After spending a decade in Australia, I finally made the trip to Barrington Tops National Park, located three hours northwest of Sydney, searching for a quieter, yet stunning alternative to the usual Christmas holiday destinations. The altitude, the moss-draped trees and vibrant greenery felt like stepping into another world, a contrast with the landscapes we’re used to during the Australian summer. During our visit, we explored both the northern area and Gloucester Tops, each offering unique experiences. Read on to discover whether Barrington Tops National Park is worth the visit, along with helpful tips to plan your own adventure.
Is Barrington Tops National Park worth visiting?

While Barrington Tops National Park might not make the top of our must-see list for Australia, it offers a peaceful and unique summer getaway. The cooler weather, beautiful mossy forests, and absence of crowds provided a refreshing change from the usual East Coast hotspots. Aussie Ark is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, combining conservation education with rare wildlife encounters. While Barrington Tops may not be packed with iconic sights, its quiet beauty and off-the-beaten-path charm make it a rewarding destination for those seeking something different.
The weather there can be unpredictable, and our summer experience might differ significantly from what you’d encounter in other seasons. Always check the latest national park updates before your visit, and keep reading for tips to help you plan your trip.
Preparing for the journey
We made sure to stock up on essentials – fuel, food, firewood and most importantly water – in the nearby town of Gloucester before heading into the park as there are no facilities within the park other than toilets. There’s a pub in Moonan Flat on the other side of the national park, but I don’t think there’s a shop.
With its picturesque Buccan mountains, Gloucester was a nice stop on the way to Barrington Tops National Park. If you like wine, we enjoyed our wine-tasting experience at Mograni Creek Estate as they work with interesting grapes and we felt very welcome. We could also buy a few bottles from the other local winery, Faulls Ridge, at the IGA liquor shop.
Responsible travel tip: It is important to support local businesses when travelling to make a positive impact on the region you’re visiting. However, do not drink and drive!
The unsealed roads were riddled with holes which extended travel times. While they’re technically suitable for 2WD vehicles, an AWD SUV made us feel much more comfortable navigating some of the rougher patches, particularly near Aussie Ark. Plus, it’s always good to drive slowly when there’s wildlife around. For anyone planning a trip, downloading offline maps is essential, as 4G reception is scarce.
Exploring the northern region
We started our journey in the northern part of the park, where we spent two nights surrounded by snow gum trees and serene wilderness camping at 1,400m in altitude. We were glad we planned to be there over a few days as patience was key to catching a clear view from the lookouts. It took us three attempts to enjoy the scenery without the clouds!
Conveniently located near our campground, Devil’s Hole was our favourite lookout with a beautiful view of the surrounding forest and over the trees.
We stopped at every lookout in the northern part of Barrington Tops National Park: Cobark Lookout, Thunderbolts Lookout (with an 800m return walk in a lovely forest), Devil’s Hole Lookout and on the other end just outside the park at the Dingo Gate. On the way there, don’t miss The Firs, a test plantation of pine forest, which is a surprising change of scenery.
We took a short detour to Polblue Falls, which we didn’t find particularly impressive after all the stunning waterfalls we had already seen on our road trip on the way to Barrington Tops (from Brisbane, via the Waterfall Way and Ellenborough Falls). The short walk at Polblue Swamp was nice but apart from wild horses and parrots, we didn’t see as much wildlife and birdlife as we’d hoped.
We skipped the longest hikes in the area, Aeroplane Hill and Careys Peak walking tracks. While they lead to the highest lookout in the park, other lookouts were in the clouds most of our time in Barrington Tops National Park and we didn’t feel like walking for a full day this time.
Visiting Aussie Ark
A highlight of our northern adventure was visiting Aussie Ark. This conservation facility is doing remarkable work to protect native Australian species, including the Tasmanian devil. We loved the close encounters with animals rarely seen in the wild (Tasmanian devils and quolls were our highlights) and were deeply inspired by their dedication to preserving Australia’s unique wildlife.
If you’re in Barrington Tops National Park in January, they are open to the public every day. We were lucky to be able to time our visit with their monthly Devils In The Wild tour, a one-of-a-kind experience in a small group that will bring you very close to the endangered creatures. They also offer accommodation, which is a rare alternative to camping when visiting Barrington Tops National Park.
Nighttime adventures
Summer nights in Barrington Tops are cooler than what we’re used to, with temperatures dropping to around 10°C during our stay in the middle of summer. The chill made evenings by the firepit particularly enjoyable – when not under a total fire ban, as we experienced on our first night despite the rain (it was for the whole region). We went for a walk at nighttime to look for nocturnal life, including possums and what we believe was a glider, with its white, fluffy fur glowing softly in the moonlight.
A day at Gloucester Tops
After our time in the north, we drove for about two hours to explore Gloucester Tops. We found this area better for hiking, with trails winding through lush forests and past cascading waterfalls. On a hot day, many locals take a refreshing dip near the falls.
It took us just over 2.5 hours to complete the Gloucester Tops Circuit (7.4km). The loop is made by linking the Gloucester Falls Track (the most popular one by far – but the view of the falls, if you don’t want to get wet, isn’t impressive), the River Walking Track (which I found a bit repetitive) and the Antarctic Beech Forest Track (a stunning forest with the choice of a long or short loop). It was a lovely and rather easy walk (apart from a couple of steep parts), and we were surprised by the various types of vegetation we crossed in a small area.
Where to stay when visiting Barrington Tops National Park
We find that camping is the best way to experience the wilderness of national parks. We made no exception with Barrington Tops National Park, despite the colder nights. It’s also a rare opportunity to camp at such a high altitude in Australia. If you want to avoid the cold, there are also campgrounds at the bottom of the mountain, but in my opinion, it’s not as charming and special.
Responsible travel tip: It’s important to leave no trace when camping and if you plan to have a campfire, make sure you’re familiar with these tips to minimise your campfire impacts.
Devils Hole campground
There are a few campgrounds to choose from in Barrington National Park, and we picked Devils Hole campground as it’s small and isolated, with easy access from the main road. The campground itself is basic but charming, with just five spots available. Arriving early allowed us to claim one of the more private, tree-surrounded spots. However, it’s a 200m walk to the toilets, located on the other side of the road in the day-use area.
If you don’t want to camp
If you’re not into camping, check out the accommodations offered by Aussie Ark: Devils Retreat and Quoll Cottage. It’s a great way to support their conservation work!
If these aren’t available, you can find accommodation near Gloucester* and drive to the national park for the day (allow around 2 hours). On the other side of the national park, there are a few rooms at Moonan Flat Pub, which is only about half an hour from Barrington Tops National Park, and Moonan Cottage or at the Roma Orchard* a bit further.