Camp Blackman, Wurrumbungle National Park, NSW.

Camp Blackman, unpowered tent section.

Camp Blackman is a large camping area with separate nodes. The unpowered tent section surrounds the amenities block. The upper section is pictured above and has lovely views. As it was very hot we choose the lower section because there seemed to be more shade there.

Amenities Block and phone box.

The amenities block is well fitted out with hot showers, flush toilets and a separate room with sinks for washing dishes. However, the electricity went out several times while we were there and there wasn't always any hot water.

Looking back towards the amenities from the bottom of the unpowered tent section.

There are two RV sections both suitable for vans and camper trailers. One section has  powered sites and the other unpowered sites. It is a bit further away from the amenities block from these sections.

Powered and unpowered RV section.

We soon discovered that there was a demented White-winging Chough in the campground. It constantly pecked at car mirrors and any other shinny car component. We ended up pegging hand towels over our mirrors to deter it.

Demented White-winged Chough

While we were at the Warrumbungles a couple of storms with torrential rain came through. As we had camped in the lower section we soon had rain cascading down the slope and through our campsite. Fortunately, our Jet Tent by Oztent has a high plastic tub at its base and is extremely water proof. After the second day with a storm we woke up to find everyone else packing up to leave because all their bedding was wet. 

Cooking dinner in the picnic shelter during torrential rain.

From our tent we looked towards a dry creek bed. There was plenty of wildlife to see in the campground.

Bottom of tent section.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Emu.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.

Jacky Dragon

There is an easy, pleasant walk from the campground to the Visitor Information Centre. We saw so many interesting birds on this walk, including lots of Turquoise Parrots, that I will cover it in a separate blog.

Camp Blackman Campground, Warrumbungle National Park, NSW:
Where: 488 km (6 hours) north-west of Sydney. 35 km (33 mins) west of Coonabarabran, NSW. Take Timor Road which becomes John Renshaw Parkway.
Access: Sealed Roads. 2WD, all weather access.
Bookings and Fees: No bookings. Gets busy at peak times. There was still a self registration area available when we were there in October 2018 however, it is preferred that you pay at the Visitor Centre on the way in. Daily park entry fee $8 or purchase annual parks pass. Unpowered sites $6 per adult, $3.50 per child, per night. Powered sites $12 per adult, $6 per child, per night.
Sites: 70 unpowered and 32 powered sites in separate sections. Suitable for tents, camping beside your vehicle, Camper Trailers, Motorhomes, Caravans.
Facilities: Amenities Block with hot showers and flush toilets and sinks for washing dishes. Flush toilets. Cold showers. Wood and electric Barbecue. BYO wood. Picnic tables. Public Phone. Walks.
Prohibited: Generators, pets, smoking.
Dark Sky Park: Designated star gazing areas. Limit lights when camping.
Warrumbungle Visitor Center: Open every day except Christmas Day from 9.00 am to 4 pm. Camping and entry fees can be paid here.

Wildlife: Echidna, Red-necked Wallaby, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wallaroo, Swamp Wallaby, Lace Monitor, Nobby Dragon, Tommy Dragon, Whites's Skink. Feral Animals: Goats, Rabbits. Birds: Emu, Apostlebird, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Crimson Chat, White-winged Chough, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Peaceful Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, Little Friarbird, Noisy Friarbird, Tawny Frogmouth, White-throated Gerygone, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Jacky Winter, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Noisy Miner, Olive-backed Oriole, Spotted Pardalote, Australian King Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Crested Pigeon, Eastern Yellow Robin, Red-capped Robin, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Rainbow Bee-eater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, White-winged Triller, White-throated Treecreeper, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, White-browed Woodswallow, Masked Woodswallow, Dusky Woodswallow.

Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park, NSW.

Sawn Rock

Where: Sawn Rocks Picnic Area, Sawn Rocks section of Mount Kaputar National Park, Killarney Gap Road, Narrabri, NSW.

Sawn Rocks Picnic Area has covered tables and electric barbecues. No pets allowed.

Caution: This area is prone to bushfires. When we visited it was recovering from a bushfire and at time of writing this blog it was closed due to a bushfire.

Sawn Rocks Walking Track: 1.5 km return, Grade 2.
Sawn Rock is a spectacular example of the volcanic rock formation commonly referred to as "organ pipes". Look closely and you will also see vertical gardens growing along the basalt columns. No pets allowed.

Vertical gardens on Sawn Rock.

There is a lookout where you can safely view Sawn Rocks. The path then continues down to the base of the rocks where "organ pipes" have fallen to the ground over the years.

Camping: There is no camping at Sawn Rocks. Bark Hut Campground and Dawsons Spring Campground are in a different section of Mount Kaputar National Park approximately 85 km (1 and 1/2 hours) away via Narrabri. Caravans are prohibited on the access road to Bark Hut and Dawsons Spring Campgrounds.

Ancient Geological Site Glacial Area, Rocky Creek (near Bingara), NSW.

