Wares Yards Campground, Kosciuszko NP – Free High Country Camping

Nestled in a sheltered sub-alpine clearing, Wares Yards Campground offers a fantastic and accessible base for exploring the High Plains of Kosciuszko National Park. Conveniently located just off the Snowy Mountains Highway between Adaminaby and Kiandra, this campground is a favourite for horse riders, mountain bikers, and bushwalkers looking to explore the nearby trails of Boggy, Nungar, and Kellys Plains.

The campground is set amongst a beautiful stand of snow gums, providing shelter and a classic alpine atmosphere. It serves as an ideal launchpad for adventures to the nearby Tantangara Dam, which offers excellent fishing, swimming, and kayaking opportunities during the warmer months. The area is rich in birdlife, with flame robins and other alpine species frequently spotted, and it’s not uncommon to see eastern grey kangaroos grazing in the clearings at dawn and dusk.

Access is via the unsealed Wares Yards Trail, which is generally suitable for 2WD vehicles (in good, dry weather) and camper trailers, making it one of the more accessible high-country camps. The campground itself is a large, open, grassy area with unmarked sites, allowing for flexible setups. Facilities are basic but well-maintained, including non-flush pit toilets, picnic tables, and designated wood barbecue rings.

This is a free campground, but bookings are mandatory via the NSW National Parks website and incur a small $6 booking fee. Visitors must be completely self-sufficient. There is no potable water, so you must bring your own supply for drinking and cooking. All rubbish must be taken with you, and while open fires are permitted in the provided rings (subject to fire bans), you must bring your own firewood as gathering it within the national park is prohibited. Pets and generators (limited use) are subject to standard national park rules; pets are strictly forbidden.

Wares Yards campground – NSW Map

Location & Contact

• Name: Wares Yards campground
• Address: Wares Yards Trail, Gooandra NSW 2629 (Kosciuszko National Park)
• GPS Coordinates: -35.87675, 148.61987
• Website: NSW National Parks – Wares Yards Campground

Map

Site Features & Facilities

• Location: Sheltered sub-alpine woodland clearing, just off the Snowy Mountains Highway.
• Site Suitable For: Tents, camper trailers, camping beside your vehicle. Popular with horse riders.
• Road Access: Unsealed road (Wares Yards Trail). 2WD accessible in good/dry weather; 4WD may be required after rain or snow.
• Site Surface: Natural ground / grass. Sites are unmarked.
• Camping Permitted: Yes. Free, but bookings are essential (a $6 booking fee applies).
• Maximum Overnight Stays: 14 days.
• Picnic Tables: Yes.
• Potable Water: No. You must bring all your own drinking and cooking water.
• Mobile Phone Coverage: Very limited to non-existent.
• TV Reception: Unlikely.
• Onsite Public Toilets: Yes (non-flush pit toilets).
• Ullage (Dump Point): No.
• Drive Through: No.
• Rubbish Bins: No. You must take all rubbish with you.
• Open Fires: Permitted in designated fire rings/BBQs, subject to fire bans. **Bring your own firewood.**
• Generator Use: Limited use is permitted; be considerate of other campers.
• Number of Sites Available: Unmarked sites in an open area.
• Essentials to Bring: Drinking water, firewood, rubbish bags, warm/alpine clothing, toilet paper.
• Pet Friendly: **No.** Pets are strictly prohibited in Kosciuszko National Park.
• Fishing: Yes, in the nearby Tantangara Dam. A NSW fishing licence is required.
• Short Walks: Yes, numerous management trails and bushwalking tracks nearby (Boggy, Nungar, Kellys Plains).

Local Amenities (in nearby Adaminaby, approx. 27km drive)

• Local Pubs:
  • The Snow Goose Hotel (approx. 27km)
• Places to Eat:
  • Adaminaby Bakehouse (approx. 27km)
  • Small Fry Take-Away (approx. 27km)
  • Adaminaby Bowling Club (approx. 27km)
• Local Attractions:
  • The Big Trout (Adaminaby, approx. 27km)
  • Tantangara Dam (approx. 15km)
  • Yarrangobilly Caves (approx. 45km)
• Nearest Caravan Parks:
  • Alpine Tourist Park (Adaminaby, approx. 27km)
  • Rainbow Pines Tourist Park (Old Adaminaby, approx. 35km)
• Next Free Camps:
  • Long Plain Hut Campground (Kosciuszko NP, booking fee applies, approx. 25km)
• Nearest Dump Points:
  • Cooma Motorhome Dump Point (Polo Flat Rd, Cooma, approx. 70km)
  • Cooma Snowy Mountains Tourist Park (Cooma, fee may apply, approx. 70km)
• Nearest Petrol Station:
  • Ampol Adaminaby (approx. 27km)
• Drinking Water Resupply:
  • Cooma Motorhome Dump Point (Polo Flat Rd, Cooma, approx. 70km)
  • Best to be self-sufficient or ask at service stations.
• Public Toilets (Town):
  • Big Trout Picnic Area (Adaminaby, approx. 27km)

Seasonal Weather Forecast (Based on Adaminaby Averages)

• Summer (Dec – Feb): Mild to warm. Average maximums are around 24-26°C, with cool nights averaging 8-11°C.
• Autumn (Mar – May): Cool. Average maximums drop from 22°C in March to 14°C in May. Nights become very cold, with May averaging 0.5°C.
• Winter (Jun – Aug): Very cold. Average maximums are 10-12°C. Nights are freezing, averaging -2°C to -1°C. Frosts are heavy and snow is possible.
• Spring (Sep – Nov): Cool and warming. Average maximums rise from 15°C in September to 21°C in November. Nights remain cold, averaging 1-6°C.