# Convict road, Semillon and snow-grass highlands – by camper through the Hunter Valley into the Barrington Tops

> From the cable ferry on the Hawkesbury along the old Great North Road into the Hunter Valley, through river valleys near Dungog up onto the Barrington…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-397-nsw-hunter-barrington/

**At a glance:** 8-day round trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 14 stops, starting and ending in Sydney. About 7 h 12 min of driving in total. Best time to go: February–May and October–December. From the cable ferry on the Hawkesbury along the old Great North Road into the Hunter Valley, through river valleys near Dungog up onto the Barrington plateau, and back to Sydney via Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: around 1,100 km, a noticeable share of it on gravel.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 660 km (410 mi) |
| Driving | 7 h 12 min |
| Suggested days | 8 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | Sydney → Sydney |
| States | New South Wales |
| Best time to go | February–May and October–December |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-397-nsw-hunter-barrington.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving the Outback safely: distances, water, road trains and emergency communication](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/oc-outback-driving-safety/), [Hiring a campervan or motorhome in Australia: what to check](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/oc-campervan-hire-australia/)

*From the cable ferry on the Hawkesbury along the old Great North Road into the Hunter Valley, through river valleys near Dungog up onto the Barrington plateau, and back to Sydney via Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: around 1,100 km, a noticeable share of it on gravel.*

## The spirit of the route

This loop begins with a rope in the water: the Wisemans Ferry ferry hauls itself across the Hawkesbury on steel cables, and beyond it sandstone walls rise into the eucalypt forest. On the Great North Road you drive over walls and culverts that convicts cut from the rock almost 200 years ago, then roll into the Hunter Valley, where rows of vines lie beneath the Brokenback hills and hot-air balloons hang over the vineyards in the morning. Beyond Dungog the land grows narrower and greener, rivers cross the road on concrete fords, and on the Barrington plateau you stand at over 1,400 m among snow grass, bog meadows and Antarctic beeches, on nights that turn frosty even in summer. From the sliding door you hear lyrebirds and currawongs. At the end, Newcastle awaits with rock pools in the Pacific and Lake Macquarie with quiet evenings by the water.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Sydney to Wisemans Ferry (Hawkesbury River) (approx. 75 km)

- **The drive:** Leave Sydney heading north-west via Castle Hill and Dural onto Old Northern Road, which becomes a country road from Glenorie and leads through orchards and nursery land onto the sandstone ridge above the Hawkesbury. The last few kilometres drop steeply in bends into the valley to Wisemans Ferry – select a low gear. From there the free cable ferry crosses to the north bank; the campground is then just under 7 km downstream on sealed road. Pure driving time around 1.5 hours; avoid rush hour in Sydney’s north-west.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Wisemans Ferry ferry: one of the oldest river crossings in Australia; from the bank in the town centre you can watch the ferry at work in front of the cliffs.
  - Devines Hill in Dharug National Park: a walk along the original alignment of the Great North Road with retaining walls, drains and quarries from the convict era, part of the “Australian Convict Sites” World Heritage listing.
  - An evening stroll along the bank at Mill Creek, when cockatoos and king parrots descend on the casuarinas.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Mill Creek Campground in Dharug National Park, 6.6 km east of the ferry crossing on the north bank: sealed 2WD access, sites 1–8 with parking at the site for campervans, camper trailers and small caravans up to about 4 m, the remaining sites a short walk from the car park. No power, composting toilets, gas/electric barbecues, tank water that is not drinking quality, no bins. Book online with NSW National Parks; dogs are prohibited. For larger vehicles or if you need power, the private riverside parks near Wisemans Ferry and Webbs Creek are the alternative.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Dharug National Park you may only stay overnight at booked campgrounds. Hawkesbury City Council and Hornsby Shire do not permit camping in vehicles at riverside car parks, boat ramps or picnic areas; the car parks at the ferry landing are intended for boat trailers during the day. Plan firmly on a campsite.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The ferry runs around the clock and is free; on Sundays and public holidays long queues of day-trippers and boat rigs build up, especially in the afternoon – cross early or on a weekday. Transport for NSW does not state any length restrictions; with long rigs, still drive slowly and straight onto the steep ramp. Wisemans Ferry has a petrol station and a small shop; the last large supermarkets are in Dural and Castle Hill.

