Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Warrumbungle National Park adventure.
Sleep beneath a blanket of stars in Australia’s oldest Dark Sky Park.
Few camping destinations come with a higher star rating than Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran in western NSW. Proclaimed Australia’s first Dark Sky Park in 2016, it’s famous for its clear atmosphere and stellar stargazing, as well as the nearby Siding Springs Observatory, home to the largest telescope in Australia. Millenia ago, the Warrumbungles peaks were a huge shield volcano, and today many of the walking tracks lead to fantastic rock formations, including the park’s famous Bread Knife, a 600-metre-long, 100-metre-high sliver of rock that was formed when magma forced its way through a long crack in the bedrock. It’s just one of many highlights on the four-hour walk on the Grand High Tops Track—there are some steep sections but the panoramic views are worth the effort.
The Coonabarabran district enjoys four distinct seasons—a hot summer, cold winter, and a very pleasant autumn and spring, which is the best time to see wildflowers such as the masses of golden wattle. Skies are clear all year but at their best during winter—just make sure you have lots of warm clothing and a good sleeping bag.