If the other Watagans camps are about hiding in the trees, Olney Headquarters is the practical one. It sits right beside Watagan Forest Road, on open, flat ground, with toilets, picnic tables and barbecues. That makes it the easiest place in the forest to pull in, whether you’re stopping for lunch or setting up for the weekend. It’s also the busiest: on weekends it’s a bit of a motocross hotspot.
The good
- Free, first come, first served
- Easiest of the Watagans camps to reach
- Toilets, including an accessible toilet
- Large all-weather shelter, picnic tables and barbecues
- Open, flat ground for groups and caravans
- Dogs are allowed
The not-so-good
- Busy and loud on weekends: a motocross hotspot
- Right beside the forest road
- More open and less sheltered than the others
I had a look around on the trip where we camped at The Pines Campground, which is signposted from the same junction.
About Olney Headquarters Camping Area
Olney Headquarters Camping Area, or Olney HQ, is a free camping area in Olney State Forest, part of the Watagan Mountains west of Lake Macquarie and less than two hours from Sydney. It’s named after the forestry building that used to stand here. It’s run by Forestry Corporation of NSW and is first come, first served: you can’t book.
It works as both a picnic stop and a campground. There’s a large all-weather shelter, picnic tables, barbecues and toilets, including an accessible toilet, and the open layout suits groups, caravans and camper trailers.
Quick facts
- AddressOlney Headquarters Camping Area, Olney State Forest, Watagan Mountains, NSW 2259, Australia
- Phone reception:Patchy
- Facilities:Pet FriendlyToiletsWheelchair Accessible ToiletPicnic ShelterPicnic TablesWood BBQsFire PitsRubbish BinsCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessNo Drinking Water
- 8.6/10Overall rated
- Good to know:Sydney under 2 hrsFirst come, first servedOn Watagan Forest Road
- Fees:FreeNo booking needed
- Visitor info: Forestry Corporation
Olney Headquarters Camping Area and Surroundings
The camping area is a wide, flat clearing with scattered pines and eucalypts. It’s much more open than The Pines, Casuarina or Turpentine: there’s less undergrowth and more sky, and you can see most of the camping area from wherever you park.
When I was there, it was pretty busy, with a lot of motorbike riders around. Several groups had set up with gazebos, tents and trailers. Olney HQ is a bit of a motocross hotspot over the weekends, and it gets busier and louder than the other camping areas, which are tucked further into the forest. The open ground does make it easy to camp together as a group and to get a caravan or trailer in and out.
The Pines picnic area is close by, with three walking tracks: the Pines Walking Track along Dora Creek to a rock pool, the Abbotts Falls Walking Track and the Wildflower track. Heaton Lookout is a drive away along the forest roads.
Getting There and Accessibility
Olney Headquarters sits alongside Watagan Forest Road, the main gravel road through Olney State Forest. At the junction for The Pines, a sign points 250 m to the left for The Pines Camping Area and 250 m straight ahead for Olney Headquarters.
Because it’s on the main forest road, it’s the easiest of the camps to reach. The road is unsealed. In dry weather a 2WD with decent clearance can manage it, but a 4WD is more comfortable. Check the Forestry Corporation notices before you go, because forest roads can be closed after rain or during forestry work.
Practical Tips and Facilities
No booking, no fees. Camping is free and first come, first served. It’s a useful fallback when The Pines is full, and there’s usually more room here.
Toilets. The toilet block has an accessible toilet and a rainwater tank beside it. There are rubbish bins next to it.
Shelter, picnic tables and barbecues. There’s a large all-weather shelter with a green roof, plus picnic tables and wood barbecues. It gives you somewhere dry to cook and eat if it rains, and it makes Olney HQ a good lunch stop on a day in the forest.
Water. Bring your own drinking water. Don’t rely on the tank at the toilets.
Phone reception. Reception is really patchy here. It’s still the only one of the camps in this part of the forest where I got any signal at all, so don’t count on it.
Dogs. Dogs are allowed here and throughout Olney State Forest, which is a big plus over the national park campgrounds nearby.
Fires. There are wood barbecues and fire pits. You can gather fallen timber from the ground for your campfire while you’re camped here, but collecting firewood to take away needs a permit. It’s still worth bringing some dry wood in case it has rained. Check for fire bans before you light up.
Noise. This is the loudest of the camps. It’s right beside the forest road, and on weekends there are a lot of trail bikes coming and going. If you want a quiet night, camp at Casuarina or Turpentine, which are tucked further into the forest, or come midweek.
Summary: Is Olney Headquarters Camping Area Worth It?
Yes. Olney Headquarters Camping Area is free, easy to reach and has the best facilities of the backups to The Pines: toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and bins, on open, flat ground that suits groups and caravans. It’s also the busiest and loudest of the camps on weekends, with a lot of trail bikes around, so I rate it slightly below the others. For a more tucked-away spot with toilets, look at Casuarina Camping Area.
Our Hunter Valley 4WD camping guide covers the wider area.
The easiest of the Watagans camps to reach, with toilets, picnic tables and barbecues, but the busiest and loudest on weekends.
- Groups
- Van-lifers
Yes, if you don’t mind the noise. It’s free and has the best facilities of the three backups to The Pines, but on weekends it’s busy and loud with trail bikes. For a quiet night, pick Casuarina or Turpentine.
Recommended Gear for Olney Headquarters Camping Area
There’s no drinking water, so pack water storage for the stay. The open ground has less shade than the other camps, which makes an awning from our 4WD awnings reviews worth having. Add camping chairs and a camp table if the picnic tables are taken, and camping lighting for the evening.
