The best ranch campgrounds near Merriwa, New South Wales

Set up camp on a working ranch in Merriwa, where you’ll find over 100 unique sites dotted across rolling paddocks and open bushland. This patch of the Upper Hunter isn’t about manicured lawns—it’s red dirt, open skies, and the sound of cattle in the distance. Campsites range from simple clearings for a swag to powered caravan spots, with prices starting at just $5 a night and an average around $33. Bring your dog, light a campfire, and enjoy basic comforts like loos. Hiking trails crisscross the hills, and there’s prime wildlife-watching at dawn. Keen on casting a line? You’ll find quiet fishing spots along the rivers. Local favourites include Maiden Jewel Camping Wingen (408 reviews), Hillside Camp on Bow River (116 reviews), and Temple Court, Murrurundi (96 reviews). This is ranch camping—Aussie style, no fuss, and plenty of fresh air.

98% (794)

Top-rated campgrounds

Set up camp on a working ranch in Merriwa, where you’ll find over 100 unique sites dotted across rolling paddocks and open bushland. This patch of the Upper Hunter isn’t about manicured lawns—it’s red dirt, open skies, and the sound of cattle in the distance. Campsites range from simple clearings for a swag to powered caravan spots, with prices starting at just $5 a night and an average around $33. Bring your dog, light a campfire, and enjoy basic comforts like loos. Hiking trails crisscross the hills, and there’s prime wildlife-watching at dawn. Keen on casting a line? You’ll find quiet fishing spots along the rivers. Local favourites include Maiden Jewel Camping Wingen (408 reviews), Hillside Camp on Bow River (116 reviews), and Temple Court, Murrurundi (96 reviews). This is ranch camping—Aussie style, no fuss, and plenty of fresh air.

98% (794)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Hillside Camp on Bow River

100%

(193)

20km from Merriwa · 23 sites · Tents, RVs · Merriwa, NSW

The ultimate Farm Solitude Camping experience for nature lovers seeking adventure, peace and serenity. This is not a place for parties and loud noise, but if you want to get away from it all and relax in a secluded Campsite surrounded by beautiful Native Bushland or explore miles of trails, gullies, caves, Flight Springs Creek and the exquisite Bow River, take some time to camp at Hillside, which is a remote 2000 acre working cattle property situated 23km west of MERRIWA, 17 km off the Golden Highway, adjoining the Goulburn River National Park. Most sites are in secluded area's far away from each other but at busy times people may pass by some sites to access the river. There are plenty of walking trails and for the enthusiastic bushwalker, the Bow River winds its way 7km down to the Goulburn River through the National Park with its gentle flowing stream and rock pools nestled between sandstone cliffs of caves. All sites are pet friendly, but pets must be kept on leash and cleaned up after. Campfires are allowed when there are no restrictions. Cut firewood is available on request $20 lots, cash only. 4WD and High vehicles are recommended as tracks have rocky outcrops and some areas of loose sand. Some sites can be accessed by 2WD. The Bow River area is strictly 4WD (Low Range) access ONLY as it is extremely steep with loose gravel and rocky outcrops. AWD (All wheel drive) vehicles will not get back out. For all 4WD areas please let your Tyres down to 25psi to help conserve our tracks. Outback 4WD tracks are now open for campers to explore as well as Hidden Valley. All sites have toilets, but guests will need their own shower facilities and must take all waste and rubbish with them on departure. Phone Service is very limited in this area. If you email a request, sometimes it may take a few hours for us to reply. No motorbikes or chainsaws and no hunting allowed. WARNING: There are many areas of cliff edges and shear drops! Children must be supervised at all times while exploring these areas. There are also dams at or near some of the campsite areas that could be dangerous if children wander off exploring alone.

