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.