Dingo Tops campground
Tapin Tops National Park
Overview
Dingo Tops campground is a great base to explore Tapin Tops National Park, with easy access to the park’s waterfalls and creeks and birdwatching opportunities.
| Number of campsites | 10 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Don't mind a short walk to tent |
| Facilities | Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets |
| What to bring | Drinking water, cooking water, firewood |
| Price | |
| 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 |
|
Surrounded by ancient rainforests and eucalypt forests, Dingo Tops campground makes for a quiet, yet interesting, place to base yourself for explorations within Tapin Tops National Park.
Come here in spring, summer or autumn, when the weather is warm, and enjoy wandering through the rainforest along Mountain Brush circuit. Or, pack a picnic to enjoy at the picnic area and then head out along Potaroo Falls walk along the creek to the waterfall and its pretty swimming hole.
At and around the camp, you’re bound to spot interesting wildlife and birds, including parma wallabies, red-legged pademelons, greater gliders (at night), and koalas.
The campground is especially lovely in the spring, when violet pea flowers, large yellow guinea flowers and the Illawarra Flame tree, with its masses of red flowers, are all in bloom.
Map
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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/dingo-tops-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
- Taree office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6552 4097
- npws.manninggreatlakes@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 78 Hargreaves Drive, Taree NSW 2430
Park info
- in Tapin Tops National Park in the North Coast region
Tapin Tops National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Dingo Tops campground.
Getting there and parking
Dingo Tops campground is in Tapin Tops National Park. To get there:
From Wingham:
- Take Elands Road and Wherrol Flat Road to Wherrol Flat
- At Wherrol Flat, turn left onto Dingo Tops Road.
- Follow Dingo Tops Road to Tapin Tops National Park
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available in a hard-packed ground and gravel carpark on Main Road, a short walk from the campground.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Tapin Tops National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The autumn colours in Dingo Tops campground are nothing short of spectacular in autumn, making it a perfect spot for a picnic or a stroll on a crisp, clear day.
Spring
Enjoy the fresh young growth and newborn animals on walks to the spectacular Rowleys Rock lookout with its panoramic views, or wandering through the rainforest along Potaroo Falls walk or Mountain Brush circuit.
Summer
Escape the heat and humidity of the coast and go swimming at the lovely Potoroo Falls, or enjoy the fresh mountain air at Dingo Tops campground.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 30°C
Highest recorded
42.2°C
Winter temperature
Average
7°C and 23°C
Lowest recorded
-5.1°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
July
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
234.6mm
Facilities
Rubbish bins are not available, so please take your rubbish with you when leaving.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Step-free access
The campground is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over flat grass and hard-packed ground to reach the facilities.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Dingo Tops campground is flat and step-free, but there are no pathways. You'll need to cross over hard-packed ground and flat grass to reach the campsites and facilities.
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Firewood is not provided and may not be collected from the park.
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
Dingo Tops campground is in Tapin Tops National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A botanist’s dream
An impressive 20 different forest types have been mapped within the park, providing a fantastic variety of unique plants. The temperate, subtropical rainforest is dominated by corkwood, crabapple, sassafras and booyong with majestic yellow carabeen at higher altitudes. There’s also myrtle-dominated rainforest and viney scrub. This diverse flora habitat has several threatened plants species, such as the endangered climbing vine and a rare, vulnerable orchid. A variety of different eucalypts can be seen in Tapin Tops, including brushbox, tallowwood, blue gum, bloodwood, silvertop stringybark and grey gum.
- Mountain Brush circuit This easy walk through the rainforest is a treat for birdwatchers and botanists alike with its lively array of interesting plants, birds and wildlife
- Potoroo Falls walk Take a walk along Potoroo Falls walk which leads from the picnic area through rainforest to the beautiful Potoroo Falls, with its tranquil swimming hole.
- Rowleys Rock lookout From Rowleys Rock lookout in Tapin Tops National Park, you can stand over 1000m above sea level and enjoy astonishing scenic views out over the park, Taree and beyond.
A long, rich, Aboriginal culture
Tapin Tops National Park is part of the traditional lands of the Biripi People and this incredible landscape has helped them form their identity and spirituality. The name, ‘Tapin’, means ‘dingo’ in their language, as the park provides habitat to native wild dingos.
Part of our forestry past
Prior to becoming a national park, this area was part of Bulga and Dingo state forests, which were logged over the last 80 years. In the campground, you can see fascinating relics of road building and forestry operations that date back to pioneering days.
So many amazing animals
Birdwatchers will want to keep their eyes out for the black and gold regent bowerbird, the green catbird, and the topknot pigeons resting in the treetops. Three threatened species of owls have been recorded here (sooty, powerful and masked owls), although if you spot these rare creatures you are lucky indeed, as they are hardly ever seen. During the day, listen out for the superb lyrebird’s call. Other incredible animals you might be lucky enough to encounter here include the parma wallaby, the spotted-tailed quoll, or brush turkeys scratching on the forest floor. Koalas are present feeding at night, moving between trees in search of the succulent leaves from the eucalypt. They then spend most of the day sleeping in the extensive canopy.
- Mountain Brush circuit This easy walk through the rainforest is a treat for birdwatchers and botanists alike with its lively array of interesting plants, birds and wildlife