2. Maiden Jewel Camping Wingen

96%

(566)

56km from Merriwa · 139 sites · Tents, RVs · Wingen, NSW

YellowScone Camping Adventures at "Maiden Jewel", a sprawling 720-acre Horse Stud, rests beneath the majestic Wingen Maiden, enveloped by ironbark bushland and extensive trails perfect for BYOH horse riding, bushwalking, and mountain biking. Be sure to explore our array of offerings: Maiden Jewel Camping beckons with diverse camping areas: The Waterhole 1: A communal haven boasting 20 campsites, nestled by serene dams teeming with Silver Perch and Murray Cod. While facilities include portaloos without showers, the allure of kayaking or cooling off in the dam awaits. Accessible via 4WD, guests can traverse the trails on foot or by bike. Pet-friendly, but leashes are recommended due to abundant wildlife. Picturesque Maiden Jewel: Spanning the rest of the property, it hosts over 50 campsites, both Private and Communal. The Long Flat Waterhole 2: Positioned at the property's front, offering easy access to a delightful swimming dam. Ideal for families, it features vast open spaces for recreational activities. Camping here grants access to all waterholes on the property. For seekers of solitude, inquire about our private sites, like The View Campsite, Hillside Camp, and The Bluff, each boasting spectacular vistas and proximity to fishing and swimming spots. YellowScone Adventures cater for Glamping escapes to equine enthusiasts, offering various packages allowing guests to bring their horses along. Camp and ride at your leisure, or opt for a unique experience by camping in our Bell tents, with catering services available. Explore our property further with the Buggy Property Tour: Embark on a guided excursion aboard our 6-seater Can-Am Buggy, spotting wildlife, meeting our horses, and discovering our array of campsites. Tours must be pre-booked and offer a captivating hour-long journey covering approximately 13 kilometers. Nestled beneath Towarri National Park, Maiden Jewel promises a plethora of activities—from fishing to hiking and mountain biking. Don't miss out on our additional offerings; there's something for everyone to enjoy amidst our breathtaking scenery.

3. Liberty Plains

94%

(63)

71km from Merriwa · 28 sites · Tents, RVs · Yarrawonga, NSW

Liberty Plains offers bush camping for self contained campers,just make your way in and pick a spot, host may or may not visit camp but will always be contactable. PLEASE NOTE dam is low due to lack of rain, refer to cover photo for reference this picture is november 2025 day trips are also available by booking the site that is listed as ‘day trips’ please read the description under that site before booking. There is one toilet available, a portable toilet (if the toilet runs out of soap/paper etc you will need to supply your own. The property offers a large dam for kayaking, fishing, yabbying. There is also bush walking. There is a small common area/ shed available with a bbq for guests to use and a table. If exploring please do not go through any fences as you may end up on a neighbors property. Guests may camp as close or far away from the main dam as they like, camp sites are first in first served. Pets allowed if kept under control, firewood is permitted to be used from the ground only no felling of standing trees, you may have a fire on the ground. NO fires during a total fireban. Please find your own way to camp by following your map that will be sent to you on booking and the signs that are posted from the driveway on after you turn in the main entrance, no need to meet and greet with host although I may come around occasionally to see if everything is going alright.

4. Wyamah

65km from Merriwa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Blandford, NSW

Located In Blandford with sealed road access. Set in a private location, yet right in the village. The property fronts Warlands creek with private creek access. Wyamah is a small hobby farm with horses, calves, chickens and dogs… all very friendly.

5. Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

100%

(84)

30km from Merriwa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Baerami Creek, NSW

