After a long day on the road from Sydney, through Canberra and down the gravel road past Hospital Hill Lookout, we rolled into Denison Campground just before sunset. It’s a wide, open campground in Kosciuszko National Park, just off the Snowy Mountains Highway near Adaminaby, and it was exactly what we needed: plenty of space, a fire ring, and kangaroos on the grass as the light went.
Featured inKosciuszko National Park (NSW) Guide
The good
- A great base for the Snowy Mountains
- Only a $6 booking fee
- So much space: you’re not packed on top of each other
- Plenty of fire pits, with a lot of distance between them
- Kangaroos grazing around the campground at dusk
- Picnic tables and toilets
The not-so-good
- Very open: little shade or shelter from the wind
- No drinking water: bring your own
- Quite uneven ground: bring a leveller
We stayed one night in early September 2025 and did it the simple way, car camping and sleeping in the back of the Prado. It was quite cold overnight.
About Denison Campground
Denison Campground is run by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and sits in the Selwyn area of Kosciuszko National Park, near Adaminaby. The sites are unpowered. National Parks calls it a great base for summer fishing at Eucumbene Dam. The sign at the turn-off points to the campground and to access to Eucumbene Dam, and a second area next to the campground is signed as day parking and river access.
The campground itself is a big open paddock of short grass with a few snow gums, edged with timber bollards. Picnic tables and fire rings are spread out across it, with a small toilet block in the middle. It’s great that there is so much space, so you’re not packed on top of each other. There are plenty of fire pits around, with a lot of distance between them.
Quick facts
- AddressDenison Campground, Snowy Mountains Highway, Kosciuszko National Park, Adaminaby NSW, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone reception:Patchy
- Facilities:ToiletsPicnic TablesFire PitsCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessFishingNo Drinking WaterNo Pets
- Good to know:Advance booking requiredBring firewood, water and a leveller2WD fine, 2 min off the highway
- Fees:$6 booking fee
- 8.8/10Overall rated
- Book via NSW National Parks
Denison Campground and Surroundings
What you notice first is the space. The campground sits on an open plain with low hills around it, and you can see a long way in every direction. We picked a spot next to a fire ring, parked the Prado beside it and were set up in minutes.
As the sun went down, the kangaroos came out. They grazed across the campground and along the track.
We slept in the back of the Prado. Early September made it quite cold overnight, so the campfire was welcome and so were the warm sleeping bags. In the morning we opened the tailgate to clear blue sky and the whole plain in front of us, which is a hard view to beat from a sleeping bag.
Then the awning went out and the coffee went on.
Denison is a great campground to use as a base for the Snowy Mountains. From here we went to Selwyn Snow Resort, and Eucumbene Dam is close by for fishing in summer. If you want to camp closer to the snow, Three Mile Dam Campground is 5 to 10 minutes from the resort.
Getting There and Accessibility
The campground is a short drive down a gravel road off the Snowy Mountains Highway, near Adaminaby, and the turn-off is clearly signed. It’s only a 2 minute drive from the main road, and you could easily do it in a 2WD. Inside the campground, gravel tracks run across the grass to the different areas.
It’s open and easy to drive around, so it works with a caravan or a camper trailer too. A ute with a caravan was camped not far from us.
Practical Tips and Facilities
Booking and fees. The sign at the campground says advance booking is required. You book online through NSW National Parks, and we only paid a $6 booking fee. You can book up to 20 people or 5 sites online.
Fire rings. The fire rings sit on round concrete pads, and each has a hotplate on a swing arm that you can turn over the fire. We made a campfire here. Bring your own firewood, and check for fire bans before you go.
Picnic tables and toilets. There are picnic tables on concrete pads spread around the campground, and we camped next to one. A small toilet block stands in the middle of the campground. Next to the campground is the Denison day parking and river access area: from there it’s pedestrian access only to the river, and a notice board has the trout fishing rules.
What to bring. There’s no drinking water, so bring your own, along with your firewood. Do take your leveller as well: the ground is quite uneven, and with a leveller you can get your car well positioned, which matters when you sleep in it. We camped here in early September and it was quite cold overnight, so pack warm sleeping gear outside summer. There isn’t much shade or shelter either. A few snow gums give some shade, but most of the campground is open grass, so an awning earns its place here.
Good to know. Phone reception is patchy. The campground is inside the national park, so dogs are not allowed, and you take your rubbish with you when you leave.
Summary: Is Denison Campground Worth It?
Yes. Denison Campground is an easy, roomy place to camp in the Snowy Mountains: so much space, a fire ring and a table, and kangaroos for company at dusk. It’s very open, so there’s not much shade or shelter, the ground is quite uneven, it gets quite cold overnight outside summer, and you have to bring your own water and firewood. It’s a great base for the Snowy Mountains: we went to Selwyn Snow Resort from here.
A wide, open and easy national park campground that makes a great base for the Snowy Mountains, with fire rings, picnic tables and kangaroos at dusk.
- Car campers
- 4WD tourers
- Anglers
Yes. We only paid a $6 booking fee, and for that you get a lot of space, a fire ring and a picnic table in a beautiful open valley. Book ahead, and bring everything you need.
Recommended Gear for Denison Campground
With so little shade, a 4WD awning makes a big difference. The fire rings have a hotplate, but your own stove and coffee gear are quicker for the morning coffee: see our best camping stoves. It was quite cold overnight in early September, so pack warm camp sleeping gear, and bring your own water in a water container.
