Capertee National Park
Overview
Capertee National Park offers spectacular birdwatching, walking, camping as well as heritage homestead accommodation, west of Blue Mountains, near Lithgow.
Read more about Capertee National Park
For a unique wilderness holiday, head to Capertee National Park. Located west of Blue Mountains, Capertee protects a range of wildlife and plants found nowhere else on earth. Independent campers and adventurous families enjoy walking and mountain biking through this unique region while discovering both Aboriginal and European heritage.
Renowned for some of the best birdwatching in the state, the protected woodlands along the fertile river flats attract regent honeyeaters, woodland birds, and birdwatching enthusiasts alike. The park is also home to native Australian wildlife like kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies and gliders.
Choose from a night under the stars at the campground, or enjoy the heritage charms of Capertee Homestead. Capertee National Park is also a great stopover if car touring around neighbouring Turon National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park.
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/capertee-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the Sydney and surrounds and Country NSW regions
Capertee National Park has a locked entry gate. If you're visiting during the day, get the gate code by calling Mudgee Office (weekdays) or Blue Mountains Heritage Centre (weekends).
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Mudgee office
02 6370 9000
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. - 27 Inglis Street, Mudgee NSW 2850
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Email: npws.mudgee@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Mudgee office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Capertee National Park.
Map
Map legend
Map
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Capertee village:
- Turn east onto Glen Davis Road
- Travel 29km to the junction with Glen Alice Road and veer left
- Drive another 21km through Glen Alice, towards Rylstone, and turn left onto the unsealed Port Macquarie Road.
- Follow Port Macquarie Road to the locked gate at the park boundary (access code can be obtained from Mudgee office).
Parking
- Honeyeater Homestead See on map
- Valley lookout See on map
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
Capertee National Park is not accessible by public transport however there is a train/bus service to Mudgee or Lithgow. For information about public transport options, visit the NSW country transport website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Capertee National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
The cooler autumn months are an excellent time for walking and mountain biking the trails and tracks within the park.
Spring
Grab your binoculars for some superb birdwatching. You might catch a rare glimpse of the endangered regent honeyeater as it builds its nest.
Summer
Enjoy a relaxing picnic on the shady banks of Capertee River, and perhaps a refreshing paddle in the shallow waters.
Winter
Enjoy a car tour of Capertee while taking in nearby Wollemi and Goulburn River National Parks.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
12.1°C and 25.5°C
Highest recorded
38.4°C
Winter temperature
Average
10.4°C and 0.7°C
Lowest recorded
-8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
179mm
Facilities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Showers
Electric power
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
Drones
Flying a drone for recreational purposes is prohibited in this area. Drones may affect public enjoyment, safety and privacy, interfere with park operations, or pose a threat to wildlife. See the Drones in Parks policy.
This area may be a declared Drone Exclusion Zone, or may be subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) rules for flying near airports, aerodromes and helicopter landing sites. See CASA's Drone Flyer Rules.
Commercial filming and photography
Commercial filming or photography is prohibited without prior consent. You must apply for permission and contact the local office.
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.
Nearby towns
Rylstone (34 km)
Rylstone is a pretty village with many heritage-listed stone buildings, including the magnificent post and telecommunications office, the police station, the courthouse and the shire hall. Boutiques and markets offer arts, crafts and other treasures.
Mudgee (91 km)
Set in the Cudgegong River valley in Central West NSW, Mudgee is a charming historic town and a popular destination for wine enthusiasts keen to sample its award-winning reds and whites. From its many wineries and national parks to markets, festivals and activities for the kids, Mudgee has much to offer.
Lithgow (125 km)
Hassans Walls Lookout, near Lithgow, is the highest in the Blue Mountains. Admire Mt Wilson, Mt York, Mt Tarana and Mt Blaxland as well as the pretty Hartley Valley below. To the south are the Kanimbla and Megalong valley and Mt Bindo. While there, go for a walk or ride around the lookout.
Learn more
Capertee National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Wiradjuri country
Capertee National Park is within the traditional lands of Wiradjuri People. The surrounding countryside contains evidence of Aboriginal occupation in the form of rock art, scarred trees and artefacts. Traditional food plants and old travel routes are also present within the park.
Plant life abounds
The park is home to rare grey grevillea shrubs, which bloom with pink and red flowers in spring. This hardy, dense shrub is found nowhere else but Capertee Valley. Fertile river flats and surrounding slopes host an ecological community of majestic yellow box, blakelys red gum and white box, providing a vital habitat for wildlife and native birds.
- Capertee Woolshed ruins Capertee Woolshed ruins, in Capertee National Park, offer a view of the historic heritage of the area, with walking, paddling and birdwatching opportunities nearby.
- Valley lookout Relax with a picnic lunch at Valley lookout and enjoy dramatic views inside the world’s second largest canyon. It’s easily combined with a 4WD or camping getaway in Capertee National Park, near Rylstone.
Looking for things to do in Capertee?
There are great things to do when in Capertee. Enjoy fantastic bird watching any time of the year - the protected woodlands attract the threatened gang-gang and glossy black cockatoos, and Capertee Valley is one of only three known nesting areas for the endangered regent honeyeater. You'll find a range of options if you're looking for a place to stay, including Capertee Homestead, Cottage or campground. Bookings essential. You can also hike into remote Policemans Point campground.
- Capertee Woolshed ruins Capertee Woolshed ruins, in Capertee National Park, offer a view of the historic heritage of the area, with walking, paddling and birdwatching opportunities nearby.
- Valley lookout Relax with a picnic lunch at Valley lookout and enjoy dramatic views inside the world’s second largest canyon. It’s easily combined with a 4WD or camping getaway in Capertee National Park, near Rylstone.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)
The regent honeyeater is a critically endangered native bird. Once widespread across south-eastern Australia, only around 250 to 350 birds remain in the wild, making it at risk of extinction.
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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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Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)
The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.
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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.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Capertee 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.