Creek update: Creek is currently dry! Great for group bookings... just add your extra people to your booking, as extras. You will have the whole campsite to yourself with your group only. We only run two campsite's here, the main site and the creek site but you can book in extra people on your booking to have a group camp with YOU!! Each campsite has its own pit style loo! There IS Phone service (TELSTRA Only) We have firewood available to purchase in extras. Large roomy grassy ALL FLAT level campsites, suitable for all vehicle access, so great to get away camping with friends or family. Beelisco Honey Hipcamp camping spot is set on 300acres located in the beautiful valley of Baerami Creek and surrounded by the amazing mountain views of Wollemi National Park. We are located just off the Bylong Valley Way, so a great spot to spend a night or two if travelling through. There are some amazing mountain views and a very tranquil peaceful camping spot. Tar sealed road all the way to the front gate and then only 150metres in on farm to your campsite on a very well-maintained road suitable for ALL vehicles. We have wide gate access to suit all vehicles/trailers of any size to go in and out and all sites are grassy and level. Great spot to relax, chill and take in the amazing country air and surroundings, relax by a fire, cook marshmallows or a camp oven feast. Walk down to the edge of this campsite and listen to the creek trickle past, go bushwalking, listen to the birds and watch the Kangaroos. Of a night you will be amazed at how many stars you can see, it is just beautiful, so don't forget to look up. Please put in ‘Beelisco Honey’ into google maps to see how far we are from you. Our farm is a family run business with Husband, wife and 2 young boys, we run horses and cattle all year round and grow Lucerne hay on a few large flats around the farm. We also produce farm fresh pure raw bush Honey (Beelisco Honey) We know you will love your tranquil camping experience and feel relaxed and refreshed. Directions: For directions enter "Beelisco Honey" into google maps. We are located on Baerami Creek Road at Baerami Creek NSW. Find us on Facebook. Beelisco Honey Hipcamp Baerami Creek NSW

6. Temple Court, Murrurundi

97%

(125)

55km from Merriwa · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Pages River, NSW

600 acres on the outskirts of the picturesque town of Murrurundi.On the property you can enjoy scenic bushwalks, a seasonal creek, a large dam and plentiful native wildlife including kangaroos, deer, birdlife and more.Depending on where you set up camp, you can walk or drive into the quaint village of Murrurundi. Situated on the New England Highway, Murrurundi is 30 minutes drive from Scone, 1 hour from Tamworth and 3 hours from Sydney. A picturesque town, nestled on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range and boasts natural beauty, rich farming land and plenty of character. In town you'll find the recently opened Magpie Gin Distilery, art galleries (including Michael Reid and David Darcy), pubs, historic buildings and every May the King of the Ranges Stockmans Challenge.

7. Phoenix Flats

83%

(3)

23km from Merriwa · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Merriwa, NSW

Phoenix Flats offers a beautiful camping area with lots of wildlife that love to visit, including Emus, Kangaroos and Wombats. We also have friendly cattle on the property who might wander by for a visit. The property has a number of picturesque dams and walking tracks available to our guests. There are plenty of flat areas for caravan and motorhomes to set up comfortably. Enjoy a campfire in the evenings and gaze up at the star filled sky! Guests are required to be fully self sufficient with their own toilet/shower facilities and must take all waste and rubbish with them on departure. We are also super close to Goulburn River National Park, a beautiful place to explore. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times whilst on the property- without exception.

8. Odd Frog Lodges - Country Escape

74km from Merriwa · 3 sites · Lodging · Lue, NSW

Our lodges offer the perfect rustic retreat to escape the busy hustle and enjoy a relaxing weekend or mid-week getaway to the country. They are ideal for a romantic escape and are perfect for small or large groups. You can book one lodge or the entire farm. From Sydney: Located in the village of Lue, 3 ½ hours northwest of Sydney. Travel north and follow the signs to the Blue Mountains, then Lithgow. The turn-off for Mudgee is just past Lithgow. Continue for another hour, and after passing through Ilford, make a right-hand turn. Follow the signs to Rylstone, and approximately 5 minutes out of Rylstone, turn left onto Lue Road. Turn right at The Lue Hotel, and we are just past the hotel on your right—Peel Street. From Newcastle: Take the scenic Bylong Valley Way for a 4-hour drive via Denman and Sandy Hollow. At Sandy Hollow, turn towards Rylstone. As you approach Rylstone, turn right at the sign for Mudgee via Lue on Lue Road. Turn right at The Lue Hotel, and just past the hotel, make a right at Peel Street.

