Willandra group campground
Willandra National Park
Overview
Willandra group campground is a great choice for those car touring or 4WD touring, with great birdwatching, bushwalking and historic heritage just moments away.
| Number of campsites | 10 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
| Facilities | Amenities block, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, drinking water, showers, toilets |
| What to bring | Firewood |
| Entry fees |
Park entry fees are not included in your camping fees. |
| Group bookings | This campground is suitable for group bookings. School groups and Park Eco Pass holders can make a group booking enquiry. |
| Please note |
|
Pitch your tent, pull up your caravan or camping trailer, and make Willandra group campground your base to explore. Set among black box and river cooba trees, this large campground alongside Willandra Creek is a great choice for groups who are car touring or 4WD touring through the Western Rivers region.
If you feel like stretching your legs, wander over to historic Willandra Homestead and discover the pastoral history of the area, or walk down to Willandra Creek. You can find a spot at the creek, take advantage of fantastic birdwatching, or try your luck yabbying. You can also go bushwalking along Nilla Yannagalang Billana walking track and loop back to the homestead.
After a day of historic heritage and nature, head back to base for a night around the campfire, a bit of stargazing, and a good night’s rest under the stars.
Also see
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Willandra campground
For a classic Aussie bush camp, pitch a tent at Willandra campground, the perfect base for exploring Willandra’s historic heritage and Willandra Creek.
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Willandra Men's Quarters
Spend a night or two at historic Willandra Men’s Quarters for a real outback experience in Willandra National Park, at a great rate.
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Willandra Cottage
If you're looking for a weekend getaway in the bush, you can’t go wrong with Willandra Cottage. This rustic cottage offers affordable accommodation just moments from the historic Willandra Homestead.
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/willandra-group-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
Park info
- in Willandra National Park in the Murray-Riverina region
Willandra National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring correct change.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Willandra group campground.
Getting there and parking
Willandra group campground is in the Willandra Homestead precinct. To get there:
From Hillston:
- Drive 53km west along Mossgiel Trunk Road (unsealed and impassable after rain).
- Turn north onto Trida Road and drive another 20km until you see the park entrance signposted on the right (east).
- Drive another 10km east along Willandra Creek trail
- Willandra group campground is just west of the homestead
From Cobb Highway:
- Turn east at Mossgiel and drive 61km east
- Turn north onto Trida Road and drive another 20km until you see the park entrance signposted on the right (east).
- Drive another 10km east along Willandra Creek trail
- Willandra group campground is just west of the homestead
Road quality
Roads to and throughout Willandra National Park are closed in wet weather. To check the status of road conditions in the area, visit Carrathool Shire Council website.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at Willandra group campground, including several designated disabled spots.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Willandra National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Like spring, this season is also a time of mild weather.
Spring
Spring brings mild weather and fantastic birdwatching opportunities, as well as being the best time for wildflower displays. Drive, cycle or walk the scenic Merton trail or follow the Nilla Yannagalang Billana walking trail to make the most of what's on offer at this time of year.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
17°C and 32°C
Highest recorded
46°C
Winter temperature
Average
7°C and 16°C
Lowest recorded
-4.4°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
October
Driest month
February
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
119.6mm
Facilities
Rubbish bins are not available – please take rubbish with you when leaving.
Amenities
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Wood barbecues
- Fire rings (bring your own firewood)
Drinking water
Water is available at this campground – you’ll need to treat or boil it before drinking.
Showers
- Cold showers
Maps and downloads
Permitted
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Generators
Generators are permitted to be used in particular areas within this campground (please turn off by 9pm and be mindful of other park users).
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Firewood is not provided and may not be collected from the park.
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
Willandra group campground is in Willandra National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A closer look at Aboriginal culture
Evidence of Aboriginal people's lives on this land can best be seen on the scalds near Halls Lake, near the Merton trail, where erosion has exposed a number of objects. Take a look at (but please don't touch) the remains of oven hearths, broken pieces of grinding dishes and stone flakes. Nilla Yannagalang Billana, the only formal walking track in the park, means 'walking along together' in Wiradjuri.
- Merton motor trail Whether you’re driving or cycling, the Merton motor trail at Willandra National Park is the perfect way to experience the park’s various wildlife habitats and historic past.
Plain to see
Windmill, cane, spear and white top - the names of Australian native grasses really have evolved to become far more fun than their original Latin terms. These grasses now make up most of the ground cover on the park's plains. Saltbush and cottonbush dominated - and still does - but Europeans quickly recognised the nutritional value of these plants and a century of grazing has changed the environment. A hike through the wetlands, woodlands and grasslands of the park, rich with birds and animals, is a reminder of how nature continues to adapt.
- Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.
The ringer looks around
Big Willandra Station once stretched from Hillston to Mossgiel and covered an area eight times that of what is now Willandra National Park. Some buildings from the huge merino stud are in ruins, while others have been restored. In its time, Big Willandra saw it all: illegal squatting, leasehold, freehold, homesteading, the establishment of the Western Lands Commission, resumptions and soldier settler occupation. Today, you can enjoy cheap heritage accommodation, ideal for a weekend family or group getaway.
- Merton motor trail Whether you’re driving or cycling, the Merton motor trail at Willandra National Park is the perfect way to experience the park’s various wildlife habitats and historic past.
- Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.
- Willandra Homestead Visit Willandra Homestead, the lovingly restored pastoral station of Big Willandra. Step back in time, enjoy a barbecue and watch waterbirds on Willandra Creek.
- Willandra shearing precinct Explore the rustic and distinctive woolshed and shearers’ quarters of the Willandra Shearing precinct to experience the fascinating working history of Big Willandra.
What bird is that?
Could there really be 195 species of birdlife within an area of less than 20,000ha? The diversity of Willandra's natural environment — from woodland and wetland to grassland and open plain — provides a variety of habitats. The result is an eclectic mix that includes emu, swan, seagull, night heron, raptor and duck. Set yourself the challenge to see how many different birds you can spot during your visit.
- Nilla Yannagalang Billana The Nilla Yannagalang Billana is an easy walking track that follows Willandra Creek and passes sites of great historical and cultural significance.