Ben Halls campground
Weddin Mountains National Park
Overview
Ben Halls campground is a fantastic base during your stay at the park. Gullies, walks, waterfalls, historic sites - there’s so much for you to see and do from here.
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
|---|---|
| Facilities | Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets |
| What to bring | Drinking water, cooking water, firewood |
| Price | There are no camping fees at this campground but a $6 booking fee applies. |
| Bookings | Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online. |
| Group bookings | This campground is not suitable for group bookings. |
| Please note |
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Ben Halls campground is settled between large eucalyptus trees on the western side of Weddin Mountain National Park.
With Basin Gully as a picturesque backdrop, this open woodland setting with large grassed campsites provides a welcoming atmosphere.
From the campground and adjacent picnic area, follow the marked walk up Basin Gully, around Lynch's loop, or on to Ben Halls Cave, the famous bushranger's hideout. Continue up Bertha's Gully and onward to Seaton's Farm, where historic relics are still scattered, reminding visitors of a farming family’s inventiveness during very tough times.
At dusk, sugar gliders and brush-tailed possums come out to play, and during daylight hours, you’ll be joined by wallabies and kangaroos hopping through. Ben Halls campground is a great place to base yourself over a couple of nights’ stay, as there’s so much to see and do from here.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://uat.nswparks.cloud/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/ben-halls-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Bathurst office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6332 7640
- 02 6332 7680 To contact the KARST Conservation Unit in this office.
- npws.centralwest@environment.nsw.gov.au
- Level 2, 203-209 Russell Street, Bathurst NSW 2795
Park info
- in Weddin Mountains National Park in the Country NSW region
Weddin Mountains National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Ben Halls campground.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Ben Halls campground is in Weddin Mountains National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Any way you like it
The park offers both relaxing and adventurous recreational opportunities. Picnickers can enjoy a campfire and barbecue at Ben Hall's campground, while more adventurous visitors can walk the mountain range on a variety of walking tracks.
Protected population
The Weddin Mountains harbour 12 threatened plant species and 39 threatened bird species. In spring, many lilies and orchids come into bloom, as do winged peppercress and slender darling pea. The diversity in vegetation from the base of the mountain to the top also accommodates a variety of bird species, from larger emus to smaller robins and thornbills. Raptors such as wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons are often seen swooping and diving from the lookouts.
- Bertha's Gully walking track This medium difficulty walk near Grenfell passes small waterfalls and rock overhangs along Bertha’s Gully. Stop by at the campground for a rest after your 6km walk.
- Eualdrie walking track Eualdrie walking track is a short hiking route that offers scenic views, birdwatching and spring wildflowers.
- Lynchs loop trail Lynchs loop trail is a short hike within Weddin Mountains National Park. The route is scenic and there are birdwatching opportunities.
Rock stars
The Weddin Mountains are a large, crescent-shaped range that rises sharply from the surrounding plains. This prominent feature can be seen from up to 50km away. There are a number of interesting rock formations, cliff lines and small caves, particularly on the northern and eastern side of the mountain. Deep gullies between gentler slopes produce some lovely small waterfalls after a good rain.
- Basin Gully to Eualdrie lookout track Enjoy a challenging walk? Highlights on this fantastic hiking track include ridges, gullies and scenic views that stretch toward Grenfell, as well as great birdwatching.
Where there's a will
In 1936, the Seaton family began developing property on the western side of the Weddin Mountains as a pastoral enterprise. Money and resources were scarce during the Great Depression, so the farm was built using second-hand materials fashioned into solid structures. Seaton's Farm is a testimony to the ingenuity used by the Seatons when times were tough. It provides brilliant insight into how this farming family lived during the mid-1900s. The Weddin Mountains are also well-known as the hideout of bushrangers Ben Hall and John Bow, infamously involved in the Escort Robbery at Eugowra.
- Seaton's Farm historic site An easy scenic walk to a perfect picnic spot against a backdrop of historic agricultural relics. Binoculars are also a must for the enthusiastic birdwatcher.