Whispering Oaks campground and picnic area

Koonaburra National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Whispering Oaks campground and picnic area is perfect for an outback camping experience. Located 2 hours from Cobar, bring your caravan or tent and set up camp among the trees.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 6
Camping type Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Tent, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets
What to bring Drinking water, cooking water, firewood, fuel stove, toilet paper, torch, food supplies, first aid kit, personal locator beacon, gps, insect repellent, sunscreen
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
  • Check in 2pm, check out 10am.
  • Campsites are marked.

Ideal for nature lovers and bird watchers, Whispering Oaks campground and picnic area provides an authentic outback camping experience. Remote, quiet and peaceful, you can relax and reconnect with nature.

Set up your tent, caravan or camper trailer among the trees, and enjoy your meals on the shaded picnic tables. During the day head off on a walk through the bush, keeping your eyes open for emus, red kangaroos and eastern grey kangaroos as they roam among the vegetation. And at night look to the sky and take in the impressive view of the stars, thanks to the minimal light pollution.

Spring and autumn are great times to visit, as you avoid the hot summer days and cold winter nights. Winter has its own charm though, as you cosy up around the campfire and admire the cold nights, which can sometimes dip below zero.

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/whispering-oaks-campground-and-picnic-area/local-alerts

Bookings

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Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about the Whispering Oaks campground and picnic area.

Getting there and parking

Whispering Oaks Campground is located in Koonaburra National Park. To get there:

From Cobar:

  • Head west out of Cobar along the Barrier Highway for 10km.
  • Turn left onto The Wool Track, following it for 92km.
  • Turn left at the Belarabon Road and Wool Track junction, continuing on The Wool Track for another 36km.
  • Turn right at the sign for Koonaburra National Park onto an unnamed road, and follow the track 6km to the park entrance.
  • Continue for 6km, turning left shortly after passing the old shearer’s quarters and before you reach a locked gate.
  • Follow this track 1.9km to the campground.

From Ivanhoe:

  • Head north on the Cobar-Ivanhoe road, which becomes The Wool Track, for 95km.
  • Turn left at the sign for Koonaburra National Park onto an unnamed road and follow the track 6km to the park entrance.
  • Continue for 6km, turning left shortly after passing the old shearer’s quarters and before you reach a locked gate.
  • Follow this track 1.9km to the campground.

Please check road conditions before you travel. Road access may be closed by the local Cobar Shire and Central Darling Shire councils, depending on weather conditions.

Road quality

Access is possible with 2WD vehicles in dry weather, though 4WD vehicles are recommended.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • Dry weather only

Parking

Parking is available in campsites or in bays at the entrance to the campground loop road.

Facilities

  • There is no drinking water at this campground.
  • There are no bins so you’ll need to take all rubbish away with you.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

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).

Outback safety

Safety is of high priority in outback areas. In summer, temperatures can reach up to 50°C in some places. Food, water and fuel supplies can be scarce. Before you head off, check for road closures and use our contacts to stay safe in the outback.

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

This campground is generally flat, but surfaces are uneven and not maintained. Sticks, rocks, sandy surfaces and vegetation may make wheelchair access difficult.

Permitted

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Camping


Prohibited

Gathering firewood

Generators

Horses

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

Whispering Oaks campground and picnic area is in Koonaburra National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Sandplain and dune field country

    Aerial view of Koonaburra National Park. Photo: Joshua Smith © DPE

    Koonaburra National Park includes an extensive area of sandplain and dune field country, featuring a vast network of water sources. These water depressions, also known as gilgais or melon holes, act as important water sources for many species. The park supports habitat for 30 threatened animal species, including the Major Mitchell cockatoo, malleefowl and fat-tailed dunnart. It also contains 2 threatened ecological communities, acacia melvillei shrubland and sandhill pine woodland.

    Plants and animals protected in this park

    Animals

    • Emu, Paroo Darling National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

      The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.

    • Red kangaroo, Sturt National Park. Photo: John Spencer

      Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)

      The red kangaroo is one of the most iconic Australian animals and the largest marsupial in the world. Large males have reddish fur and can reach a height of 2m, while females are considerably smaller and have blue-grey fur. Red kangaroos are herbivores and mainly eat grass.

    • Wedge-tailed eagle. Photo: Kelly Nowak

      Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

      With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

    Plants

    • Mulga. Photo: Jaime Plaza

      Mulga (Acacia aneura)

      Mulga are hardy Australian native plants found throughout inland Australia. With an unusually long tap root, the mulga is able to withstand long periods of drought.

    Environments in this park