before exploring the walks, wildlife and waterfalls in Coolah Tops National Park.

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/the-barracks-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

  • in Coolah Tops National Park in the Country NSW region
  • Coolah Tops National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather, fire danger or management operations. The eastern end of the park is regularly closed during wet weather due to slippery road conditions.

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about The Barracks campground.

Getting there and parking

The Barracks campground is in the western precinct of Coolah Tops National Park. To get there:

  • After entering the park, continue on The Forest Road for approximately 6km.
  • Take the first left turn onto The Pinnacle Road
  • After about 1km, take the first right which takes you to The Barracks campground.

Road quality

Check the weather before you set out as some roads within the park are closed after heavy rain.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at The Barracks campground.

Best times to visit

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

Autumn

Great camping weather before the cold weather arrives. Swap stories by the campfire about the day's adventures.

Spring

See the park come to life as the pink darling pea, yellow flowering black wattle and silver wattle burst into colour.

Summer

Enjoy warm days walking and mountain biking and cooler nights in the bush.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

15°C and 30°C

Highest recorded

40.3°C

Winter temperature

Average

2°C and 15°C

Lowest recorded

-6.7°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

May

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

186.7mm

Facilities

  • Rubbish bins are not available, so please take your rubbish with you when leaving.
  • There’s a small creek adjacent to the camping area. Please remember to boil or treat the creek water before drinking.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

There’s a small picnic shelter with a rainwater tank.

Barbecue facilities

  • Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
  • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

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.
Take care when walking around cliff edges and above waterfalls - please supervise children at all times.

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).

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

Wheelchairs can access this area with some difficulty.

Wheelchair facilities

  • Wheel accessible toilet

Permitted

Gathering firewood

Firewood is not provided, but you may collect wood from within the park. Please note that the use of chainsaws is not permitted.

Prohibited

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

The Barracks campground is in Coolah Tops National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Get active in the bush

Brackens Cottage in Coolah Tops National Park. Photo: Nick Cubbin

Pack your hiking boots and your mountain bike and be ready to get active in the bush at Coolah Tops. There are plenty of great walking tracks and trails to experience the bush on your bike. Make your way to lookouts like Shepherd's Peak or Breeza lookout for spectacular views to the north over the Liverpool Plains and the sheer escarpment. You'll also find several waterfalls along the escarpment where the creeks plunge over the plateau edge.

Wildlife haven

Eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) on top of Bundella lookout, Coolah Tops National Park. Photo: Barry Collier

Looking out across the beautiful landscape of Coolah Tops National Park, it's obvious why you'll find so much wildlife here. Wander quietly along one of the walking tracks and you'll probably have a close encounter with red-necked wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos. You might also find a wombat waddling through the campground. Coolah Tops has some of the highest population densities of greater gliders in Australia. At night, keep your torch handy to see greater gliders, ring-tailed possums and possibly feather-tailed gliders or a sugar glider in the nearby trees.

  • Grass Tree walking track Grass Tree walking track is a great way to explore a magical landscape of ancient grass trees in Coolah Tops National Park. A must-do for visitors, this easy walk starts at The Barracks campground.
  • Shepherds Peak walking track For experienced bushwalkers, Shepherds Peak walking track in Coolah Tops National Park is a great way to explore sub-alpine forest. Come prepared for a steep scramble up the peak’s volcanic dome.
  • Snow Gum walking track Snow Gum walking track in Coolah Tops National Park is an easy way to experience some of the largest known snow gum trees in a beautiful old-growth forest setting, near Coolah.

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