Barrington Tops

Hikes & bushwalks 

The vast Barrington Tops National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, an incredible wilderness shaped by volcanic flows over millions of years. Rising dramatically from sea level to over 1,500 metres, the park protects one of the country’s largest areas of temperate rainforest. This lush bushland is threaded with walking trails. The Gloucester Tops Circuit combines three of the best into a seven-kilometre loop taking in woodland, wildflowers and waterfalls. 

Gloucester Tops, Barrington Tops National Park - Credit: Destination Barrington Coast

Walk through majestic snow gums and mountain gums on the 14-kilometre Careys Peak track, a high country trail between Scone and Gloucester. Nearby is the Aeroplane Hill walking track with a unique sub-alpine environment that’s home to rare plants, including several types of orchid. Experienced hikers can tackle the 20-kilometre Corker trail, a high-altitude adventure through steep, rugged bushland. 

Aeroplane Hill walking track, Barrington Tops National Park - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW

Camping & caravans 

There’s nothing quite like spending a night under the stars. There are eight campgrounds within Barrington Tops National Park. Gloucester River and Polblue are best for beginners – you can drive right up to the site and use a tent, camper trailer or caravan. At an altitude of over 1,400 metres, Devils Hole is one of the highest campgrounds in the state and is surrounded by snow gums. Remote campsites like Gummi Falls, Junction Pools and Wombat Creek are only accessible by 4WD or on foot, so be prepared to rough it. 

Gloucester River campground, Barrington Tops National Park - Credit: John Spencer/DCCEEW

Dogs aren’t permitted in the national park, but you can bring them to campsites inside the Chichester State Forest and Barrington Tops State Forest. If you’d prefer more creature comforts, Gloucester Holiday Park has powered sites and cabins. The Steps Barrington Campground sits on the edge of the Barrington River and has modern amenities blocks, fire pits, activities like river sledding and mountain biking, and even glamping tents available to hire.  

Scenic lookouts 

The high altitude of the Barrington Tops regions makes for some spectacular scenic lookouts. The most famous is Thunderbolts lookout, named for the legendary bushranger who used to roam the area. Careys Peak is the highest lookout in the park at 1,545 metres above sea level – on a clear day you can see all the way to the Stockton sand dunes near Newcastle. Other popular lookouts include Devils Hole, Andrew Laurie and Cobark. 

Thunderbolts Lookout at Barrington National Park, Hunter Valley

Historic towns 

Gold fever struck the region in 1876 and you can learn more about the boom times on a tour of the Mountain Maid gold mine in Gloucester. More history awaits in Dungog, where the streets are lined with well-preserved buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Follow the Dungog Town Walk to see the best, including the century-old James Theatre, the oldest purpose-built cinema still operating in Australia. The Dungog Museum is in the heritage-listed former School of Arts, erected in 1898.  

James Theatre, Dungog

Guided tours 

Get some expert advice and insider knowledge on a guided tour of the Barrington Tops region. AEA Luxury Tours runs a four-day immersive experience that takes you through small towns, lush rainforest and to a Tasmanian devil sanctuary. Enjoy a three-day bushwalk through untouched wilderness with Walking Rivers or spend a day cycling around the picturesque Gloucester countryside with Aussie Bike or Hire. Learn about ancient Aboriginal traditions and bush tucker on a tour through the Copeland Tops State Conservation Area. 

Copeland Tops State Conservation Area, Barrington

Getting there

This magnificent region is part of the Barrington Coast and close to the Upper Hunter. It’s around four hours’ drive north of Sydney and three hours from Newcastle. You can also catch the train from Sydney to Dungog and Gloucester, which takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Or fly into Newcastle Airport, which is just under an hours’ drive from Dungog. Note that many of the roads inside Barrington Tops National Park close seasonally between June and September. 

Thunderbolts Way, Gloucester

Where to stay 

Be immersed in nature and stay at one of the many campgrounds inside the Barrington Tops National Park, ranging from well-equipped sites with space for caravans to remote walk-in spots where you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient. In Dungog and Gloucester, choose from motels, country pubs, historic cottages and farmstays.