Bald Rock National Park, NSW: Climbing Bald Rock and Camping at Bald Rock Campground.

Bald Rock

Bald Rock Walking Track:
There are two ways to get to the top of Bald Rock. Rockface Walk: Follow the white dots, straight up the granite face of Bald Rock. This is a popular option for those who are fit and aren't afraid of heights. Bungoona Walk: a longer option but comfortably achievable for most people. 

Granite Arch, Bungoona Walk.

A good option is to go up the rock face and come down via the Bungoona Walk; roughly 3.2 km total. This is what we planned to do but when we got going early in the morning there was heavy cloud and mist with light rain. We learnt many years ago not to walk on wet granite after a scary experience with slick granite on The Pyramid in Girraween National Park so we made the decision to go up and down the long way; about 5 km in total. The Bungoona Walk is worth doing anyway as it has many interesting granite rock formations and interesting flora.

Rock Lily Orchid Dendrobium speciosum

When we reached the summit the cloud looked like it might lift so we decided to have a snack and wait to see if the weather cleared up. Fortunately the weather did clear for a short while and we finally got some blue sky. (See photo at the top of this blog).

Bald Rock in the clouds.

Balancing Rocks, Bald Rock.

We decided to do the Rockface Walk in the afternoon. unfortunately, it looked like an afternoon storm was coming and as we arrived at the base we could hear thunder and lightning. We didn't like the idea of being exposed on the top of a granite dome in a thunder storm, so once again, we made the decision to call off walking the rock face. 

Afternoon thunderstorm coming over the Rockface Walk.

That evening, we checked the weather forecast and heavy rain was predicted over the coming days so we decided to relocate to Girraween National Park to wait out the wet weather. We plan on coming back to conquer the Rockface Walk sometime soon. Our blog on the wildlife we encountered at Bald Rock National Park can be found here.

Bald Rock Picnic Area:

Bald Rock Picnic Area

There is an excellent picnic area next to the campground. $8 per vehicle per day entry fee. Facilities include: tables, gas BBQ's, non-potable water taps, non-flush toilets, information, walk trail-heads, car park.

Details for Bald Rock Campground:

Bald Rock Campground. Self-registration

Site at Bald Rock Campground: table ,fire ring with plates, nearby water tap.

Where: Bald Rock National Park. 34 km north of Tenterfield. Turn off Mount Lindsey Road onto Bald Rock Access Road and follow signs to campground. ( Or 43 km south-east of Stanthorpe , road has unsealed sections.)
Access: Sealed roads if coming from Tenterfield. 2WD, all weather access.
Bookings and Fees: $12 per adult, $6 per child, plus $8 vehicle entry fee per day. No bookings. Self-register and pay on site.
Sites: 14 defined sites, crushed granite surface, designated for tents, camping beside vehicle, camper trailers, caravans.
Facilities: Non-flush toilets, tables in each site, fire rings with cooking plates, wood provided, several non-drinking water taps, information board, walks, camp kitchen shelter with gas BBQ hot plate and table. We had 1 - 2 bar Telstra phone reception. No bins. No showers.
Prohibitions: No pets, no smoking, no generators. 
Caution: Overly pushy Kookaburras steal food.

Wildlife: Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Cunningham's Skink, Squirrel Glider.
Bird List: Satin Bowerbird, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pied Currawong, Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Noisy Friarbird, Tawny Frogmouth, Scarlet Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Musk Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill, Brown Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Red-browed Treecreeper, White-throated Treecreeper.