Camper favorites near Merriwa

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Wyamah

65km from Merriwa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Blandford, NSW

Located In Blandford with sealed road access. Set in a private location, yet right in the village. The property fronts Warlands creek with private creek access. Wyamah is a small hobby farm with horses, calves, chickens and dogs… all very friendly.

Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

100%

(84)

30km from Merriwa · 2 sites · Tents, RVs · Baerami Creek, NSW

Creek update: Creek is currently dry! Great for group bookings... just add your extra people to your booking, as extras. You will have the whole campsite to yourself with your group only. We only run two campsite's here, the main site and the creek site but you can book in extra people on your booking to have a group camp with YOU!! Each campsite has its own pit style loo! There IS Phone service (TELSTRA Only) We have firewood available to purchase in extras. Large roomy grassy ALL FLAT level campsites, suitable for all vehicle access, so great to get away camping with friends or family. Beelisco Honey Hipcamp camping spot is set on 300acres located in the beautiful valley of Baerami Creek and surrounded by the amazing mountain views of Wollemi National Park. We are located just off the Bylong Valley Way, so a great spot to spend a night or two if travelling through. There are some amazing mountain views and a very tranquil peaceful camping spot. Tar sealed road all the way to the front gate and then only 150metres in on farm to your campsite on a very well-maintained road suitable for ALL vehicles. We have wide gate access to suit all vehicles/trailers of any size to go in and out and all sites are grassy and level. Great spot to relax, chill and take in the amazing country air and surroundings, relax by a fire, cook marshmallows or a camp oven feast. Walk down to the edge of this campsite and listen to the creek trickle past, go bushwalking, listen to the birds and watch the Kangaroos. Of a night you will be amazed at how many stars you can see, it is just beautiful, so don't forget to look up. Please put in ‘Beelisco Honey’ into google maps to see how far we are from you. Our farm is a family run business with Husband, wife and 2 young boys, we run horses and cattle all year round and grow Lucerne hay on a few large flats around the farm. We also produce farm fresh pure raw bush Honey (Beelisco Honey) We know you will love your tranquil camping experience and feel relaxed and refreshed. Directions: For directions enter "Beelisco Honey" into google maps. We are located on Baerami Creek Road at Baerami Creek NSW. Find us on Facebook. Beelisco Honey Hipcamp Baerami Creek NSW

Temple Court, Murrurundi

97%

(125)

55km from Merriwa · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Pages River, NSW

600 acres on the outskirts of the picturesque town of Murrurundi.On the property you can enjoy scenic bushwalks, a seasonal creek, a large dam and plentiful native wildlife including kangaroos, deer, birdlife and more.Depending on where you set up camp, you can walk or drive into the quaint village of Murrurundi. Situated on the New England Highway, Murrurundi is 30 minutes drive from Scone, 1 hour from Tamworth and 3 hours from Sydney. A picturesque town, nestled on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range and boasts natural beauty, rich farming land and plenty of character. In town you'll find the recently opened Magpie Gin Distilery, art galleries (including Michael Reid and David Darcy), pubs, historic buildings and every May the King of the Ranges Stockmans Challenge.

Phoenix Flats

83%

(3)

23km from Merriwa · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Merriwa, NSW

Phoenix Flats offers a beautiful camping area with lots of wildlife that love to visit, including Emus, Kangaroos and Wombats. We also have friendly cattle on the property who might wander by for a visit. The property has a number of picturesque dams and walking tracks available to our guests. There are plenty of flat areas for caravan and motorhomes to set up comfortably. Enjoy a campfire in the evenings and gaze up at the star filled sky! Guests are required to be fully self sufficient with their own toilet/shower facilities and must take all waste and rubbish with them on departure. We are also super close to Goulburn River National Park, a beautiful place to explore. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times whilst on the property- without exception.

