Burragorang State Conservation Area
Overview
Burragorang State Conservation Area accounts for 80 per cent of Sydney’s water supply. The picnic area and lookout have excellent facilities, including barbecues.
Read more about Burragorang State Conservation Area
For the most part, Burragorang State Conservation Area is water – clean, precious water that supplies about 80 per cent of Sydney’s supply. Virtually its only publicly-accessible point is Burragorang lookout and picnic area, but it is certainly a sight for weary, city-smogged eyes. Vast expanses of water formed by Warragamba Dam catchment area are surrounded by areas of thick bushland.
Ancient lands of the D’harawal and Gundangarra people, the land became important for European settlers as a coal-mining region and to a lesser extent, a source of lead and silver, from the 1820s to the 1960s. When Sydney’s population began rapidly expanding, Warragamba River was dammed to create a lake, and most of these mining townships were lost beneath its surface.
These days, the park covers more than 17,500ha and is home to a number of threatened species of wildlife, including koalas, tiger quolls and the powerful owl. The best way to enjoy Burragorang is to pack a picnic and take your binoculars to the lookout, where you can see for miles around. You might also want to take your bike in the car because the sealed roads are excellent for cycling.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/burragorang-state-conservation-area/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Sydney and surrounds region
1 October to 31 March: 8am to 5pm on weekdays. 8am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays.
1 April to 30 September: 8am to 5pm daily.-
Park entry fees:
$4 per vehicle per day. Day passes are available from on-park pay machines that accept coins and credit cards, and you can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
Buy annual pass. -
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Mount Annan office
02 4632 4500
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Email: npws.hawkesburynattai@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Mount Annan office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Burragorang State Conservation Area.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Camden:
- Take Druitt Lane, which turns into Burragorang Road, to Nattai.
- Continue to the lookout
From Picton:
- Take Barkers Lodge Road to Oakdale
- Travel west to Nattai
Parking
- Burragorang lookout and picnic area See on map
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW transport info website.
Best times to visit
Spring is a great time of year at Burragorang State Conservation Area. Enjoy a picnic in the shade of the eucalypts which surround Burragorang picnic area.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
17°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
45°C
Winter temperature
Average
4°C and 20°C
Lowest recorded
–6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
156mm
Facilities
Amenities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Drinking water
Maps and downloads
Fees and passes
Park entry fees:
$4 per vehicle per day. Day passes are available from on-park pay machines that accept coins and credit cards, and you can also pay for your visit via the Park’nPay app.
- All Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (including Kosciuszko NP) $190 (1 year) / $335 (2 years)
- Multi Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (except Kosciuszko) $65 (1 year) / $115 (2 years)
- Country Parks Pass - For all parks in Country NSW (except Kosciuszko) $45 (1 year) / $75 (2 years)
- Single Country Park Pass - For entry to a single park in country NSW (except Kosciuszko). $22 (1 year) / $40 (2 years)
Annual passes and entry fees (https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/passes-and-fees)
Prohibited
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.
Nearby towns
Picton (22 km)
Discover Picton's fine heritage architecture on a self-guided walking tour or visit historic Tahmoor House (limited open days). Enjoy a traditionally-brewed beer at George 4th Inn, opened in 1839 for travellers along the Great South Road.
Camden (23 km)
Visit Macarthur Park, which opened in 1906. Highlights include the heritage rose gardens, wisteria walks and a tribute to Elizabeth Macarthur Onslow who, with her husband, helped establish Australia's wool, wheat and wine industries.
Campbelltown (38 km)
For nature lovers, the Macarthur region has plenty of natural attractions. Explore nature reserves and wildlife trails or see spectacular native flora and fauna at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, the largest botanic garden in Australia.
Learn more
Burragorang State Conservation Area is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Perfect play
Although the park isn't part of Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property or Kanangra-Boyd National Park, both of these areas can be seen from Burragorang lookout. This is also the best spot to see the impressive expanse of Warragamba Dam, a popular place to visit when in the South West Sydney region. It's a great spot for kids. The roads are sealed, quiet, and good for bike riding. There's a playground for the kids to burn-off any surplus energy.
- Burragorang lookout and picnic area Burragorang lookout and picnic area is a great day trip from Camden, Campbelltown and Sydney. Enjoy a picnic lunch with stunning views of Warragamba Dam. You can also hire the picnic area for a special event.
Native bird watching at its best
You'll probably hear them before you can see them: noisy glossy black cockatoos, yellow-tail cockatoos and gang-gangs feed on the casuarinas at the northern area of the picnic area. They're not the only birds you'll find here. Eagles, satin bowerbirds, catbirds (listen for their distinctive meow-type calls) and lyrebirds have also been known to visit the heath and red gums in this part of Burragorang.
- Burragorang lookout and picnic area Burragorang lookout and picnic area is a great day trip from Camden, Campbelltown and Sydney. Enjoy a picnic lunch with stunning views of Warragamba Dam. You can also hire the picnic area for a special event.
Lands of the Dharawal and Gundangarra Aboriginal peoples
Part of the Nattai (name given to the river because it had 'sweet water') Reserves System, which is the traditional home of the D'harawal and Gundangarra Aboriginal people, the northern part of Burragorang is also home to the Dharug people. In Aboriginal, 'Burragorang' means 'home or place of the giant kangaroo'. These lands provided a corridor for people travelling northward from as far afield as Victoria. They were heading to major gathering and ceremonial grounds in D'harawal lands in the Cowpastures or Camden areas, adjacent to Nepean River.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Burragorang State Conservation Area has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.