After a long day on the road from Mungo, through Pooncarie and Menindee, Emu Lake was the perfect place to stop. We stayed one night here in December 2025, on our big trip through outback NSW, and we were the only ones at the campground. The drive in is beautiful, with a lot of wildlife around, and it feels very isolated.
What we like
- Spotless, very new facilities
- Camp kitchen with electric BBQs
- Lots of emus around camp
- Quiet: we had it to ourselves
- Only $12 a night for two
- Close to the Kinchega Woolshed
What we don’t
- No phone reception
- No showers at camp
- Roads close in wet weather
About Emu Lake CampgroundAbout
Emu Lake Campground is in Kinchega National Park, close to the historic Kinchega Woolshed and the Shearers’ Quarters. It’s a much smaller campground than most we’ve stayed at, with 7 unmarked, unpowered sites for tents, camper trailers and caravans, or you can camp beside your vehicle.
There are only a few facilities, but they’re very new and in great condition. We had no phone reception at all, so sort out your bookings before you go.
Quick facts
- AddressEmu Lake Campground, Kinchega National Park, NSW, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionNo reception
- FacilitiesToiletsBBQsFire PitsBinsPicnic TablesPicnic ShelterCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessNo Drinking WaterNo PowerNo ShowersNo Pets
- Good to knowNo phone receptionOnline bookings, pick a site on arrivalDirt roads close when wet
- Fees$12 a night for 2 people$8 per vehicle per day
- 8.9/10Overall rated
- Book via NSW National Parks
Getting There
From the park entrance, take Woolshed Drive. The signs point you to the Historic Woolshed, and Emu Lake Campground is close by. We visited the Woolshed first, then carried on to camp. The roads are unsealed, and NSW National Parks lists them as suitable for a 2WD in dry weather only.
Check the road board at the entrance before you head in. When we left the next morning, it showed Emu Lake Drive and River Drive closed, while Woolshed Drive was open. Park entry is $8 per vehicle per day, paid by envelope, so bring the right coins.
The Campsites
It’s a small, open campground on red sand among old trees. The 7 sites are just scattered around and unassigned, so you pick your spot when you arrive, and the one we looked at had a picnic table on a concrete pad. With nobody else there, we had our choice, and it was very quiet. A sign at the entrance warns that many of the trees here are very old and can drop branches without warning, so don’t camp under large trees with overhanging branches.
Spotless New ToiletsNew toilets
The facilities are basic but spotless, and everything is very new and in great condition. There’s a new, modern toilet block, and a little further out the back the old toilet block is still there as well. The toilets are non-flush, but they were spotless. They even have bins, so you can leave your rubbish behind.
There are no showers at camp. There’s a rainwater tank at the camp kitchen, but NSW National Parks says there’s no drinking water in the park, so bring your own. Bore water and hot showers are at the Shearers’ Quarters nearby.
Cooking at the Camp KitchenCamp kitchen
The covered camp kitchen has two electric barbecues, picnic tables and a rainwater tank, all very new, with a solar panel on the roof. We used the rainwater tank to boil some water. We cooked our sausages on one and made pasta on our Dune single burner stove.
Around the campground there are also fire pits on concrete pads, with a swing-arm hotplate. NSW National Parks says to bring your own firewood, and check for fire bans before you light one.
Emus at Dusk, Stars at NightEmus and stars
There were a lot of emus around, which suits the name. At dusk they wandered across the flats right beside camp, with a few kangaroos among them. The sunset turned the sky orange and pink over the low scrub, and once it was dark there were stars everywhere.
In the morning, a group of kangaroos stood in the saltbush and watched us pack up.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
The Kinchega Woolshed is the obvious one, a short drive away, with the Shearers’ Quarters next to it. The rest of the park, from the Darling River campsites to Menindee, is covered in our Kinchega National Park guide.
Summary
Emu Lake is a small, quiet camp with spotless facilities, lots of emus and a real outback feeling. It earned a spot in our best camping spots in NSW. Bring your water, check the road board and enjoy having it almost to yourself.
A small camp with spotless, brand-new facilities and emus all around.
It’s basic, with a long-drop toilet and no reception, but we had the whole place to ourselves, and at $12 a night it’s great value.
- 4WD tourers
- Caravanners
- Travellers
Yes. It’s $12 a night for two, and for that you get new, spotless facilities, a covered camp kitchen and a very quiet camp in the outback.
Recommended Gear for Emu Lake Campground
There’s no drinking water, so bring plenty in a few good water containers. A Dune single burner stove is handy if the barbecues are busy, and with no lights at camp, a head torch makes evenings easier. There’s no power either, so a power bank keeps your phone and lights charged.
