Thungutti Campground, New England National Park, NSW.

After setting up at Thungutti Campground, the first thing we noticed was that a number of Bassian Thrush were wondering around on the grass out in the open. Usually we see them along forest trails and the dim light makes it hard to get a clear photo. 

In the afternoon, a hare and a rabbit came out to graze. They are both introduced pests, although rabbits seem to pose more of a problem than hares.

Red-necked Wallabies are more welcome visitors.

There is a large kitchen shelter in the center of the park which has gas hot plates, tables and a water tap with non-potable water. Unusually, there is also a free-standing shower cubicle plumbed with cold water in the campground.

Camp Kitchen at Thungutti Campground

Enclosed shower at Thungutti Campground.

Bollarded sites at Thungutti Campground

To our delight, Flame Robins frequented the campground. 

One evening we were visited by a Frogmouth. It was making a sound we hadn't heard before but seems to be a regular Tawny Frogmouth. 

I'll write about the walks we did and the beautiful lookouts we saw in the next blog.

Details for Thungutti Campground:
Where: 81 km east of Armidale or 134 km south-east of Coffs Harbour. Turn off the Waterfall Way onto Point Lookout Road. The campground is about 15 km along Point Lookout Road.
Access: 2WD, all weather roads
Booking and Fees: $6 per adult, $3.50 per child. Self-register. No bookings.
Sites: Designated for tents and camping beside your vehicle. Shaded, grassy sites behind bollards. Listed as having 10 sites but there appear to be a lot more. 
Facilities: Large camp shelter with gas BBQ's and tables. Taps with non-potable water. One cold water shower in cubicle. Non-flush toilets.
Prohibitions: No pets, no smoking.
Note: Little Styx River RV Campground is a few kilometers before Thungutti, along Point Lookout Road. It is a free camp alongside the Styx River. Suitable for tents and all rig types such as caravans and camper trailers. There are trout in the river. 

Wildlife List: Swamp Wallaby, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Hare, Rabbit.
Bird List: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Tawny Frogmouth, Superb Lyrebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Flame Robin, Crimson Rosella, Forest Raven, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Bassian Thrush, White-throated Treecreeper, Red-browed Treecreeper.