Bellbird campground

Washpool National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Bellbird campground is a great base to explore the World Heritage surrounds of Washpool National Park. It offers caravan, camper trailer and tent campsites.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 17
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets
What to bring Fuel stove
Entry fees Park entry fees apply
Bookings Bookings for up to 2 sites and 12 people can be made online.
Group bookings This campground is not suitable for group bookings.
Please note
  • Sites are marked
  • Please do not feed the wildlife - it can damage their health and make them dependent on campers for food. It’s a good idea to store food and garbage in a secure container to avoid attracting scavengers.

Located close to the Coachwood picnic area in Washpool National Park, Bellbird campground offers secluded campsites where you can relax in privacy and enjoy the life of the rainforest.

Spend a day or two getting familiar with the birds and wildlife in this World Heritage-listed rainforest, which include that master of mimicry, the lyrebird. Also look out for fantails, rose robins and beautiful satin bowerbirds.

Bellbird campground suits car-based camping and small caravans or camper trailers and offers a paved picnic shelter with tables and gas barbecues.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • Coombadjha campground, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary/DPIE

    Coombadjha campground

    Coombadjha campground offers tent-based camping by a pretty rainforest creek and is the starting point for two of Washpool National Park’s most popular walks.

  • Coombadjha nature stroll, Washpool National Park. Photo © Rob Cleary

    Coombadjha nature stroll

    Coombadjha nature stroll in Washpool National Park is a short yet inspiring walk through World Heritage listed rainforest, with a delightful swimming spot at the end.

  • Washpool walking track, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary © OEH

    Washpool walking track

    Revel in the timeless wonder of ancient Gondwana Rainforest along Washpool walking track, and enjoy rare birdwatching and wildlife, in Washpool National Park, near Glen Innes.

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/bellbird-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

  • in Washpool National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions

  • Washpool National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

  • Park entry fees:

    $8 per vehicle per day applies only at attractions in the Glen Innes area. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change and display your receipt.

    Buy annual pass
See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Bellbird campground.

Getting there and parking

Washpool National Park is located off the Gwydir Highway between Grafton and Glen Innes.

To get to Bellbird campground:

  • Take the Gwydir Highway, 75km from Glen Innes or 85km Grafton.
  • Take the Coachwood Drive turn off and follow to Bellbird campground

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Bellbird campground

Best times to visit

Washpool National Park offers an exceptional visit all year round. You're sure to find a walk, tour, activity or attraction to appeal, regardless of the season. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Autumn offers good weather for exploring the park during the day and is cool enough during the evenings to sit by the campfire.

Spring

Mid-spring is a fantastic time to head out on the inspiring World Heritage walk. The temperature is perfect and the heathlands, swamps and woodlands erupt in a colourful display of wildflowers including the striking Gibraltar waratah.

Summer

Enjoy the shade of the rainforest with a picnic and walk, and then cool off with a dip in Coombajdha creek's natural pool.

Winter

The coldest time of the year means that you may likely have the park to yourself – enjoy the solitude.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

14°C and 26°C

Highest recorded

39.8°C

Winter temperature

Average

2°C and 15°C

Lowest recorded

-8.9°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

April

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

254.8mm

Facilities

  • Tank water is available at this campground but it should be boiled or treated before drinking
  • Visitors are encouraged to use gas or liquid fuel stoves for camping, especially in summer during the fire season

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Wood barbecues (firewood supplied)
  • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Assistance may be required to access this area

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.

Learn more

Bellbird campground is in Washpool National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    An important legacy

    Forest stream on Washpool walk, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

    Washpool National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, which includes forty parks and reserves stretching along the Great Escarpment from Barrington Tops in NSW to south east Queensland. The area has a long history of selective logging, dating back to the 1800s when the valuable red cedar trees drew timber cutters with bullocks, axes and crosscut saws. With the development of machinery, the increasing pressure to exploit these forests met strong protest action from conservation groups. Ultimately, the park was created in 1983 after a study found the area contained significant plant and animal populations that either weren't found anywhere else in the state or were not well protected in reserves.

    Cultural connections

    Mann River, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

    The Bundjalung, Ngarrabul and Gumbaingirri people have a long connection with the lands here; the area was once used as a route between the coast and the tablelands, and as a place to gather a range of resources, such as rainforest fruits.

    Rare residents

    Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Photo: Taronga Zoo

    A huge range of threatened and endangered species enjoy the sanctuary of Washpool's diverse habitats. It's a refuge for mammals including koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, parma wallabies and long-nosed potoroos. Washpool and Gibraltar Range National Park are also brimming with birdlife. Look out for the rare rufous scrub bird in the rainforest undergrowth and, if you're extra vigilant, the even rarer powerful owl, which inhabits the hollows of trees in tall open forest. One of the most intriguing of the Washpool's residents is the pouched frog, a rainforest-dependent species whose male rears young tadpoles in pouches on his flanks.

    • Coombadjha nature stroll Coombadjha nature stroll in Washpool National Park is a short yet inspiring walk through World Heritage listed rainforest, with a delightful swimming spot at the end.
    • Washpool walking track Revel in the timeless wonder of ancient Gondwana Rainforest along Washpool walking track, and enjoy rare birdwatching and wildlife, in Washpool National Park, near Glen Innes.

    Walker's wonderland

    Coombadjha campground, Washpool National Park. Photo: Rob Cleary

    Lush rainforest, tinkling streams, dramatic gorges and an impressive plateau environment at just over the edge of the Great Escarpment make Washpool a singularly spectacular walking destination. Stretch your legs on an expansive network of graded walking tracks, including the popular World Heritage walk (which links Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks) and part of National trail. Nature strolls and the half-day Washpool walk commence from the creekside Coombadjha campground and take you on a meander through the lost world of the surrounding rainforest.

    • Coachwood picnic area Enjoy a picnic surrounded by rainforest at Coachwood picnic area in Washpool National Park. It’s also the starting point for the Coombadjha nature stroll, a short walk.
    • Granite picnic area Enjoy a picnic at Granite picnic area in Washpool National Park. Stretch your legs on an easy walk to Granite lookout for views over the World Heritage-listed landscape.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Swamp wallaby in Murramarang National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

      Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

      The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

    • Eastern common ringtail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

      Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

      Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

    • Superb lyrebird, Minnamurra Rainforest, Budderoo National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

      Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

      With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

    • Southern boobook. Photo: David Cook

      Southern boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae)

      The southern boobook, also known as the mopoke, is the smallest and most common native owl in Australia. With a musical 'boo-book' call that echoes through forests and woodlands, the southern boobook is a great one to look out for while bird watching.

    Plants

    • Black sheoak. Photo: Barry Collier

      Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)

      The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.

    Environments in this park

    Education resources (1)

    Bookings

    Operated by

    Park info

    • in Washpool National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions

    • Washpool National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

    • Park entry fees:

      $8 per vehicle per day applies only at attractions in the Glen Innes area. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change and display your receipt.

      Buy annual pass
    See more visitor info

    What's nearby:

    Things to do (27)

    Tours (2)

    Camping and accommodation (8)