Campgrounds West of Grafton?

[Hookie]

G'day all. Mann river campground West of Grafton has been on the radar for a while, and we just made a decision to go there over easter, because we figured it probably wouldn't be packed like the coastal campgrounds. But I got on the website and it is closed for maintenance work - http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/mann-river-campground-and-picnic-area/local-alerts.

So now I have 3 groups all set to go and our first choice of campground has fallen through. We figure we might as well stay in the same area, and I know there are a ton of places out that way, like Dalmorton and Buccarumbi, but I haven't been to any of them so I was hoping some who are more familiar might want to weigh in.

Of the 3 groups, I am the only self sufficient, so toilets are essential, as is a decent swimming hole, and functional bbqs would be a big bonus. National parks fees wouldn't be a dealbreaker, but I suspect there's some pretty nice free spots around there. We'd also prefer a spot that isn't likely to be crammed full of everybody else as much as possible, if we can reasonably hope for that given that it's easter weekend.

So far either Buccarumbi Bridge - https://www.freerangecamping.com.au/directory/item/buccarumbi-campground-fc/ or Dalmorton - https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/dalmorton-campground look like they have potential, but I'd love to hear some other suggestions.

Cheers.

[alnjan]

I am sure Hairs will give you some advice soon. 

Also look at

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/nymboida-river-campground


https://www.live2camp.com.au/cangai-broadwater-campground

[Hairs]

G'day Hookie,
Dalmorton, a camp ground across the Boyd River in the Guy Fawkes River SCA, a popular camp ground for those that don't need much, don't know how popular it gets tho.
Buccarumbi, near the bridge is a toilet block, it can get busy, and the toilets don't get cleaned often, if yahoo's have been there they will be dirty.
The Nymboida Campground http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/nymboida-river-campground on the Nymboida River is a great spot, a fair drive from the Old Grafton Glen Innes Rd, not advisable if wet, has a toilet(but not down near the river). It is how ever a free national Park site.

The Nymboida Canoe Center http://www.nymboidacanoecentre.com/index.html is a good place to base yourself to explore the whole area, from here you can do many day trips, it has showers, toilets and a swimming hole.
Tommy's Rocks Lookout,https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/tommys-rock-lookout-and-walking-track
Lucifer’s Thumb, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/escarpment-walk.
The Junction, http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/the-junction-campground
Platypus Flat, http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/platypus-flat-campground
Mobong Falls, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/mobong-walking-track

Unfortunately free camp sites are a thing of the past, with idoits destroying facilities and leaving rubbish.
The Mann River Caravan Park at Jackadgery is another good place to base yourself and explore.

Unless you are completely self sufficient you are limited.
We are  self sufficient for up to 7 days(Grog runs out buy then  ) and there are other camp sites around the Clarence valley that can be worth the effort.
But as camping gear becomes cheaper, the yahoos and vandals are able to reach and stay at places which we would find as being remote and they are destroying these places which are now becoming locked.

Sorry I'm not of much help.
 

[Rumpig]

We stayed at Dalmoreton years ago...there isn’t much in the way of level sites there IMO, and one of the very few we found suitable for our camper was taken by a tent camper, even though there was a nice flat grassy bollarded off area perfect for them to set up in. We ended up setting up in the car park area of the bollarded off tent area due to how crap the trailer sites were (arrived late in arvo for a one night stay and nobody in the tent area). Personally I don’t rate that campground highly, Mann River Reserve was much much nicer (wish we’d stayed there, shame you can’t), and free camping along the river would have been a better option if we knew that existed, but we didn’t find those sites till the next morning whilst headed to Nymbodia direction.

[Paddler Ed]

Another + 1 to the NPWS site at Dalmorton - we stayed there about 2 years ago when we did a loop around that area.

The run back to Chaelundi and Hernani is quite nice as well, and there's another NPWS site up there as well (http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/chaelundi-campground)

The Junction doesn't work if you're taking a camper, as it's a swag or tent camp only, and there wouldn't be much room if it was full.

There is (was?) a free camp next a bridge - I don't think it's the same one as Hairs highlighted... OK, just checked WikiCamps and the crappers have gone to crap... and therefore no crappers. It was the one at Buccarumbi

[Hairs]

The Nymboida Campground, I mentioned that it is not accessible when wet, it really isn't for a a van and vehicle not set up for off road work, it is quite steep and low range is needed in the dry.

[Hookie]

Sorry I'm not of much help.

Pffft, no help at all, don't even know why you bothered posting!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I think Dalmorton is the front runner. It's been on the list for a while anyway, and the npws site says it rarely fills up.
The Nymboida River Campground looks awesome, but we don't all have 4WD, though I'll definitely be checking it out myself sometime.
The Mann River caravan park does look nice, but with the mother in law along I'd be looking at $52/night unpowered.
Platypus Flat we've been to and loved it there, but it's not a great site for group camping, especially when you have a mix of trailers and tents.

[alnjan]

Over Easter all the places mentioned will be crowded anyhow.  NPWS might say it rarely fills up but that is outside public holidays and school holidays.  That's the best time to go. 

[Hookie]

Yeah, normally we don't camp at all on easter weekend or in December/January. Believe it or not, when we had the idea for this trip we actually didn't realize those dates were easter weekend. But we're committed now, and we'll be leaving early Thursday, so hopefully no dramas getting a decent spot.

[GBC]

Private schools get the Thursday off too. See you on the road.

[gronk]

What about Copmanhurst or Lilydale bridge ?

[Hairs]

The last couple of years there had been a huge influx of campers at all sites around the Clarence.
Secluded free camp places are as rare as hens teeth..
When do find one, you don't want to let anyone know, cause next time you visit it will be locked or you will spend hours cleaning up after the scum that have left their Shite behind.

I know this sounds very negative, maybe it is.
But I see it happen way to often, re my post after our 4wd clubs last Hut Maintenance day.
We aren't alone, Coff Harbour 4wd club see the same thing, beautiful camp sites becoming rubbish dumps as campers leave.



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[Steffo1]

http://www.westkunderang.com.au/about-west-kunderang/

Has fees but all you're asking for and more!

[Hookie]

West Kunderang does look awesome, but I doubt we could get a site for easter weekend at this point, and I have no idea what their fees are. It's already on the "check it out some time" list.

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

i saw the criterium that you were after but like others have said it will be packed up there. Toilets at old dalmorton township are no longer useable, so its either up at the NPWS site. If you still want to camp on the river the second best spot that we go to is several kms past the tunnel, seems a bit far for others to go to and there are some decent holes for swimming. Unfort no toots.




if you really get stuck and still want some clarence river experience try here --- https://youcamp.com/view/first-falls
can highly recommend it.

others places with a toot you could try
... nymbodia canoe centre
... wollomombi falls camping area
... styx river  camping
... washpool np
... nymbodia np ( ramornie on the river )
... Doon Goonge NP ( need a key but very private )