By Gaye Drady
Caravanning is not just for those who wish to enjoy four-star facilities amid popular tourist attractions with shopping practically at the doorstep.
Easily accessed bush locations provide interesting and exciting holiday possibilities for those who are prepared to head off the bitumen.
Gloucester Tops, 300km north of Sydney within Barrington Tops National Park, makes a wonderful bush destination providing visitors with plenty of activities. And for those seeking the convenience of powered sites, hot showers and flushing toilets, a caravan park situated on the outskirts of the national park has it all.
Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park sits on a river bend just before the entrance to the national park. The caravan park provides a civilised alternative to bush camping – we purchased firewood at the caravan park and headed into the national park.
The Gloucester River Camping/Picnic Area is one of the best equipped, low-key national park camping grounds that I have had the pleasure of sampling: gently sloping camping areas are bordered by dense forest and shaded by scattered trees.
Fireplaces are provided, but campers will need to supply their own firewood as the collection of wood is prohibited.
Covered gas barbecues are well maintained, as are the wheelchair-accessible composting toilets. Solar-powered exhaust fans installed in the toilets carry away offensive odours, and hand basins have been installed. Taps are located near the barbecues and rubbish bins are conveniently situated around the grounds.
Less equipped secluded sites are tucked away in the bush. Fees are paid by self registration and a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officer visits regularly.
Bushwalking was on our agenda so we headed up the mountain early. A steep, narrow road with tight corners (not caravan-friendly) climbs through State forest, re-entering the national park on the mountain top.
Gloucester Falls Walk, the Short Beech Forest Walk and the River Walk are all rated by NPWS as ‘easy’, while the Long Beech Forest Walk is rated ‘moderate with a steep climb out’. During several visits to Gloucester Tops I have completed all but the River Walk, which requires getting your feet wet sometimes – all the way up to the thighs!
A car park at the road’s end is the starting point for the one-kilometre Falls Trail which is best done in a clockwise direction. The well-defined path passes through sub-alpine grassland and woodland.
Take a break at Andrew Laurie Lookout to admire the beautiful mountain vista.
NPWS’ ‘easy’ rating is an inadequate description, with the track leading from the lookout to the Falls Lookout requiring a steady footing. From the Falls Lookout continue through moist beech forest where mosses, fungi and ferns thrive.
Cool temperate rainforest dominates the Beech Forest Walk. The Short Loop Track is an easy jaunt and can be completed in 20 minutes. It passes an enchanting mountain creek featuring cascades and moss-covered rocks. I heard the delightful calls of a lyrebird on this trail, and spotted several brightly coloured fungi.
The Long Beech Walk veers to the left off the Short Loop. A bit of rock-hopping is required when crossing the creek and the climb out is indeed steep and challenging. Tall tree ferns grow in the moist leaf litter surrounding sprawling sculptured buttresses of ancient Evergreen beech trees.
Back at camp it is so easy to sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet of the natural bush. From our camp we watched superb blue fairy wrens and other small birds feeding in the grass, and crimson rosellas squabbling in the treetops. A possum wandered through our camp as we stared into the fire after dark but didn’t make a nuisance of itself.
We haven’t tested our skill, or luck, on the Gloucester River trout population, but we did land a couple of impressive-looking spiny yabbies.
The NSW trout season runs from the beginning of the October long weekend until the end of the June long weekend and there is no closed season for spiny crayfish. You’ll need a NSW fishing licence (pensioners exempt) to fish for any species of fish or crayfish, and yabby traps of any sort are illegal in NSW rivers.
We finished off our weekend in the bush with a batch of pumpkin scones cooked in the camp oven on the fire. You simply cannot go wrong in Gloucester Tops, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of nature – it’s what caravanning is all about.
Gloucester Tops Fast Facts
Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park is located prior to entering Barrington National Park and has powered sites, flush toilets, hot showers, laundry, fireplaces, kiosk, phone, cabins, and dogs are allowed on leash at management’s discretion. Phone (02) 6558 3155.
Getting there:
Exit the Pacific Highway 27km north of Hexham onto The Buckets Way towards Stroud and Gloucester, and take the Gloucester Tops Road on the left shortly after the town of Stratford. After leaving the main road, an unsealed road winds through farmland and rolling hills of the scenic Gloucester River Valley. Along this road (24km), take a left at the caravan park sign or you’ll end up on top of the wrong mountain.
Several concrete creek crossings provide great places to enjoy the fresh mountain water along the way. Following prolonged periods of rain or heavy downpours the road may become impassable, so it is wise to check road conditions with NPWS.
NPWS camping sites cost $5 per adult per night and $3 per child (5-15 years) per night. Facilities include wheelchair-accessible composting toilets, fireplaces, water, free gas barbecues, river, and formed walking tracks. No dogs are allowed. Firewood is available for purchase at the caravan park.
NPWS Gloucester (check road conditions): (02) 6538 5300.Gloucester Visitors Information: (02) 6558 1408; www.gloucester.org.au