Dog Friendly Free Camping On The Nymboida River
Posted by Wolf & I Co. on May 09, 2024
For many, a long weekend means it’s time for a camp trip and we’re no different. We had a rough idea of the location and with little more thought, we packed the Defender and hit the road.
The Boyd River that forks off the Nymboida River, just past the Buccarumbi Bridge, caught our attention because we’d pin pointed some epic looking dog friendly sites that we hoped would be dead quiet. And, the promise of secluded sites, peace and serenity in an otherwise hectic time for travellers and campers was too much to pass up.
Crossing the Nymboida River on the Buccarumbi Bridge
Put on the map in the early 1800s by gold miners and marked in history by The Old Glen Innes Road is Dalmorton in New South Wales. Since being abandoned what remains is a slow going potholed dirt track that winds its way into the town ship, and in each direction it’s surrounded by kilometres of riverside dog friendly camp sites that are also, all free!
The potholes and narrow roads make the drive in a little sketchy so drive to the conditions. If your dog is a full camping frother, they will have their head out the window the whole way. You can expect picturesque valley views, steep hills and rocky outcrops and in the mornings you’ll be met with misty valleys and exploring further you’ll pass numerous bridge crossings reminiscent of the vic high country.
Dog friendly free camping in New South Wales
Like any adventure, being prepared is always a good idea. We packed some wet weather gear, a few tarps for piece of mind, some food and drinks and a loose idea of where to go. That’s it. Open fires are allowed and fire wood is readily available when you leave Grafton. We picked some hardwood up from a farm for 10 pesos a bag. Happy days!
Pulling into camp late afternoon, what we noticed straight up was so many camping dogs! Every camp area we checked out had a dog, ranging from Dachshunds and Fox Terriers to Border Collies and Staffies.
Grassy areas for dogs to play
Dirt and grassy tracks lead into little open areas where you can make an open camp fire and watch the river. When there is long grass it goes without saying, be tick and snake aware. Like many HipCamps and free camps, there are no toilets so you must be self contained or be prepared to pack the shovel.
After a few rookie errors on previous trips we know now not to leave home without a few dog bones. They’re like a dummy for a baby and it keeps the high energy of our Border Collie at bay for half an hour if we’re lucky!
Secluded camp spots along the Boyd River
If you’re up for a bit of adventure definitely pack your swimmers and the canoe or lilo, it’s a river rafters paradise. The water was perfect swimming temperature and your dog will love swimming in the shallow waters. The quiet ebbs make for a relaxing way to float a few kilometres down stream with a beverage or two if you’re that way inclined.
Get your bearings in the old town of Dalmorton
For some adventures during the day make the drive to Dalmorton where relics of the old community remain. It’s also a handy spot to check the map and read the history of the area. Further on from Dalmorton is the historic tunnel. The gold miners built the tunnel way back when and it still stands.
Historic tunnel along the Old Glen Innes Road
If you’re up for fishing the renowned cod hole is down river so it could be worth throwing a line in for fun. The Eastern Cod are endangered so make sure you adhere to the rules around fishing times and take note this located in the Nymboida National Park and we all know what that means… Or just take a drive and explore. We came across wild horses and run down shacks with rusting tin and missing boards that were evidence of a bygone era. Little weekenders also popped up as we drove past and locals were maintaining their properties.
Wild horses roaming and grazing along the road
Mobile service is nada niente zip zilch zero. So if you’re looking to gram your way through an adventure weekend with hashtags and pin drops or even call your mum this is not the place for you. You will have to remember your good times and the hard part will be trying to convince your mates of the adventure that you just found.
Fun times exploring the Boyd River
If you also seek secluded river side camps - they are out there! In this tiny hamlet alone there’s 60km of river frontage and if you’re open to an adventure and have a 4x4 we bet you might just find the camp you’re looking for. We did!
Could this be the unicorn of camping only 40mins from Grafton? We reckon it must be close!
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