This one’s a proper big day out, the northern precinct of the Barrington Tops parklands.

This trip rewards you with lookouts, high altitude wetlands and views from the western side across the Hunter Valley. With the national park, state forests and state conservation areas all shoulder to shoulder here, it takes the whole day to do it justice. Clear your calendar, pack properly and head up onto the plateau.

Good to know

Barrington Tops National Park is one a few parks here where a NPWS pass is not required, so come and enjoy this beauty freely.

Depart early, this is a full day and you’ll want every hour of it. Pack warm clothes no matter the season, the high country doesn’t follow the same weather rules as the coast, plus picnic supplies, water and insect repellent for the picnic stops.

Conditions up here shift fast and without much warning, so treat the plateau with a healthy respect. Lookouts have formed paths and barriers for good reason, stick to them rather than chasing the extra step for a photo.

If you’re tempted to get closer to any of the waterfalls for a better look, resist it, admire them from the viewing points instead.

Morning: lookouts and high altitude wetland

Drive up via Scone Road and Barrington Tops Forest Road to reach the plateau, with several lookouts along the way.

First stop is Cobark Lookout in the state forest section of the parklands, where you don’t even have to get out of the car for the views.

The plateau gets higher from here, and the views better, as you continue towards the highest point of the parklands at Polblue Swamp.

Honeysuckle Picnic Area is your mext stop which offers a deeper forest walk on the Honeysuckle Forest Track. You’ll see huge moss-covered trees, if you’ve got legs for it before lunch.

Thunderbolts Lookout is a short walk from the car along an uneven track but the view is worth it.

Devils Hole Lookout is the second-easiest of the lookouts. Starting at Devils Hole picnic area, the short paved path suitable for walkers, strollers and wheelchairs alike, no scrambling required for a big view.

Polblue Swamp Track is an easy  2.5km loop around this high altitude wetland, the spot that catches the most snowfall in the region. Worth the walk if you’ve got time before lunch.

Polblue campground and picnic area has shelters if you’d like to stay at the highest campground in the country with next-to-vehicle camping.

Afternoon: further west into the high country

Lunch at the Polblue picnic area, then push on further west.

The Firs brings a spooky, quiet darkness after the open wetland, a proper change of mood in the forest.

Dingo Gate delivers expansive views across the Hunter Valley, one of the best payoffs of the whole day.

Polblue Falls has a viewing platform directly opposite, offering the best views with hardly any effort at all. (Tip: it’s nowhere near Polblue picnic area)

Gummi Falls, better in a 4WD when the gravel trails are open, this is a small but pretty cascade near where the Manning River has its source. A nice way to round out the drive if time and track conditions allow.

Evening: dine out in Gloucester

Head back down to Gloucester for a well earned dinner.

Roundabout Inn sits at the northern end of the main street with a beer garden and The Kitchen Bistro known locally for its schnitty nights and a genuinely warm welcome.

Avon Valley Inn in the heart of town runs Barrington’s Restaurant, a menu built on local produce and classic pub favourites, casual lunches through to relaxed dinners. Their beer garden is a good spot too.

Roadies Café is the local favourite for wood fired pizza, motorbike memorabilia and a fireplace that makes winter evenings here properly cosy.

Yim Thai is a small, welcoming Thai restaurant turning out generous, authentic dishes, the sticky rice with mango is worth saving room for.

Summit Bistro, inside the Gloucester Bowling Club, serves fresh flavour packed meals blending Asian and Australian cuisine against a backdrop of the Buccan Buccan mountains.

Dumplings on the Green, inside Club Gloucester, mixes Asian favourites and Aussie classics, a solid go-to whichever you’re in the mood for.

Know a spot in the Barrington Tops high country that deserves a mention here? Get in touch, we’re always adding to it.