Day two of a long drive is where it starts to feel like a trip. If you drive from Sydney, this is the first part where you see the red dirt and start to get a taste for the NSW outback.
The good
- Free camping, with only a $6 booking fee
- Quite big: you’re not near anyone else
- First taste of the red dirt coming from Sydney
- Many kangaroos and wallabies
- Free barbecue under a picnic shelter
- Good overnight stop between Sydney and Adelaide
The not-so-good
- Lots of ants when we were there: bring covered shoes
- No phone signal
- Dry-weather road only
Woolshed Flat Campground in Cocoparra National Park was our second stay on the drive from Sydney to Adelaide last December, the night after Bungonia Campground. It’s a small bush campground near Griffith, and a very different place from the first night: no hot showers or camp kitchen here, just red earth, open woodland and a free barbecue.
About Woolshed Flat Campground
Woolshed Flat Campground sits in the northern part of Cocoparra National Park, north-east of Griffith in the NSW Riverina. It’s run by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and has just 6 sites. They’re unpowered and unmarked, on flat red earth between the trees, and they suit tents, camper trailers, caravans and vehicle-based camping like our rooftop tent.
The facilities are basic but better than you might expect out here: non-flush toilets, a picnic shelter with free barbecues and tables, fire rings and a rainwater tank. Camping is free, with a $6 booking fee.
Quick facts
- AddressWoolshed Flat Campground, Woolshed Flat Road, Cocoparra National Park, NSW 2680, Australia
- Phone reception:No reception
- Facilities:ToiletsGas BBQsPicnic TablesFire RingsTank WaterCaravan AccessCamper Trailer AccessWalking TrailsNo BinsNo Pets
- 8.8/10Overall rated
- Good to know:6 unpowered sitesDry-weather road onlyFuel and food at Yenda or Griffith
- Fees:Free$6 booking fee
- Book via NSW National Parks
Woolshed Flat Campground and Surroundings
The campground is a clearing of flat, hard-packed red earth with open woodland all around it. The sites aren’t marked, so you pick a spot that suits your setup. We parked the Prado between the trees, popped the rooftop tent and rolled out the awning. The campground is quite big, so you’re not near any others. There was one other vehicle while we were there, also with a rooftop tent, and it was well away from us.
In the middle of the campground is a picnic shelter with tables and a rainwater tank beside it. Two information boards show the park map and the walks, and explain the geology and wildlife of Cocoparra National Park. We saw many kangaroos and wallabies. They come through the campground at dawn and dusk, and the trees are full of birds, so it’s worth sitting outside for a while in the morning.
The park is known for its walking tracks. The Woolshed Falls walking track is close to the campground, and the map on the information board shows more walks and picnic areas further south, including Jacks Creek and Store Creek. We were on a time schedule, so unfortunately we had no time for any of the walks. I’ve heard great things about them, and they’re the reason I’d stay a second night next time.
Getting There and Accessibility
Cocoparra National Park is a bit of a detour off the main route west, but it’s worth it. The park is signposted from the sealed road, with a brown tourist sign at the turn-off. From there the road turns to red dirt.
From Griffith, take Beelbangera Road to Yenda, turn left into Myall Park Road and right into Mount Bingar Road. Turn left at the Whitton Stock Route and drive 4.6 km to Woolshed Flat Road. The campground is another 3.7 km along that road.
The roads in are unsealed and dry weather only. A 2WD is fine when it’s dry. If Mount Bingar Road is closed, there’s no access to the campground at all, so check the weather and the park alerts before you set out. The red dirt was dry and in good condition when we drove in.
Practical Tips and Facilities
Booking and fees. There are no camping fees, but you need to book through NSW National Parks and a $6 booking fee applies. One booking covers up to 2 sites and 12 people. With only 6 sites, it’s worth booking ahead in busy periods.
Barbecue and picnic shelter. The picnic shelter has free barbecues with a stainless steel bench, and picnic tables beside it under the same roof. We cooked dinner there: sausages, onion and vegetables straight on the hotplate. It saves getting your own stove out, and the roof is handy if the weather turns.
Toilets. There are non-flush toilets in green cubicles a short walk from the sites. The campground is mostly flat and step-free, with short gravel paths to the toilets.
Water. There’s tank water, but it needs to be treated or boiled before drinking. Bring your own drinking water so you don’t have to rely on it.
Fires. The campground has fire rings, but there’s no firewood and you can’t gather it in the park, so bring your own. Check for fire bans before you light anything, especially in summer.
Ants. When we were there it was a bit of an ant invasion. It might have been the time of year, but make sure to bring covered shoes, and keep food sealed and off the ground.
Rubbish, pets and generators. There are no bins, so take your rubbish with you when you leave. Pets and generators aren’t allowed.
Supplies and reception. The nearest fuel and food are at Yenda or Griffith, so stock up before you head into the park. There was no phone signal at the campground, so download your maps and let someone know where you are before you turn off.
Summary: Is Woolshed Flat Campground Worth It?
Yes. Woolshed Flat Campground is a small, quiet bush campground that costs nothing but a $6 booking fee. You get a big, flat site on red earth well away from anyone else, kangaroos and wallabies around camp, a free barbecue, picnic tables and toilets, and it breaks up the long drive between Sydney and Adelaide nicely. It’s a bit of a detour, but worth it. It’s basic, though: bring your own drinking water, firewood and covered shoes for the ants, take your rubbish out with you, expect no phone signal, and keep an eye on the weather, because the road in is dry weather only.
A small, free bush campground on red earth, and a good overnight stop on the way from Sydney to Adelaide.
- 4WD tourers
- Rooftop tents
Yes. Camping is free with a $6 booking fee, and you get a free barbecue, picnic tables and toilets. Bring your own drinking water and firewood.
Recommended Gear for Woolshed Flat Campground
With no drinking water on tap, a good water container is the first thing to pack. The free barbecue covers dinner, but a stove from our best camping stoves guide gives you coffee in the morning without walking to the shelter.
There’s no power here, so camping lighting and a way to keep the fridge running matter: see our off-grid power reviews. A couple of comfortable camping chairs finish the setup for an evening under the trees.