Rocky Creek

We found exploring Rocky Creek and seeing evidence of ancient glacial activity fascinating. 

There are a couple of flat spots suitable for overnighting.

Amenities at the Glacial Rocks Campground.

Upper reaches of Rocky Creek

There is no set trail but the remains of rocks sliced through by the action of ancient glaciers are easily found with a little bit of rock hopping.

Evidence of glacial activity.

Glacial Rocks (Rocky Creek) Campground
Where: Killarney Gap Road, Rocky Creek NSW. 36 km (25 min) south-west of Bingara. 86 km south-west of Warialda. 74 km north-east of Narrabri.  
Access: 300 meters unsealed with overhanging trees. Not suitable for large rigs. 
Free Camp
Facilities: Non-flush toilets. Bins.
Prohibitions: No pets allowed.

Sculptures in the Scrub Walking Track, Timmallallie (Pilliga) National Park, NSW.

Sculptures in the Scrub Walking Track: 3 km circuit, Grade 3.

A highlight of camping at the Sculptures in the Scrub Campground is easy access to this brilliant walk showcasing aboriginal culture. We did the walk clockwise; exploring the sculptures before descending and walking along the base of Dandry Gorge.

Sculptures in the Scrub walking track.

Scrub Spirits by Col Henry

First Lesson by Brett Garling

Yuundu Yuundu by Ken Huthchinson

Connections by "Badger" William Bates

Respect Mother by Pamela Denise

From the gorge we were able to look up and see some of the sculptures placed to scan the landscape. Despite the dry riverbed in the gorge we spotted a fair bit of wildlife including kangaroos, lizards and emus.

Path at the bottom of Dandry Gorge.

Young Lace Monitor with Bells Phase markings.

Being watched over by "First Lesson"

Nobbi Dragon

"Scrub Spirits" keeping an eye on us.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo in Dandry Gorge.

There were lots of interesting things to observe. Three of my favourite curiosities being: distinctively shaped emu poo, the truly huge 8 cm Giant Burrowing Cockroaches scurrying about and a perfectly fitted out case moth.

Emu poo.

Giant Burrowing Cockroach

Case Moth

Sculptures in the Scrub Picnic Area and Campground, Pilliga National Park, NSW.

Sculptures in the Scrub Picnic Area

There are several separate large camping sites at Sculptures in the Scrub Campground.

There are no facilities in the campground itself, however, it is only a short walk from the campsites to the toilet block and picnic area. 

Our set up in one of the large sites.

Each sites leads off the road in.

No 1 Break Road.

This is a remote campground with a stark Australian environment. There were several kangaroos "grazing" in the picnic area and campground. Somehow they were finding something to eat in the dry dirt. We enjoyed colourful sunrises in the morning and Glossy Black Cockatoos flew over every afternoon.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos.

Sunrise at Sculptures in the Scrub Campground.

Glossy Black Cockatoo.

Access to the Sculptures in the Scrub Walking Track is from the picnic area. Due to the outstanding nature of the walk, I will cover it in a separate blog.

Sculptures in the Scrub Campground:
Where: Pilliga National Park (Timmallallie National Park), NSW. 106 km (1 hour 25 mins) south of Narrabri. 84 km (1 hour 20 min) from Coonabarabran via Baradine. From Baradine drive along Indians Lane for 9.5 km, turn right at the T Junction onto No 1 Break Road and drive for about 13 km. Turn right onto Top Crossing Road and drive for about 11 km. Turn left into Dandry Gorge Road and drive for about 1 km to the campground. 
Access: Unsealed roads. 2WD dry weather only. Check road conditions at the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre in Baradine 02 6843 4011. 
Bookings & Fees: No bookings. Free to camp. Free to enter.
Sites: Suitable for tents, camping beside your vehicle, camper trailers, caravans. There are several separate large sites. 
Facilities: There is a toilet block near the picnic area. Walking track with information signs. Generators are permitted.
Picnic Area: The picnic area adjoins the camping area. Sheltered tables, free gas barbecues, non-potable tank water, non-flush toilet, car park.
Prohibited: Pets, Smoking.

Wildlife: Emu, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Nobbi Dragon, Giant Burrowing Cockroach, Lace Monitor (Bell's Phase). Birds: Apostlebird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black Kite, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Galah, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Noisy Friarbird, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Crested Pigeon, Eastern Rosella, Inland Thornbill, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Masked Woodswallow, White-browed Woodswallow.

Baradine, NSW.

We drove from Coonabarabran to the small town of Baradine to check out the Pillaga Forest Discovery Centre. The staff were very helpful and there was lots of information to peruse. Tours with an Aboriginal Discovery Ranger can be booked here.

While in Baradine we took the opportunity to track down a Spotted Bowerbird that frequents the area. We quickly discovered the bower but had to wait some time for the bowerbird to show up. A number of other birds popped in just to keep us on our toes. At last the male Spotted Bowerbird made an appearance.

Spotted Bowerbird Bower

Spotted Turtle Dove

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Spotted Bowerbird.