### Stage 2: Wisemans Ferry to Cessnock (Hunter Valley) via St Albans and Wollombi (approx. 160 km)

- **The drive:** First the detour into the Macdonald Valley: across the Webbs Creek ferry and along St Albans Road on the west bank of the Macdonald River to St Albans, around 25 km between pastures and sandstone slopes, and back the same way. Settlers Road on the east bank is narrow and partly unsealed – not for rental campers. Then take Wisemans Ferry Road to Mangrove Mountain, George Downes Drive to Bucketty, and from there today’s Great North Road via Laguna into the Wollombi Valley. From Wollombi, Wollombi Road leads to Cessnock, winding but sealed. A good 3 hours’ driving without breaks.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - St Albans: the sandstone Settlers Arms Inn from the convict era and the old cemetery above the Macdonald River.
  - Convict Trail between Bucketty and Wollombi: information boards, bridges and culverts of the Great North Road right beside the road, plus short walks to surviving sections.
  - Wollombi: a village of sandstone buildings with the Wollombi Tavern, church, courthouse and museum at the junction of the old roads.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Wine Country Tourist Park in Nulkaba on the northern edge of Cessnock (3 O’Connors Road): powered and unpowered sites, sites for large motorhomes, dump point, camp kitchen, laundry and pool; the park describes itself as the caravan park closest to the vineyards, and a brewery is within walking distance. Book early on weekends with concerts at the wineries.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Yengo National Park has only basic campgrounds such as Mogo, which is designed for tents only; staying overnight elsewhere is prohibited. Cessnock City Council does not tolerate camping on streets or in town car parks. For a legal free night here, farm stays found through the camping apps are your best bet.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The route via Mangrove Mountain has hardly any petrol stations – fill up in Wisemans Ferry. Between Bucketty and Wollombi, wallabies often cross at dusk; plan to arrive in Cessnock before sunset. The link from St Albans via Wollombi Road and Mogo Creek Road directly towards Bucketty is a narrow, remote back road through the national park – check its condition beforehand and preferably take the route via Mangrove Mountain.

### Stage 3: Cessnock to Cessnock (wine loop through Pokolbin and Broke) (approx. 70 km)

- **The drive:** A day loop on short sealed roads: via Wine Country Drive to Pokolbin, then through the network of Broke Road, McDonalds Road, Oakey Creek Road and Hermitage Road between the wineries, with a detour to Broke beneath the Brokenback Range. Flat to gently hilly, with many driveways and junctions, and on weekends minibuses and limousines from the wine tours. Pure driving time a good hour.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Pokolbin: heart of the wine region, with dozens of cellar doors along Broke Road and McDonalds Road – check in advance which ones offer tastings without a booking.
  - Tastings at the valley’s old family wineries – Hunter Semillon ages here for years in the bottle; from the hill at Audrey Wilkinson winery the view stretches over the rows of vines to the Brokenback Range.
  - A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the vineyards of Pokolbin, bookable with several operators in the valley.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** A second night at the Wine Country Tourist Park, or at one of the small sites in the Broke-Fordwich part of the valley. Several wineries accept self-contained motorhomes through booking platforms or on direct request – clarify access, ground surface and toilet rules beforehand, and combine the evening with a purchase at the cellar door.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** You do not stay overnight in winery car parks without an invitation, and Cessnock City Council prohibits camping on public land. Anyone tasting shouldn’t be driving anyway: plan to spend the night where the evening ends.
- **Insider tip for campers:** During wine tastings the NSW blood alcohol limit of 0.05 applies; police regularly carry out mobile breath tests in the valley. Designate a driver, use the spittoon, or leave the camper parked and book a guided tour with pick-up at the campsite. Many cellar doors have tight gravel car parks – park large motorhomes at the edge and don’t drive into full driveways.

