Abercrombie River NP

Abercrombie River NP This trek is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales and offers the visitor some moderate four-wheel driving, and picturesque camping sites beside the Abercrombie River and Silent Creek. The area is also known for its trout fishing.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesOberon
FinishOberon
DifficultyDifficulty 2.5/5 Suitable for4WD Camper Bike 
Distance172.36 kmMinimum Days2
Average Speed40.78 km/hrDriving Time4 hrs 13 mins
Rating Be the first to rate this item0 Reviews
Article By: The Landy (Barry)
Page Updated: 19 Nov 2007

Go to top Description

The Abercrombie River National Park preserves the largest remaining intact patch of low open forest in the south-west tableland area of New South Wales. Visitors may be lucky enough to spot platypuses and eastern water rats in the Abercrombie and Retreat Rivers, both of which are important habitats for the animals.

When not in drought conditions the park offers the opportunity to swim, fish, and canoes.

The park is suitable to visit all year around, although be well prepared in winter and ensure you take plenty of warm clothing.

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Go to top Interactive Route Map

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Abercrombie River NP Help

From: Oberon
To: Oberon

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Go to top Permits

No permits are required for this trek

Go to top Things to See & Do

The park has a number of four wheel driving tracks along formed fire trails and some may require low-range. Whilst there are no formed walking tracks in this park the visitor can explore along the rivers and creeks within its boundaries. The rivers and streams offer the opportunity to swim, fish, and canoe, although the rivers and streams can dry up or stop flowing if there has been a lack of rain in the area.

Trout can be caught in the water ways during the trout season which runs from the October long weekend to the June long weekend (don’t forget your fishing licence).

Go to top Preparation

This is a moderate trek with some step sections suitable to vehicles with low-range. High clearance vehicles would be an advantage and is suitable to camper trailers with care.

Visitors to the park should ensure they take sufficient water as the waterways will dry up at times of drought. Supplies and fuel are available from Oberon (40klm), Black Springs (20klm).

At the time of writing entry and exit to the park is via Arkstone road only. The Brass Walls entrance is closed due to extremely slippery conditions along the Link Road and Little Bald Hill fire trail.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolOberon, Black Springs Diesel4cyl 24 litres ULP4cyl 28 litres LPG4cyl 34 litres
6cyl 26 litres6cyl 31 litres6cyl 30 litres
8cyl 26 litres8cyl 29 litres

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Oberon, Black Springs
A full range of supplies and accommodation is available at Oberon and limited supplies are available at Black Springs.

Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation

The Bummaaroo Ford camping area has 15 sites and can be accessed by conventional vehicles. The Silent Creek, The Sink, and the Beach camping areas will require four-wheel drive vehicles. Bush camping is also permitted throughout the park and the route notes detail various possibilities.

Go to top Environment

The park varies widely in altitude and geology. In the north-east, the landscape reaches 1128m above sea level, and you'll find rich volcanic soils. The southern end of the park is much lower - only 500m at the Abercrombie River - and has much poorer soils from sedimentary rock. This landscape diversity has led to a wide variety of plant communities.

In the high-altitude areas in the eastern section of the park, you'll find mountain gums and peppermint, which is typical of the Southern Tablelands. This type of plant community has been much reduced elsewhere, due to land clearing for pine plantations and forestry.

At lower altitudes, there are open forests of inland scribbly gum and red stringy bark. Along the rivers and creeks, there are tall river oaks, tea trees and bottlebrushes.

Argyle apple grows in this park. This is close to the northern limit of its distribution.

Wallaroos, red-necked wallabies, swamp wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos are often seen in the park's eucalypt forests. Wombats and echidnas live on the slopes and river flats.

Up in the trees, there are greater gliders, sugar gliders, brush-tailed possums and ring-tailed possums. Over 60 species of birds are also found in the park - including the peregrine falcon.

Down by the park's rivers, you might be lucky enough to see a platypus. If not, you might spot a Gippsland water dragon, sunning itself on a rock during the warmer months. You'll also hear the calls of a variety of frog species.

The rivers and creeks are home to trout cod and Macquarie perch, both of which are protected by law. River blackfish, silver perch and Murray Cray are also found here - all of these species are rare in the region. If you catch a trout cod, Macquarie perch or silver perch, you must carefully return it to the water.

Go to top History

The rivers and creeks throughout the park offered food and shelter for local Aboriginal tribes, possibly the Wiradjuri or Gundungarra people. These tribes probably used the Abercrombie River as a trading route for stone tools and even shells from the coast.

The land and waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them, feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture – including recreational, ceremonial, and spiritual and as a main source of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today. We work with local Aboriginal communities to protect this rich heritage.

To find out more about Aboriginal heritage in the park, you can get in touch with the local Aboriginal community. Contact the park office for more details.

The area that now forms the national park was prospected during the 19th century gold-rushes, and there are still some diggings, water races and sluice boxes left behind by the miners. There's also an early 20th century wattle-and-daub hut in the park.

Go to top Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Oberon to Norway 10.58 km SW 210° 9 min
Norway to Black Springs 12.53 km SW 215° 9 min
Black Springs to Arkstone Rd & Abercrombie Rd 9.25 km S 173° 10 min
Arkstone Rd & Abercrombie Rd to Arkstone Rd 22.13 km SW 222° 25 min
Arkstone Rd to Abercrombie River NP - Western Boundary 6.27 km S 184° 9 min
Abercrombie River NP - Western Boundary to The Sink Camp Area 5.33 km E 107° 13 min
The Sink Camp Area to Paddle Wheel Generator 0.98 km N 344° 3 min
Paddle Wheel Generator to Black Hill Fire Trail - Abercrombie River NP 7.67 km NE 49° 20 min
Black Hill Fire Trail - Abercrombie River NP to Black Hill Fire Trail - Camp Site 2.12 km S 175° 7 min
Black Hill Fire Trail - Camp Site to Silent Creek Camp Area 19.49 km S 189° 1 hr
Silent Creek Camp Area to The Beach Camp Area 6.89 km NW 308° 24 min
The Beach Camp Area to Retreat River Crossing 2.02 km N 20° 8 min
Retreat River Crossing to Abercrombie River NP - Western Boundary 6.34 km NW 332° 15 min
Abercrombie River NP - Western Boundary to Arkstone Rd 6.27 km N 9 min
Arkstone Rd to Arkstone Rd & Abercrombie Rd 22.13 km NE 42° 25 min
Arkstone Rd & Abercrombie Rd to Black Springs 9.25 km N 353° 10 min
Black Springs to Norway 12.53 km NE 35° 9 min
Norway to Oberon 10.58 km NE 30° 9 min
Oberon to Oberon 172.36 km     4 hr 13 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
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