Closest point to drive and park is on all weather unsealed roads, from there it is on foot to the campsite
73.9 km NW of Sydney
GPS: Latitude 33° 23′ 1.068"S Longitude 150° 41′ 31.74"E
There is no access to Colo Meroo from Upper Colo Rd as this is private land.
The most direct access is to walk from Sams Way at Mountain Lagoon, following the Gospers Ridge Trail and then Mailes Ridge for approximately 12km.
Another option from Mountain Lagoon is to take the T3 Track and then a walk down the Colo River, then walk or lilo down stream to the campsite.
A third option from the Putty Road side, is to follow the Bob Turners Track (4km to River) and then walk or lilo to the campsite (another 11km).
General Information
There is a long walk into this campsite There are a total of 10 campsitesThe river can flood so check levels.
Bookings and contact information
You are not able to book these campsites - first come basisFor more information contact the NPWS Richmond office on:Phone:02 4588 5247
(more contact details)
Fees
Free Camping - no camp fees applyAdult=$0 Per NightChildren=$0 Per Night
No car entry fees applyVehicle=$0 Per Day
Facilities
Toilets Pit or composting toilets are available
Showers No showers are provided on site
Water There is water onsite (or from a nearby creek) that can be treated for drinking
Picnic Tables Picnic tables are provided on site
Pit fire BBQs Wood fired Pit BBQ's are provided - bring your own wood
Electric of Gas BBQs Gas or electric BBQ's are not provided
Rubbish Bins No rubbish bins provided - take your own rubbish with you
Campfires Fires are generally permitted at this campsite, be aware of local fire bans.
ActivitiesSwimmingThere are places to swimNearest know Camping Stores
The description of access to Colo Meroo is misleading, uninformative and a piece of crap.
:(
Hi Geoff
Thanks for the feedback. I would appreciate and further info that can help make this better for other people.
here is the quote from the National Parks site on how to access the campsite.
"You can drive to Mountain Lagoon and walk roughly 12km each way. There is no access to the campground across private properties along the riverbank. If you're walking, drive along the Bells Line of Road, take the Mountain Lagoon turn-off at Bilpin, then turn left into Sams Way."
re-reading the directions are vague, you are right. Any other info???
No, more than vague. Your description chops two sentences into one and doesn't make sense. But more on that in a minute. For a start, there is indeed a ~12km walk in via Mailes Ridge Trail. Why then do you bother saying "accesable by all weather unsealed roads suitable for 2wd vehicles"? Sounds a bit stupid if you ask me. Next is the reference to Bob Turners Track. This track is indeed well known, though it provides access to the Colo River approximately 11km upstream of Colo Meroo. It would thus take a long time to "walk in" from there as Colo River walking is slow. You could lilo/paddle from BT track if you knew what you were doing. Next problem is that the BT track provides access to the Colo from the other side of the river, from Putty Road. It is absolutely nowhere near Sams Way at Mountain Lagoon, and it would indeed take (a lot) more than an hour to drive between the two. Sams Way is the access for the Mailes Ridge Trail, and also the T3 Trail. The whole thing needs to be rewritten.
>The campsite is accesable by all weather unsealed roads suitable for 2wd vehicles
Walk in along Bob turners track from Sams Way, driver along the Bells Line of Road, turn onto the Mountain Lagoon at Bilpin, then turn into Sams Way. Or you can canoe or float down the river on a li-lo
I do want to make this site helpful for people, and I must admit most of my work has been spent on the bushwalking side and little on the campsite stuff.
I will be working through much of the campsite info over the next few months.
I understand the issue with "accesable by all weather unsealed roads suitable for 2wd vehicles". This was intened to mean to the start of the walk is, (and another part says that it is a long walk in). So I take your point that it confussing and will consider that in the redesign of the camping info.
Since you are so farmiliar with the area, are you willing to provide some directions to the campsite?? if so I am sure other people would benefit from it.
Yep I aggree Cassidy. This campsite has become popular by the sounds of it, I will try to get down there and get some photos, If you have some you would like to share please feel free,
I've liloed to this campsite from Bob Turner's track. River flowed slowed in the deep sections for the 1st half of the day, except for the couple of small rapids we went over. Towards the end of the day the river widened and got shallower and we channel hopped to find deep bits.
Campsite was 200m up a track from the river. Not to hard to find.
The sheltered cooking/ eating areas were well recieved.
The description from NPWS is more or less accurate. If you want it rewritten and expanded, how about...
"There is currently no access to Colo Meroo from Upper Colo due to issues with landholders. The most straightforward approach is thus from Sams Way at Mountain Lagoon. The Gospers Ridge Trail and Mailes Ridge is walked for approximately 12km. Other options for access include the T3 Track (also from Mountain Lagoon) and then a walk down the Colo River. Or, from the Putty Road side, access is possible from the Bob Turners Track (4km to River) and then a walk or lilo to the campsite (another 11km). Another possibility for experienced walkers in this vacinity is via the ridge which goes over Mt Townsend."
Hi Geoff
Thanks for you detailed descriptions for access. I have made some changes and checked it against the map. They are some great options and much better then what was there.
Thanks for your help. your feedback is greatly welcomed.
Thanks again
BTW we I will be doing a bit of a redesign of the camping info pages soon. I am aware that is fairly cluttered and a bit tricky to read. Hope to have it up in a few weeks
SwimmingThere are places to swimNearest know Camping Stores
You are not able to book these campsites - first come basisFor more information contact the NPWS Richmond office on:Phone:02 4588 5247
1 km
not too much longer now :)