### Stage 4: Cessnock to Williams River (Barrington Tops) via Maitland, Morpeth and Dungog (approx. 130 km)

- **The drive:** Head north-east via Kurri Kurri or directly to Maitland, then a few kilometres to the old river port town of Morpeth on the Hunter River. Via Paterson you continue through pasture and river flats to Dungog, the gateway to the Barringtons. From Dungog, Chichester Dam Road leads north; after around 10 km Salisbury Road branches off and follows the Williams River for around 30 km to the Williams River Picnic Area in the national park, sealed throughout according to NPWS. Williams Top Road further up to Lagoon Pinch Picnic Area is gravel and turns muddy in rain. A good 2.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Maitland Gaol: the sandstone prison was in use until 1998 and can now be visited on guided tours.
  - Morpeth: Victorian shops and warehouses at the Hunter’s former inland port, plus the iron truss bridge over the river.
  - Rocky Crossing Walk on the Williams River in the south of Barrington Tops National Park: a riverside track through rainforest to swimming spots between boulders; the Corker Trail also starts from Lagoon Pinch.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** The Williams River section of Barrington Tops National Park has only picnic areas (Williams River, Lagoon Pinch), no campground. You can stay overnight in Chichester State Forest north of Dungog: Telegherry Forest Park, run by Forestry Corporation, reached via Chichester Dam Road and Wangat Road, with toilets and swimming spots on the river; further upstream are the camping areas Coachwood and Frying Pan Creek, with Currawong 4WD only. After rain the gate to the forest park is sometimes closed, and Forestry Corporation does not state clearly whether caravans are suitable – ask in advance. Otherwise there is a caravan park in Dungog.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, only at booked campgrounds. In State Forests, basic camping outside designated exclusion zones is generally allowed without booking; closures due to logging, fire danger or flooding are listed by Forestry Corporation. Much of the riverside land along the Williams River is private – respect paddock fences and gates.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Maitland and Dungog lie in the floodplain of the Hunter, Paterson and Williams; after heavy rain, fords and bridges are quickly closed. Never drive through a ford when the water is over the marker posts – check Live Traffic NSW and the councils’ warnings. Fill up with fuel and water for the last time in Dungog; there are no supplies in the Williams valley.

### Stage 5: Williams River to Gloucester Tops via The Bucketts Way (approx. 160 km)

- **The drive:** Back to Dungog and along back roads east to The Bucketts Way at Stroud Road, then north through the valley between pastures and wooded slopes towards Gloucester, beneath the distinctive basalt peaks of the Bucketts. Shortly before Gloucester, Gloucester Tops Road branches off The Bucketts Way and follows the Gloucester River for around 40 km into the mountains: sealed at first, then gravel with several concrete fords through the river. Around 3 hours in total.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Gloucester Falls Walk: a short track to lookouts over the falls that plunge from the plateau into the gorge.
  - Antarctic Beech Forest Walk at the Gloucester Tops: moss-covered Antarctic beeches at over 1,200 m, cloud forest with ferns.
  - The view of The Bucketts above Gloucester, at its best in late light from The Bucketts Way south of town.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Gloucester River Campground (NSW National Parks) on the river below the Gloucester Tops: riverside sites, pit toilets, free gas/electric barbecues, picnic shelters, swimming spots; no power and no water, book online. If you need power, stay a little lower in the valley: Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park near Invergordon, a few minutes before the national park, has powered sites, showers and a laundry (coin-operated), and Gloucester itself has a holiday park.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, only at booked campgrounds. Along Gloucester Tops Road the land is mostly private; MidCoast Council prohibits camping in public car parks in Gloucester. During feral animal control operations, NPWS sometimes closes parts of the Gloucester Tops at night – follow the signs.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The fords on Gloucester Tops Road can be deep and fast-flowing after rain – if in doubt, turn back. Dogs are prohibited in the park; anyone travelling with a dog should also know that 1080 baits against foxes and wild dogs are regularly laid in the region. Gloucester has supermarkets and several petrol stations – stock up before the plateau.