Odd Frog Lodges - Country Escape

74km from Merriwa · 3 sites · Lodging · Lue, NSW

Our lodges offer the perfect rustic retreat to escape the busy hustle and enjoy a relaxing weekend or mid-week getaway to the country. They are ideal for a romantic escape and are perfect for small or large groups. You can book one lodge or the entire farm. From Sydney: Located in the village of Lue, 3 ½ hours northwest of Sydney. Travel north and follow the signs to the Blue Mountains, then Lithgow. The turn-off for Mudgee is just past Lithgow. Continue for another hour, and after passing through Ilford, make a right-hand turn. Follow the signs to Rylstone, and approximately 5 minutes out of Rylstone, turn left onto Lue Road. Turn right at The Lue Hotel, and we are just past the hotel on your right—Peel Street. From Newcastle: Take the scenic Bylong Valley Way for a 4-hour drive via Denman and Sandy Hollow. At Sandy Hollow, turn towards Rylstone. As you approach Rylstone, turn right at the sign for Mudgee via Lue on Lue Road. Turn right at The Lue Hotel, and just past the hotel, make a right at Peel Street.

Stories from the community

C

Craig

2 weeks ago

5 m pop-up camper

Group trip

3 nights at Hillside Camp on Bow River

Great open area for our group of friends. Unfortunately the river was quite low hut we found a nice waterhole to cool off.

J

Jodie

3 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

My partner and I have stayed here twice now this spring and are already keen to go back. The first time we stayed in the group sites but had no issue with noise or neighbours. We explored the tracks and caves and river, and had such a good time that we came back a month later with friends. Stayed on the Flights Ridge site that has awesome views and the cleanest port-a-loo I’ve ever used! (1 loo per site!) 4x4 tracks are well looked after, well sign posted and varied in difficulty. The place is out in the country but the host gives accurate arrival details and meets you at the gate! The site is amazing and super varied, and Dave the host is super hospitable, helpful and friendly. We will absolutely be back!

B

Brad

3 weeks ago

Tent

Group trip

1 night at Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

Great location for a pitstop for our trip to Mudgee and beyond from Newcastle. Camped near the creek and would definately recommend a weekend or so stay. We met out host M'Liss and she was great. She gave us some recommendations to explore locally. We had the campsite to ourselves cooking over the fire.

M

Mike

November 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

My son and I loved camping at David’s place and what a place it was! Absolutely beautiful country, and whilst we’ve camped at a few big properties (couple of thousand acres) this was by far the most camper friendly I’ve experienced. David was an absolute legend, very informative and super helpful, he met us at the gate and escorted us out to Riverside campsite, explained everything along the way. They have sign-posted and mapped the entire property making it almost impossible to get lost. We enjoyed long hikes into the bush, caves and all across acres of amazing bushland and lookouts. The best part was walking along Bow River for km’s and swimming in the waterholes. There’s not a huge amount of water this time of year with the drought, but beautiful enough to enjoy what’s there. I couldn’t imagine how incredible the river would be after some proper soaking rains. Animals everywhere, and the wildlife here will surprise you. Highly recommended and please look after the land by leaving no trace. Thanks David, Max and I loved your place and can’t wait to come back again soon.

Paul

November 2025

4 m pop-up camper

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

awesome place and Dave is such a great host - i'll be back again for the 3rd time

C

Chelle

October 2025

5 m car

With pets

3 nights at Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

Absolutely beautiful property and the owners are top people to boot! The creek is crystal clear and the trees are magic. Good people with a great place and super easy to access. Honey is delicious too! Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

K

Kyle

October 2025

Tent

1 night at Hillside Camp on Bow River

Well spaced out campgrounds in a beautiful spot. Dave was very accommodating and a pleasure to deal with. Highly recommend the spot for a quiet time away. Thanks Dave and Lisa.

