Dingo Tops campground

Tapin Tops National Park

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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.

Accommodation Details
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 Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online.
Group bookings This campground is not suitable for group bookings.
Please note
  • Sites are not marked and not powered.
  • This is a remote campground, please arrive well prepared.

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.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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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/dingo-tops-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

See more visitor info

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

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

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).

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.

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

Potaroo Falls picnic area, Tapin Tops National Park. Photo: John Spencer

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

Rowleys Rock lookout, Tapin Tops National Park. Photo: Kevin Carter

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

Dingo Tops campground, Tapin Tops National Park

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

Mountain Brush circuit, Tapin Tops National Park. Photo: John Spencer

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

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