### Stage 6: Gloucester Tops to Polblue (Barrington plateau) (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** Back to Gloucester and west onto Barrington Tops Forest Road: beyond the last farms the seal ends, and the gravel road climbs in long loops through eucalypt forest and rainforest onto the plateau at over 1,400 m. Potholes and corrugations alternate quickly, logging trucks and 4WDs come the other way, and on crests it is only one lane wide. Around 70 km from Gloucester to Polblue; allow two to three hours. The road is closed at times in snow or ice, or after heavy rain.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Thunderbolts Lookout and Devils Hole Lookout on the Forest Road: views over gorges and forested ridges of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.
  - Polblue Swamp Walk: a boardwalk loop through upland swamp and snow grass, often in mist in the morning, with chances of wombats and wallabies.
  - Polblue Falls Walk into the cool rainforest below the campground.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Polblue Campground (NSW National Parks), the largest site on the plateau and one of the highest campgrounds in Australia reachable by car: open, unmarked sites on grassland, pit toilets, a communal shelter with free gas barbecues, one communal fire pit. No water – bring drinking and cooking water, as well as firewood and a gas stove. Book online. According to NPWS the access is 2WD-suitable, but because of the gravel it is only partly suitable for caravans and long motorhomes.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, only at the campgrounds. State Forest land adjoins on the plateau, where basic camping is mostly allowed; tracks there are often 4WD-only. On Total Fire Ban days and during park fire bans, wood fires are prohibited – including in the barbecue areas.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Even in summer it can drop below zero at night on the plateau, and in winter it snows; plan your sleeping bag and heating accordingly. Feral horses roam the meadows around Polblue – keep your distance. There is hardly any mobile coverage: download the Emergency Plus app beforehand and save offline maps. If you continue west towards Scone, you must close the dingo gate behind you; this descent is steep, narrow and unsuitable for large rigs.

### Stage 7: Polblue to Newcastle via Gloucester and The Bucketts Way (approx. 210 km)

- **The drive:** Back along the Forest Road to Gloucester – downhill in a low gear, go easy on the brakes. Then The Bucketts Way south via Stroud and through pasture to Raymond Terrace, and from there across the Hunter River to Newcastle. The Bucketts Way is a country road with varying surfaces and bends, mostly 100 km/h outside towns. A good 3.5 hours in total.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Stroud: a small town on The Bucketts Way with brick and timber buildings from the early days of the Australian Agricultural Company.
  - Nobbys Head: along the breakwater from the harbour to the lighthouse while coal ships enter the Hunter.
  - Bathers Way: a coastal walk from Nobbys Beach along Newcastle’s beaches to Merewether, with views of the surf.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park in Stockton on the north side of the harbour entrance, right behind the beach: sites, camp kitchen, laundry, dump point. From the ferry wharf in Stockton a passenger ferry runs to the city centre – the camper stays put. Book in good time for weekends and school holidays.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The City of Newcastle prohibits sleeping in vehicles on beaches, on the foreshore and in residential streets; rangers patrol the city beaches early in the morning too. Rest areas on The Bucketts Way are short break stops, not overnight sites.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Empty your cassette and grey water at the holiday park before Newcastle; public stations are scarce in the city. The city centre has narrow streets, car parks with height restrictions and a tram line; with a camper it is best to drive to Stockton and continue by ferry, bike or bus.

