Scotch Broom control at Barrington Tops
Barrington Tops National Park
Overview
If you enjoy the satisfaction of weeding and bush regeneration, join up for our battle with the formidable Scotch Broom. You’ll spend up to 4 days volunteering and camping in Barrington Tops National Park.
- Work
- Bush regeneration, weed and pest management
- When
Polblue:
- Thursday 9 November to Sunday 12 November 2023
- Thursday 22 February to Sunday 25 February 2024
Little Murray:
- Thursday 30 November to Sunday 3 December 2023
- Thursday 1 February to Sunday 4 February 2024
This activity runs for up to 4 days, and you can choose how many days you volunteer within that time frame.
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Grade
- Medium. You'll be working with secateurs, saws or pole saws (if you're chainsaw-certified).
- Please note
You’ll camp for free each night near your work area. There are 2 volunteer locations
- Polblue: You can drive to this area in a 2WD vehicle along unsealed roads. You’ll stay at Polblue campground and picnic area
- Little Murray: You’ll need a 4WD to access this area along unsealed roads. You'll stay at Little Murray campground
Barrington Tops National Park needs your help in its war against Scotch broom. This Weed of National Significance is one of the major weed threats to the alpine and sub-alpine areas of Australia. It's highly invasive, spreads rapidly and can overpower whole ecosystems.
When you volunteer, you’ll be based in areas heavily impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires and sub-alpine wetland environments. You'll be giving these habitats and the threatened species that rely on them a chance to recover. Some of the wildlife you’ll help are the broad-toothed rat and the Polblue eyebright.
You’ll be doing something great for the environment, in the company of friendly, like-minded people. You’ll also get a great education about Barrington Tops, while working alongside NPWS staff. You don’t need any specific skills, just a willingness to get in and help. We’ll give you all the training that you need.
Bring long-sleeved clothing and wet weather gear. We’ll supply the PPE and tools needed for this work.
Find out more
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/volunteer-activities/scotch-broom-control-barrington-tops/local-alerts
Park info
- in Barrington Tops National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
Barrington 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 Scotch Broom control at Barrington Tops.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Little Murray campground:
This is in the Barrington Tops precinct of Barrington Tops National Park.
All roads require a 4WD vehicle. Roads are unsealed and may become slippery in wet weather.
From Gloucester:
- Take Thunderbolts Way. This road becomes Scone Road and Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- Turn left into Barrington trail at Barrington trail picnic area located on the left after passing Devils Hole.
- Follow Barrington trail for around 5km to Little Murray campground.
From Scone:
- Take the Hunter Road from Scone
- Turn right on to Moonan Brook Road, the turn left on Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- Turn into Barrington trail, which is on the right 1km past Polblue.
- Follow Barrington trail for around 5km to Little Murray campground
Barrington trail is only open to vehicles from October 1 to May 31. At other times, this campground is only accessible by walking or cycling (5km one-way) when the 4WD access trails close. Temporary closures may occur during this period due to weather conditions. Check alerts for current closures.
Polblue campground and picnic area:
This is in the Polblue precinct of Barrington Tops National Park.
You can access this campground in a 2WD vehicle. Roads are unsealed.
From Gloucester:
- Take Thunderbolts Way. This road becomes Scone Road and Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- The campground is located on the left after passing Devils Hole
From Scone:
- Take the Hunter Road from Scone
- Turn right onto Moonan Brook Road, then turn left on Barrington Tops Forest Road.
- Polblue campground and picnic area is located 7km on the right after the Dingo Gate.
Parking
Little Murray campground:
There's parking at the campground directly next to your campsite.
Poleblue campground and picnic area:
There is an informal parking area at Polblue campground and picnic area.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Learn more
Scotch Broom control at Barrington Tops is in Barrington Tops National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
World Heritage-listed rainforests
The rainforests in Barrington Tops National Park are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area; the most extensive strip of diverse rainforest anywhere on earth. The World Heritage Area is a direct window into the past and the future, providing a link to the ancient pre-human world and a stunning and irreplaceable record of life on our planet. You can explore the rainforest on one of the park's many walking tracks, like the Honeysuckle Forest track, the Rocky Crossing walk or the Antarctic Beech Forest track. Listen out for the lyrebird whose mimicking calls ring out through the rainforest.
- Antarctic Beech Forest walking track Antarctic Beech Forest walking track offers rainforest, cascades, scenic views, and birdwatching in Barrington Tops National Park, near Gloucester.
- Careys Peak walking track Easy Careys Peak walking track offers picnicking, scenic views, birdwatching, and historic heritage in the sub-alpine region of Barrington National Park, near Scone.
- Cobark Park picnic area Take a break at Cobark Park picnic area to plan your adventures in the plateau region of Barrington Tops National Park—1 hour from Gloucester.
An ancient landscape
Barrington Tops National Park and the adjoining State Conservation Area are the traditional land of several Aboriginal groups, including the Worimi and Biripi people, the Gringai clan of the Worimi people and Wonnarua people. The rainforests of Barrington Tops offered a wealth of resources for Aboriginal people, including many edible fruits, like the native cherry, lilly pilly and figs. Today, the history of Aboriginal people in Barrington Tops is recorded in oral history and in the presence of Aboriginal sites. Barrington Tops National Park protects ancient campsites, scarred trees and sacred ceremonial places.
A dramatic wilderness
Most of Barrington Tops National Park is declared wilderness; large, natural areas of land that, together with their native plants and animal communities, remain essentially unchanged by modern human activity. Wilderness areas in NSW represent the largest, most pristine natural areas within NSW - the last of Australia's wild and untamed places. The edges of the wilderness area of Barrington Tops are easily accessible; some of the most spectacular views in the park are from Careys Peak and Devils Hole and Thunderbolts lookouts. You'll notice the varied textures of the forest below you, with the ranges of the Barrington Wilderness running east and south from the plateau like the fingers of an outstretched hand.
- Barrington Tops and beyond tag-a-long 4WD tour Get off the beaten track with As the Crow Flies 4WD Tours for an exciting tag-along adventure in Barrington Tops National Park, near Gloucester.
- Barrington trail Take the challenge of the Barrington trail, a 4WD trail in Barrington Tops National Park. Open between October and May every year, plan your 4WD camping holiday now.
- Gloucester Tops circuit Walk through snow gum woodland and ancient rainforest to lookouts and waterfalls, along the Gloucester Tops circuit. This 8km loop combines 3 popular and scenic walks in Barrington Tops National Park.
- Majestic Barrington mountain bike tours Enjoy spectacular scenery as you cycle through Barrington Tops National Park and beyond on this supported mountain bike tour with Aussie Bike or Hike, near Gloucester.
- Rocky Crossing walk Rocky Crossing walk along Williams River offers scenic rainforest views, wildlife and birdwatching on a long easy track in Barrington Tops National Park, near Dungog.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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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.
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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.
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Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
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Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
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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.
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Rufous scrub-bird (Atrichornis rufescens)
The vulnerable rufous scrub-bird is a small, ground-foraging bird that lives only in isolated rainforest areas of south-eastern Australia.