Surrounded by nature and boasting scenic water and mountain views, Wollondilly River Station offers a genuine bush camping experience.
Gorgeous views from your camp site
Located 50 kilometres northwest of Mittagong, in the Wollondilly River Valley at Goodman's Ford, the property occupies both sides of the picturesque Wollondilly River.
Wollondilly River Station is privately owned and offers campers pet-friendly, bush camping along the banks of the river.
One of the open, grassy camping areas
There are numerous campsites situated along both the eastern and western sides of the river. The owners of the station will allocate a campsite for you based on what is suitable for the size of your group and your equipment. Some sites are wide and in open, grassy areas whereas others are shaded and narrow. It is important to note that all sites are un-powered, however campfires are permitted (of course, this is dependent on weather conditions). Port-a-loo type toilets are located throughout the grounds for the use of campers.
Getting out on the water was one of the highlights
The highlight of our two-night stay at Wollondilly River Station was definitely kayaking on the river. The river is quite wide with spectacular mountain views. Out on the water, you feel like you have discovered your own remote and unique slice of paradise. You can kayak around a kilometre up the river before it gets too shallow and rocky to continue.
The river was scenic and peaceful
You can also enjoy a swim in the river which is shallow in parts and deeper in others. It is also a popular spot for fishing, however, we didn't notice any fish in the river during the time we stayed.
If you want to get out on the water it is necessary to take all of your own water sport equipment with you such as inflatables, canoes, kayaks or SUP's, as there are no hiring facilities on site. As the river bed is very rocky it is a good idea to take reef shoes or similar to avoid cuts on your feet.
Enjoy your own camp fire
Pets are welcome here and we noticed that many other campers had brought their dogs with them on their camping trip.
Other activities in the area include hiking and wildlife spotting. The area is home to eastern grey kangaroos, wombats, brushtail possums and numerous birds. On the western side of the river, the property adjoins the Wollondilly River Nature Reserve, which has a walking track to explore.
Wombeyan Caves is another great option for a day trip. It is only a further 15 kilometres west of Wollondilly River Station, however, due to the narrow and winding nature of the road, it takes around 30 minutes to drive there.
When camping at Wollondilly River Station it is advisable to bring your own ice, drinking water and food as there are no stores nearby. The owners do have a limited supply of bottled drinking water that you may purchase and there are also bags of firewood for sale.
What you need to bring::
Ice, drinking water and food
What you need to know:
There is no drinking water or taps provided
There are no powered sites and generators are not permitted
There is no phone coverage or internet
There are no shops or credit card facilities
Campfires are permitted (dependent on weather conditions)
Pet-friendly - speak to the owners when making your booking
Image Credit: Greater Blue Mountains Drive website
To get there is an interesting adventure in itself. From Mittagong, you take the Wombeyan Caves Road which heads west and north past countryside, wineries and farms, however the scenery and road conditions soon change dramatically.
The impressive Bullio Tunnel offers a great photo opportunity. It was hand carved through twelve metres of solid rock at Bullio Mountain in 1899 in order to create access to Wombeyan Caves from Mittagong. The road construction was also completed the same year.
Bullio Mountain Tunnel
Beyond the tunnel, a bit further along the road up, you will come to Wollondilly Lookout where you can enjoy sweeping views of Nattai National Park.
From here the bitumen road soon turns in to a narrow, winding, gravel and dirt road as you descend dramatically into the Wollondilly River Valley.
Drivers be warned: This road is not for the faint-hearted
Views down to the valley
There are very tight bends and blind corners to negotiate as well as near vertical drops on one side. This road is not for the faint-hearted. Road signs advise drivers to sound their horns before the blind corners and it is advisable to always assume there is another vehicle coming the other way. It is a rough and demanding drive, requiring vehicles to pull to the side to let oncoming vehicles past for the final 20 kilometres to Goodman's Ford.
Crossing the Wollondilly River at Goodman's Ford
At Goodman's Ford, you cross the Wollondilly River and travel a little further up the road to come to the office of the Wollondilly River Station on the right-hand side.
Campsites are limited to avoid overcrowding so bookings are essential and must be made by phone.
For information about rates and facilities, please
click here.
Relax and unwind at Wollondilly River Station
We found Wollondilly River Station to be a lovely spot to get away from it all and enjoy a few nights camping, relaxing and exploring the area.