### Stage 8: Newcastle to Sydney via Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast (approx. 180 km)

- **The drive:** South of Newcastle via Merewether and Redhead to the eastern side of Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake, over the bridge at Swansea Channel to Swansea and on to Catherine Hill Bay. Via the Central Coast and the Pacific Motorway (M1) back to Sydney; in the north of the city the fastest route uses the tolled NorthConnex and the M2. Without long breaks, 2.5 to 3 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Merewether Ocean Baths: a large, sea-fed rock pool at the southern end of the city beaches; the Newcastle Ocean Baths with their art deco façade in Newcastle East are also open year-round, except on weekly cleaning days.
  - Caves Beach: at low tide, walk into the sea caves at the southern end of the beach.
  - Catherine Hill Bay: a former coal port with a long timber jetty and a heritage-listed row of miners’ cottages behind the beach.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Blacksmiths Beachside Holiday Park on Swansea Channel between Lake Macquarie and the sea (Lake Macquarie City Council): powered sites, amenities, dump point. In Munmorah State Conservation Area near Catherine Hill Bay are the NPWS campgrounds Frazer and Freemans, without power, book online.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Lake Macquarie City Council and Central Coast Council prohibit sleeping in vehicles in lakeside and beach car parks. Free sites close to the city are practically impossible to find on this coast.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On weekends the M1 towards Sydney backs up from early afternoon; leave early or return on a weekday. In NSW, toll notices for NorthConnex and the M2 must be paid within 72 hours if you have no e-tag. Before returning a rental camper, empty the tanks at one of the holiday parks and top up gas, water and fuel according to the return conditions.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- New South Wales has no statewide freedom camping rule: councils regulate their land, NSW National Parks the protected areas, and Forestry Corporation the State Forests. On this route – Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Cessnock, Maitland, Dungog, MidCoast, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast – staying overnight in beach, riverside, town and lookout car parks is not permitted; rangers issue fines.
- National parks (Dharug, Yengo, Barrington Tops, Munmorah): only at campgrounds, most of which must be booked online in advance with NSW National Parks; camping is charged per person. Some parks also charge a daily vehicle fee, payable via the Park’nPay app or a machine; an annual pass covers only the daily fee, not camping. Dogs are prohibited, as are drones without a permit. Check current fees on the NPWS website before you travel.
- State Forests: basic camping is usually free and allowed without booking wherever it is not prohibited; access roads are almost always gravel, and areas are closed during logging, fire danger or storms.
- Wineries and farms: in the Hunter Valley several properties accept self-contained vehicles; arranging this in advance is essential. Showgrounds in country towns sometimes open to campers for a fee.
- Fire: in NSW the statutory Bush Fire Danger Period usually runs from 1 October to 31 March, starting earlier in some areas. On Total Fire Ban days declared by the Rural Fire Service, open fires are prohibited, including in barbecue areas; gas stoves are then permitted only under strict conditions. NSW National Parks also imposes its own park fire bans. For the current situation, use the Hazards Near Me app.
- Apps: WikiCamps and CamperMate show sites, dump points and user reports; Live Traffic NSW shows closures and flooding.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump points are available at the larger holiday parks on the route (including Nulkaba, Stockton, Blacksmiths), some also for non-guests for a fee. There are no disposal facilities in the national parks – empty your cassette in Gloucester or Dungog before the Barrington Tops.
- Water: tap water in the towns is drinkable. Mill Creek has only tank water that is not drinking quality, Polblue and Gloucester River have no water at all – head up to the plateau with a full tank and extra containers.
- Gas: Australian cylinders usually have an LCC27 valve, older ones still POL. Swaps at petrol stations, hardware stores and camping shops; refills at gas filling stations if the test date is valid; European cylinders are not refilled. In rental campers, check the level at pick-up – you heat more than expected on the plateau.
- Fuel: fill up in Wisemans Ferry, Cessnock, Dungog and Gloucester. There is no petrol station between Gloucester and the Barrington plateau or in the Williams valley; consumption rises on gravel. The FuelCheck app shows current prices in NSW.
- Shopping: large supermarkets in Castle Hill, Cessnock, Maitland, Gloucester and Newcastle; Wollombi, St Albans and Dungog have only small shops.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Driving on the left: overtake on the right, roundabouts run clockwise. On narrow gravel roads keep well left on bends and crests – logging trucks and 4WDs often come the other way in the middle of the road.
- Speed: 50 km/h in towns, generally 100 km/h outside towns, up to 110 km/h on the M1 where signposted; school zones 40 km/h on school days at the times shown. On gravel the rural limit formally applies, but 40–60 km/h is sensible. NSW enforces with speed, average-speed, mobile phone and seatbelt cameras.
- Tolls: only in Greater Sydney (including the M2 and NorthConnex), cashless. Without an e-tag or pass you must pay within 72 hours; since July 2026 it is no longer possible in NSW to nominate another driver, and rental vehicles incur an additional processing fee. The Hawkesbury ferries and Hunter roads are toll-free.
- Animals: kangaroos, wallabies and wombats are active at dusk and at night, and on the plateau also feral horses and cattle on unfenced sections. Drive slowly outside towns at night and don’t swerve abruptly.
- Unsealed roads and insurance: rental conditions usually exclude gravel roads or allow only short access roads to campsites; Barrington Tops Forest Road, Gloucester Tops Road and Williams Top Road often fall under this, and damage to the underbody, tyres, windscreen and roof is then not covered. Clarify this in writing before booking. On gravel, keep your lights on, keep your distance, and lower tyre pressure slightly only with suitable tyres, then readjust afterwards.
- Licence and alcohol: if your foreign licence is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit or a recognised translation. Blood alcohol limit 0.05, 0.00 for learner and provisional drivers – there are targeted checks in the Hunter Valley.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Two 10-litre water containers – Polblue and Gloucester River have no water, Mill Creek no drinking water.
- Tyre pressure gauge and a small compressor for the gravel sections on Barrington Tops Forest Road and at the Gloucester Tops.
- A warm sleeping bag, beanie and down jacket: at over 1,400 m it gets frosty at night even in summer, and it snows in winter.
- Leech protection (gaiters, salt or insect repellent) for the damp rainforest tracks on the Williams River and at the Gloucester Tops.
- Offline maps and a personal locator beacon, or at least the Emergency Plus app – in the highlands and the Williams valley there is usually no signal.
- A cool box with room for wine bottles and a folding gas stove for days with fire bans.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [NSW National Parks – Lagoon Pinch picnic area](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/lagoon-pinch-picnic-area)
- [NSW National Parks – Lagoon Pinch picnic area: Visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/lagoon-pinch-picnic-area/visitor-info)
- [NSW National Parks – Williams River picnic area: Visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/williams-river-picnic-area/visitor-info)
- [NSW National Parks – Barrington Tops: Local alerts (Wombat Creek campground)](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/wombat-creek-campground/local-alerts)
- [NSW National Parks – Polblue campground and picnic area: Visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/polblue-campground-picnic-area/visitor-info)
- [NSW National Parks – Gloucester River campground and picnic area: Visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/gloucester-river-campground-picnic-area/visitor-info)
- [NSW National Parks – Mogo campground: Visitor info](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/mogo-campground/visitor-info)
- [Forestry Corporation of NSW – Chichester State Forest (Telegherry River)](https://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/forests/chichester-telegherry)
- [NSW Government – Vehicle ferries (Wisemans Ferry, Webbs Creek)](https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/planning-tools-and-information/vehicle-ferries)
- [City of Newcastle – Ocean Baths](https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/explore/recreation/beaches-and-baths/ocean-baths)
- [Visit Newcastle – NRMA Stockton Beach Holiday Park](https://visitnewcastle.com.au/stay/nrma-stockton-beach-holiday-park)
- [Destination NSW – Gloucester Tops Riverside Caravan Park](https://www.visitnsw.com/de/destinations/hunter/barrington-tops/gloucester/accommodation/gloucester-tops-riverside-caravan-park)

