Cattai campground

Cattai National Park

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Overview

Enjoy a weekend away camping at Cattai National Park along the Hawkesbury River. Go walking, camping, canoeing and bike riding before cooking up a barbecue feast.

Accommodation Details
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Amenities block, barbecue facilities, showers, toilets
What to bring Drinking water, cooking water, firewood, camping equipment, tent
Opening times

Cattai National Park is locked overnight, including the campground. An emergency after-hours gate code will be included in your booking confirmation. The entry gate opens at 8am and is locked at 5pm (May to September) or 8pm (October to April).

Entry fees

Park entry fees are not included in your camping fees.

Group bookings Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry.
Please note
  • Check in 2pm, check out 10am.
  • If you're booking for a group of 21 people or more, please make your booking through the Scheyville office.
  • Campers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult unless prior arrangements have been made with the Scheyville office.
  • Never feed kangaroos or wildlife and keep your food safely stored away. 
  • Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted.

Cattai campground is a great place for a weekend getaway with family or friends and a good place to stop with your campervan on a driving tour.

Once you’ve picked the perfect campsite and pitched your tent, it’s time to start exploring. Kids will love the wide open space that is great for bike riding, playing and running, plus the campground is right near the Hawkesbury River, meaning fishing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities are all nearby. There’s also the historic Cattai Homestead, a short walk or drive from campground. It’s an important part of Australian history so be sure to check it out.

You’ll probably be woken by the call of birds in the morning, and you may see a kangaroo peeking at you through the bushland on a morning walk to the lookout over Hawkesbury River.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • A picnic shed with two picnic tables underneath, at Cattai picnic area in Cattai National Park, on the Hawkesbury River. Photo: David Bush © DPE

    Cattai picnic area

    Ideal for a picnic or barbecue, Cattai picnic area is located close to historic sites on the Hawkesbury River banks. Visit for birdwatching and paddling.

  • Historic grain silos, Cattai National Park. Photo: Photo: John Yurasek

    Cattai Homestead and historic farm buildings

    Cattai Homestead and historic farm buildings near Windsor, just north of Sydney, are an important part of Australian history and a must-see for history buffs.

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/cattai-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

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

Getting there and parking

Cattai campground is located in Cattai National Park. To get there, take Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai and look for the turn off at Caddie Road. Follow the signs to the campground.

Access to the campground is along both sealed and unsealed road sections accessible by 2WD vehicles. Camping is only permitted in the campground which is at the far end of the main picnic area.

Road quality

  • Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available in the campground.

Best times to visit

Cattai National Park is a great place to visit all year round. Head to the park for a winter picnic in the sun or a family camping holiday during spring. Walking and bike riding are popular autumn activities in the park and summer is perfect for boating and paddling along the river.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

16°C and 30°C

Highest recorded

42.5°C

Winter temperature

Average

3°C and 18°C

Lowest recorded

-7.2°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

September

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

309.4mm

Facilities

  • Campsites are unmarked and suitable for tents, camper trailers, campervans and caravans.
  • The campground has a maximum occupancy of 200 campers.
  • The water available at Cattai campground needs to be treated before drinking.
  • There is no power in the campground.
  • Please take all rubbish with you when you leave.
  • There are no boat launching facilities in this park.

Amenities

There's a camp kitchen with barbecues and washing up facilities.

Toilets

  • Flush toilets

Barbecue facilities

Fires are allowed in designated barbecues or portable off-the-ground barbecues.

  • Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)

Showers

  • Hot showers

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.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.

Mobile safety

There is mobile phone coverage at the campground.

Paddling safety

To make your paddling or kayaking adventure safer and more enjoyable, check out these paddling safety tips.

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

Wildlife safety

Keep yourself and our wildlife safe by understanding the risks of wildlife encounters and how to avoid them.

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

  • Assistance may be required to access this area
  • The campground is mostly flat, with grass and gravel terrain, making it moderately wheelchair-accessible.
  • There is an accessible toilet at the main amenities block.

Prohibited

  • Don't empty chemical toilets into campground amenities.
  • Don't empty caravan grey water into the ground.

Gathering firewood

Chainsaws are not permitted

Generators

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

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

A birder's bounty

Cattai National Park. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

The park's riverside location, close to Longneck Lagoon, makes it popular with birdwatchers. Spot vulnerable black bitterns, powerful owls or rufous night herons. Visit the park's major wetland areas to observe several bird species otherwise scarce within Sydney.

  • Mitchell Park walking tracks Mitchell Park walking tracks offer several linked walks through remnant rainforest, diverse woodland and wetlands, in Cattai National Park, near Windsor.

Aboriginal culture

Cattai River lookout, Cattai National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

Cattai National Park is the traditional Country of the Darug people. The park's landscape, including the river provided a rich source of food, medicine, shelter and tools for the Aboriginal people who travelled through the area. The park protects a number of ancient Aboriginal sites that are evidence of the Darug people's ancient connection to the land, you may find axe grinding grooves on rocks as well as rock engravings and art.

An important landscape

Mitchell Park, Cattai National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

Cattai National Park lies within the Cumberland Plain, an important land system near Sydney that has been impacted by agricultural processes and urban development. Mitchell Park is significant because it contains much of its original vegetation, including paper bark, red gum, stringy bark, grey gum and cabbage gums. The best way to see the changing vegetation is along the Mitchell Park track, you'll notice that each part of the walk is named to describe the type of vegetation along that part of the walk.

Colonial history

Cattai Homestead and historic farm buildings, Cattai National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

Cattai National Park is significant because it includes a parcel of land granted to First Fleet assistant surgeon Thomas Arndell. Cattai Farm and the surrounding area was home to seven generations of Arndell's, with the land remaining with descendents of Thomas Arndell for about 180 years. Today, several historic sites invite observation and journeying into the past; Arndell's 1821 homestead, convict-built walls and roads, grain silos and ruins of a windmill believed to be Australia's oldest industrial building.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • 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.

  • Sugar glider. Photo: Jeff Betteridge

    Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

    The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

  • Brush tail possum. Photo: Ken Stepnell

    Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

    One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

  • Closeup of a laughing kookaburra's head and body. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

    Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

    Of the 2 species of kookaburra found in Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the best-known and the largest of the native kingfishers. With its distinctive riotous call, the laughing kookaburra is commonly heard in open woodlands and forests throughout NSW national parks, making these ideal spots for bird watching.

  • Brown-striped frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

    Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)

    One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.

  • Cumberland Plain land snail (Meridolum corneovirens)

    The endangered Cumberland Plain land snail is only found on the Cumberland Plain, west of Sydney. During drought it digs deep into the soil to escape harsh conditions. Its brown shell is thin and fragile.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)