Abercrombie River National Park
Overview
Its three waterways and open forests give visitors to Abercrombie River National Park opportunities for hiking, 4WD touring, camping, birdwatching and swimming.
Read more about Abercrombie River National Park
Swimming, canoeing, and trout fishing are just some of the fun activities available at the three waterways running through Abercrombie River National Park. Gazetted in 1995, the park protects the largest intact patch of open forest on the NSW Central Tablelands. From the dense mountain gum forests in the high north of the park to the lower and more open forests of scribbly gum and stringy bark in the south, there’s plenty of opportunity for exploring and camping at one of four sites: Bummaroo Ford, Silent Creek, The Beach and The Sink.
Jump in your 4WD and follow the fire trails. Hunt out Licking Hole and discover an abandoned goldminer’s cottage. Relics of the 19th century gold rush – diggings, water races and sluices – can also be found by hiking along the riverbanks.
Stay aware and lively because this is a haven for wildlife. Wallabies, kangaroos and emus can be seen year-round. When you come to an isolated waterhole, be quiet – platypuses live here, but you’re most likely to see them at dawn or dusk. More than 60 species of birds, including wedge-tail eagles, also call Abercrombie River home. Naturally, it’s the place to be.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/abercrombie-river-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Sydney and surrounds and Country NSW regions
Abercrombie River National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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- Oberon office
02 6336 1972
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. - 38 Ross Street, Oberon NSW 2787
- Email: npws.kanangra@environment.nsw.gov.au
- Oberon office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Abercrombie River National Park.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Goulburn:
- The main access to the park is via the Arkstone Road. Turn onto the Arkstone Road from the Oberon-Goulburn Road, 7km south of Black Springs. 4WD, all weather access.
- You can also get to the park via Felled Timber Road and Brass Walls Fire Trail (4WD access, during dry weather only). Turn off the Oberon-Goulburn road onto Felled Timber Road about 23km south of Black Springs.
- You can access Bummaroo Ford with a 2WD along the Abercrombie Road (Oberon-Goulburn Road). Situated on the Abercrombie River, 33km north from Taralga and 74km south from Oberon. The Abercrombie Road is sealed.
Park entry points
- Abercrombie Firetrail access See on map
- Arkstone access See on map
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW country transport info website
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for in Abercrombie River National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
The weather at this time of year is perfect for camping and hiking.
Summer
Bring your swimmers and take a dip in Abercrombie and Retreat rivers.
Winter
The days are crisp – snow falls in higher parts of the park – so pack on the layers, fire up the 4WD and explore some of those trails.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
9°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
34.5°C
Winter temperature
Average
0°C and 11°C
Lowest recorded
–10.5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
June
Driest month
March
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
200.3mm
Facilities
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Barbecue facilities
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the OEH pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Nearby towns
Oberon (52 km)
If the famous Jenolan Caves are on your travel itinerary Oberon in the Blue Mountains is the perfect spot from which to plan your caving adventure. There are a number of ways visitors can tour the caves.
Taralga (88 km)
Many of Taralga's existing buildings date from the 1860s to the 1890s, and most of them consist of stone from local volcanic supplies. This has resulted in an architectural style unique to Taralga that is somewhere between Georgian and Victorian, giving the town a unique and picturesque aesthetic.
Goulburn (134 km)
Named after Henry Goulburn - the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, Goulburn developed into a major centre for wool, and in 1863, it became Australia's first inland city. Today, the town is a rich hub of history, discovery and natural beauty.
Learn more
Abercrombie River National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Wild kingdom
All year round, this is a great spot to observe local wildlife. Kangaroos, wallabies and emus are seen throughout the park, and echidnas and wombats live on the slopes and river flats. The rivers and creeks are home to eastern water dragons and the shy platypus. In summer, you’ll hear the sound of frogs calling out near the creeks. There are also more than 60 species of birds around here – look for wedge-tail eagles soaring above Abercrombie trail.
Gold standard
Landscapes of deep gullies with rivers running through them – such as the one found at Abercrombie River – provide ideal conditions for loose gold. During the gold rush of the second half of the 1800s, the precious mineral was discovered here. Following the rivers and creeks you can find evidence – sluices and diggings – still there today.
Action-ready
This is an environment built for adventure. One of the most popular activities in the park is 4WD touring. Some of the trails running along gorges and ridges can be pretty challenging, even for the experienced driver. For those with plenty of energy, you can also explore these trails on a mountain bike. The rivers and creeks, shaded by tall casuarinas, have plenty of deep waterholes. Pull on your swimmers and jump on in. Or perhaps you’ve got a canoe or kayak – bring it along because there are some good stretches for paddling.
Aboriginal culture
The ridgelines and rivers running through Abercrombie River National Park were once traditional travel and trading routes for the Wiradjuri and Gundungarra People. Evidence of open campsites can be found along the rivers and creeks in the park.
Plants and animals you may see
Animals
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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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Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian common 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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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.
Environments in this park
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Abercrombie River National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents. Here is just some of the work we’re doing to conserve these values:
Managing weeds, pest animals and other threats
Pests and weeds have a significant impact to the ecosystems within Abercrombie River National Park. Risk assessments for new and emerging weeds are carried out as an ongoing initiative within the park. Pest reduction of wild dogs is an important part of the work NPWS does to protect the integrity of biodiversity which exists within Abercrombie.
Conservation program
Wild dog control program
Wild dogs can have significant impacts on other animals and are regarded as pests. Our wild dog control program operates in many NSW national parks and reserves. When carrying out wild dog pest control, we aim to minimise the impact that they have on livestock and domestic pets, while maintaining dingo conservation in key areas.
Managing fire
NSW is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world as a result of our climate, weather systems, vegetation and the rugged terrain. NPWS is committed to maintaining natural and cultural heritage values and minimising the likelihood and impact of bushfires via a strategic program of fire research, fire planning, hazard reduction, highly trained rapid response firefighting crews and community alerts.
Conservation program
Planning for fire
Bushfires are inevitable across fire-prone vegetation types within NSW national parks. NPWS prepares for wildfires by working with other fire agencies, reserve neighbours and the community to ensure protection of life, property and biodiversity. Every park has its own fire management strategy, devised in consultation with partner fire authorities and the community to plan and prioritise fire management.
