Top 3 Easy Breaks From Sydney
For us, it’s not really camping unless you have an open fire. We reckon the food tastes grander and the company settles in better when you have the kids’ cheffing marshmallows and gathering fire wood. So this automatically rules out the more traditional camping options. This season our vote for best camp site goes to…
Wollondilly River, authentic bush camping! (South of Sydney)
Website: www.wollondillyriverstation.com/
Rating: 
2 hours from Sydney, turn off from Mittagong and head to Wombyn Caves (it’s 15 km before the caves). Camp sites are private, scattered around spacious grassy areas along side the river that offers easy access for swimming and fishing.
Fires and pets are welcome. There are no watch outs on this one. Take your essentials plus kayaks and other water toys. Despite there being a promise of ‘there’s fish in that river” yours truly and co had no catches, nor bites!
TIP: be patient on the road, lots of pot holes in the last 45 km and collect your own fire wood about 10 km before the site. Fire wood can also be bought on site. Bring own water, boil or treat if using the river water for drinking.
Camping fees: $10 / adult and $2 / school aged kids.
Contact: (02) 48889239 or (02) 48889207 FAX: (02) 48889271
Cattai National Park (West of Sydney)
Rating: 
1.5 hours from Sydney this beauty is located 13 km north- east of Windsor. River site camping on large grassy areas, fires are welcome, firewood is supplied. There’s loads of room for the kids to run wild with plenty of activities to be distracted by, but no swimming and no pets.
TIP: Park gates close at 1730 and re-open at 0730, during day light saving close at 1830 and reopen at 0730. No swimming!
Camping fee: $10 / adult and $5 / kids aged 5 to 15.
Contact: 02 4572 3100
Watagans National Park (North of Sydney)
Rating:
Located 30km south – west of Newcastle the parks is situat6de within the Watagan Mountains. Head for the Gap Creek camping area located on Bangalow Road west of Mt Faulk Rd. Drinking water, fires, and standard amenities.
TIP: Bring firewood, collect a few km’s outside camp. No pets
Contact: 02 4358 0400
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Sensational tip on wollondilly. checked it out last long weekend.We got sucked into buying wood from Brian only to find a great stack of wood washed up from the floods – huge and dry.
If you’re in NSW and into camping I found a fantastic guide recently. Well organised, lots of pics and really good information. My local bookshop ordered it in for me. And I agree – it’s just not camping without an open fire. Check out “Camping Guide to New South Wales” by Craig Lewis and Cathy Savage (Boiling Billy Publications).
It is worth keeping going after Wollondilly to camp at Wombeyan Caves also, fires allowed, caves tours are great & with a bit of a walk you can still swim. Plus there are undercover cooking facilities if it is raining or you are a not up to more charred campfire food.
[...] Dads’ Club Top 3 camp spots breaks from Sydney [...]
The campsite at Wiseman’s Ferry is called Rosevale. Nice spot next to the river and lots of fun to be had – easy swimming and, if you have a boat, great for dragging the kids behind. Fires are OK and great for cooking marshmallows. Enough trees to be shady but not so bushy as to loose the kids. Camping neighbours are really close to you, so keep your fingers crossed they are good (ours were great). Kiosk on site with essentials but bring most of your stuff with you. In summary, a very good spot, especially if you’re either new to camping or want a low-stress camp spot.