## Which stops are on the round trip from Sydney?

1. **Sydney** (New South Wales)
2. **Wisemans Ferry** (New South Wales)
3. **St Albans** (New South Wales)
4. **Wollombi** (New South Wales)
5. **Pokolbin** (New South Wales)
6. **Maitland** (New South Wales)
7. **Morpeth** (New South Wales)
8. **Dungog** (New South Wales)
9. **Gloucester** (New South Wales)
10. **Polblue** (New South Wales)
11. **Stroud** (New South Wales)
12. **Newcastle** (New South Wales)
13. **Swansea** (New South Wales)
14. **Sydney** (New South Wales)

## When is the best time for the round trip from Sydney?

The most pleasant months are usually February–May and October–December. Still fine, with some compromises, in January and June–September. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Convict road, Semillon and snow-grass highlands – by camper through the Hunter Valley into the Barrington Tops?**
8-day round trip of about 660 km (410 mi) with 14 stops, starting and ending in Sydney. About 7 h 12 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Convict road, Semillon and snow-grass highlands – by camper through the Hunter Valley into the Barrington Tops?**
We suggest 8 days: about 7 h 12 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Convict road, Semillon and snow-grass highlands – by camper through the Hunter Valley into the Barrington Tops start and end?**
It is a round trip that starts and ends in Sydney.

**Which states does Convict road, Semillon and snow-grass highlands – by camper through the Hunter Valley into the Barrington Tops pass through?**
New South Wales.