Wares Yards campground
Selwyn area in Kosciuszko National Park
Overview
Wares Yards campground, just off Snowy Mountains Highway, offers basic facilities and room for horses, not far from Tantangara Dam.
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle , Camping with horses |
|---|---|
| Facilities | Carpark, toilets |
| What to bring | Firewood |
| Price | There are no camping fees at this campground but a $6 booking fee applies. |
| Group bookings | Bookings for up to 5 sites and 20 people can be made online. School groups and commercial tour operators can submit a group booking enquiry form. |
| Please note |
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Wares Yards campground is conveniently located just off Snowy Mountains Highway and offers an ideal base to explore the area, including Boggy, Nungar, and Kellys Plains.
Sheltered among snow gums in subalpine woodland, Wares Yards campground is a great place to go horse riding and kick back for a relaxing weekend escape. Those who enjoy bushwalking or mountain biking can also explore plenty of meandering trails nearby. The abundance of birdlife makes this campground a birdwatching wonderland, and nearby Tantangara Dam is well-suited for swimming, fishing, and boating or kayaking in the warmer months.
Keep watch for local wildlife around Wares Yards campground as the site is also home to eastern grey kangaroos and flame robins, so remember to bring the camera.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/wares-yards-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Tumut Region Visitor Centre
- 9am to 5pm daily. Closed Christmas Day.
- 02 6947 7025
- tumutrvc@environment.nsw.gov.au
- The Old Butter Factory, 5 Adelong Road, Tumut NSW 2720
Park info
- in the Selwyn area of Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains region
The Selwyn area is open all year, but some roads and trails may close due to weather conditions or park management issues. Kings Cross Road and the Khancoban-Cabramurra Road are closed in winter (June to October long weekends). Some campgrounds in the Selwyn area close in winter.
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Park entry fees apply in winter on Link Road
June to October long weekends: $29 per vehicle per day (24hrs from purchase); motorcycles $12; bus passengers $11.45 per adult, $3.60 per child per day (24hrs). Single and Multi-Day passes available from entry stations, NPWS visitor centres, pay machines or via the Park'nPay app.
See vehicle entry fees for other areas in Kosciuszko National Park.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Wares Yards campground.
Getting there and parking
Wares Yards campground is in the northern precinct of Kosciuszko National Park. To get there:
From Tumut Visitor Centre:
- Drive along Snowy Mountains Highway for 109.6 km and then turn left onto Tantangara Road
From Adaminaby:
- Drive along Snowy Mountains Highway for 19.4 km and then turn right onto Tantangara Road
- After approximately 7km along Tantangara Road, turn left into Wares Yards campground.
Road quality
- It's recommended that all vehicles carry snow chains from the June to October long weekends. Read our snow driving in Kosciuszko tips.
- Check the weather before you set out as the road to this campground can become boggy when it rains.
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- 4WD required in wet weather
Parking
Parking is available at Wares Yards campground.
Facilities
- Services are available at nearby Adaminaby.
- Creek water is available – you’ll need to treat or boil it before drinking.
- Rubbish bins are not available – please take rubbish with you when leaving.
- Firewood is not provided, but it may be collected from the park (chainsaws are not permitted).
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - hard
- Wheelchairs can access this area with some difficulty.
Permitted
Generators
Horses
Prohibited
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Wares Yards campground is in Selwyn area. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Kiandra's claims to fame
The discovery of gold at Kiandra in 1859 attracted up to 10,000 prospectors hoping to strike it rich. Just 18 months later, after harsh winters and falling gold finds, only a few hundred gold miners remained. It's remembered as one of Australia’s shortest gold rushes, not to mention it’s highest (and coldest). In 1861, Kiandra became the birthplace of skiing in Australia, when Norwegian gold miners fashioned skis from fence palings. By the 1870s regular ski carnivals were arranged, and Australia had its first official ski slope here. Mining continued into the 1930s, with grazing and winter skiing also keeping the community alive. Before devastating fires in 2019-2020, four buildings still stood here, including Kiandra Courthouse, which had served as a courthouse, private residence, ski chalet, hotel and bar.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
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Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.
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Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)
With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.
Plants
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Billy buttons (Craspedia spp. )
Billy buttons are attractive Australian native plants that are widespread throughout eastern NSW in dry forest, grassland and alpine regions such as Kosciuszko National Park. The golden-yellow globe-shaped flowers are also known as woollyheads. Related to the daisy, billy buttons are an erect herb growing to a height of 50cm.