Blue Mountains Camping

Gezzamate,

I forgot to mention that access to Dunphys is via a thoroughfare through private land.

Please leave a contribution in the bucket and respect the owner's generosity.

Peter.

fawkesp, I think you are on the money....even though Newnes is nice, it's too far from Katoomba...

Mt Wilson has free camping also, but again, too far compared to Megalong !

The Scenic Railway and Skyrail(??) are around the valley from the 3 Sisters, maybe only a km or so away from each other,



This map should give you an idea, Geeza.

Another vote for Megalong too........a magic spot.

Bob

There's a hop on hop off bus around Katoomba and Leura. The lookouts at Blackheath are pretty spectacular as well..

Camping at newnes is free...you may be thinking of the paid camping opposite the old pub, which is on the way in, only 1/2 K from the free nat parks camping.

Across the small creek is the best campsite...spectacular views and a little bit closer to the ruins.

Agree, Michael. Standing at Govett's Leap, gazing up the Grose Valley, late on a sunny afternoon............almost a spiritual experience.

Perry's Lookdown has some good views too, a bit further up the valley.

Recall there's some good views of Megalong Valley, from behind the Blaxland, Wentworth & Lawson blazed tree, a km or so west of Katoomba, on way to Medlow Bath & Bleakheath.

Worth driving down to the Lolly Bug, at Hartley Vale, for a good feed, coffee and let the kids........and adults, roam through the myriad of lollies and sweets available.

A day trip to Jenolan Caves isn't out of the question from Katoomba area as well. That'll wear the kids out!

Bob

I've seen the river up high enough to prevent crossings a number of times. It rises quite quickly so there is always the possibility of being stuck over there so use your judgement if it starts raining.

Brink - I wasn't aware there were 2 campgrounds. It sounded to me like it was the one campground. I looked up newnescampground.com - I assumed this was the campground you were talking about? There is also a campground listed on youcamp.com with the same name. It talks about there being cabins there and an old hotel that is now a museum. Confused now.... However, Megalong Valley looks like it would be the better option as its closer to most of the sights. As long as we can have a fire - I not camping in the mountains without a fire - it's going to be freeeeeeezing! Ok, maybe night freezing, but looking at overnight temps at the moment and it's about 4 degrees, so that's pretty chilly. I don't expect it to be much better than that in September. Thinking we could stop at Newnes on the way down from Dubbo just to do the Glowworm cave walk and stay the night there, and go on to Megalong the next day, or just go straight to Megalong and do a day trip to the glow worms. Thoughts? BTW, spare places like Megalong bookable or is it first in best dressed? Thanks for all your awesome info - it's been really helpful.

There is 3 camping spots at Newnes.....one paid, across the track from the old hotel...and yes there is a couple of cabins beside the hotel as well.

1/2 a K further up there is a turn off to the campground across the small creek....approx. 300M in .

And the main campground is straight ahead ( instead of swinging right ).....both nat park campgrounds are BIG, so normally no probs getting a spot.

You can get to the glow worm tunnel from Newnes, but it will be a 10K walk....or you can get to it from the other way in ( 1 K walk ) which is entering into the forest at Zig Zag railway and following the signs......but Newnes and Zig Zag are a long way from each other ..

Gronk, you cross the small creek to get to the main campground. You cross the Wolgan River to get to the other one near the ruins. The river crossing is around 30 metres of foot deep flowing water with a sandy bottom. The entry and exit had been pretty cut up last time I was there.

Yes you do cross a very small creek for the main campground and the other creek crossing is approx 3 M of water, and another 3M each side of sandy bottom, but no probs at all for any 4wd.....last time we were there a Commodore towing a small Jayco came across OK. ( not that I would recommend it )
Either way, he's staying near Megalong , so it doesn't matter now..

Last I heard, Newnes seems to have attracted a few boguns from Sydney some weekends....you know the type, leaving rubbish, music till early hrs, circle work etc........pity, as it's one of the most scenic campgrounds you'll ever find..

Ok, sorry for the zillions of questions. Did some more research. Old Ford is listed as a walk in campground and doesn't say anything about being able to take your camper. It's very non specific. It also has some bad reviews on Wiki Camps recently. Have any of you been there lately? Can you book a campsite there or is it first in best dressed? Does it get busy? Dunphys sounds really good, but is there water there? Now, in saying all this, wondering if we need to really stay close to Katoomba, or if we are better of staying out further and just making a day trip there to 3 sisters and railway. I'm assuming there's plenty of bush walks and waterfalls in other parts of the park? Thanks again guys, you're all awesome :)

The last few times I've been to Newnes, the Wolgan River crossing has been a bit more substantial than 3 metres wide and the entry and exit were chopped up and quite steep. A commodore couldn't have done it. The last time I took my wife there we couldn't cross, the water was over a metre deep and flowing very fast. Latest info on the various sites mark it as 4wd only high clearance which I would agree with. I've seen it flat and easy in the past. I suppose it all comes down to how high the river is and whether there has been any work done to it.

Dunphy's is right at the end of the road through the valley. You have to open and shut 2-3 gates on the Packsaddlers property before you come out the other side in the national park. There's no water features that I could see. The car park is fenced off from the camping area. I'd say it's around 40 minutes from Blackheath station.

There's a campground on the right on Megalong Road just about at the bottom of the pass into the valley from Blackheath. I think it's called Blackheath Glen Reserve. I've only driven past it so have no comment except to say I've seen campers there.

Old Ford isn't that big and not very flat, not my cup of tea.

The campground closest to civilization is probably Lake Lyell but it is pretty regulated with marked spots and boom gate access. More than likely you will be parked on gravel not grass. Pretty central to a lot of things.

These photos will give you a bit of an idea, Geeza, in addition to Michael's descriptions. Courtesy of Mr G. Earth. :-)







Last time I was at what is now Dunphy's was before Parks had taken over that area. Not bad views from there, but might get a little windy at times. Bit of trivia, Dick Smith used to land his helicopter at that spot, when he was visiting the Carlon Family, before their move out of "Green Gully"(Packsaddlers).

While the Ford area is not flat, it's not a bad place, though can be pretty busy during long weekends and school holidays. Would be my pick to meet your criteria. Water, camping, and free views, from just outside your camper.

Bob

you can do this easily with a 4wd & camper

Thanks so very much for all the info. Not so much about the swimming, but like to have water for washing clothes, people and dishes. Means we don't have to use our drinking water or cart to much water with us. Might be nice to paddle the blow up boat in the creek also or the crazy kids might brave it! Cheers :)

There's the shale mine ruins. There are bushwalks, you can hike through to Glen Davis. If you like 4wding, it is reasonably central to a number of the treks including Lost City, Blackfellows Hand Cave, Baan Baal Gap. Check the Boiling Billy Treks Close to Sydney book. You can download the route files from their website if you are into gps type things.
If you really want central and a lot of activities, then Lake Lyell is a good base for all of it. Katoomba, Blackheath, Jenolan Caves, Kanangra Walls, Six Foot Track, Gibraltar Rocks plus those others I've already mentioned. You could go nuts with lookouts, scenery, bushwalks and 4wd tracks.

Newnes or Megalong Valley are at the end of dead end roads. They are very nice but they are the sole attraction.