Cameron

October 2025

Tent

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

Dave is a legend. Been camping here multiple times and seriously love it. Magical experience

E

Eva

October 2025

5 m Class A

With pets

Weekend Trip to Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

We had the whole Beelisco campsite to ourselves, and it was pure bliss. The place is incredibly peaceful, surrounded by nature with the most beautiful creek just a short walk away. It felt private and untouched — the ideal spot to unwind and reconnect with the outdoors. Everything was well-kept, and you can really feel the care that’s gone into maintaining the land. Can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for a quiet, serene escape. We’ll definitely be back! 💚

L

Laura

October 2025

12 m pop-up camper

1 night at Hillside Camp on Bow River

My partner and I absolutely loved our stay here! The property is breathtaking — peaceful, full of wildlife, with amazing walking trails and some great 4WD tracks to explore. It felt like our own little slice of paradise. The toilets were nice and clean, directions easy to follow, and the host was so friendly and down-to-earth. We’ll definitely be back for another adventure!

C

Cath

October 2025

12 m travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Liberty Plains

Lovely quiet bush camp, lots of birds and kangaroos. Tara came for a chat and a check in with a big storm rolling in. Loved it 😊

R

Ruth

October 2025

Tent

With pets

4 nights at Hillside Camp on Bow River

Had the most amazing few days on the property. Toilet, dog friendly, on a little river, able to have a camp fire, shade......honestly just ticked all boxes. The night sky's are jaw dropping and watching 🛰 satellites are lots of fun. Relaxing, bushwalking and a bit of 4WDing Above and beyond with their signage and mud maps for 4WD tracks, including how tricky each are. Walking trails clearly displayed. AMAZING caves, escarpments and lots of critters to watch. Host were fantastic with their communication and making sure we were happy. Cannot thank them enough for allowing us onto their property. Rugged and beautiful.

M

Marta

October 2025

12 m travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Liberty Plains

We enjoyed staying at the main dam on Tara's farm. We had a great time relaxing by the water and camp fire. There was plenty of space and plenty for the kids to do, whether playing on play equipment, slide, wading and splashing in the water or throw a line in. We even managed to catch a few fish! The toilet on site was very clean, and there was a BBQ available too. If you're looking for a nice, quiet time away camping and fishing, I recommend Tara's farm.

C

Connie

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Beelisco Honey Hipcamp

We stopped in for just one night at Beelisco and wished we had the time to stay longer. We stayed at the creekside site and had the whole place to ourselves. The site was huge and well maintained, with a new and clean compost toilet (which my partner said smelled like honey). The creek was stunning, unfortunately didn’t see any wildlife but saw what we believed to be kangaroo prints on the sand of the creek, so sat patiently waiting to see if any came back. Would absolutely stay again. And will be recommending this to anyone I know who is staying in the area.

S

Shayne

October 2025

Tent

With kids

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

Gully view was well grassed and flat. We really enjoyed driving the 4x4 trails and views, Exploring Bow river and all it's caves was probably the highlight of our stay. Amazing. Dave was super helpful and laidback. We'll definitely return 🤠

M

Mark

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

David’s land was amazing! There’s so much space to explore and plenty to see and do. The caves are unreal, and the wildlife was incredible — we spotted wombats, kangaroos, and even a few goannas. Highly recommend camping here if you’re after a true nature experience!

M

Michelle

October 2025

10 m pop-up camper

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Hillside Camp on Bow River

We had a great weekend camp at Flights Ridge camp site. It was very private. Had lovely caves along the caves walk. A trip to the river is well worthwhile. So beautiful down there. Communication with Dave was excellent.

stacy

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Maiden Jewel Camping Wingen

Gorgeous spot down by the damn, super lovely host. Sunrise and sunsets are just stunning on the property

K

Kyle

October 2025

Tent

With pets

Weekend Trip to Maiden Jewel Camping Wingen

Absolutely wonderful place to stay, woke up to the cows coming down to the damn for a drink of water. The sun set was amazing over the ridge line. And Jane was so lovely. Would definitely stay again

B

Brad

October 2025

11 m pop-up camper

With pets

4 nights at Hillside Camp on Bow River

This was our third time camping at Dave & Lisa's farm. They are wonderful hosts and the property is perfect if you enjoy peace and quiet while being surrounded by nature. Having time away from the crowds and the screens is priceless.