Barrington Tops State Forest Guide
Highland forest between Gloucester and Scone — one free camp on the Manning, and Cobark Lookout.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS · Content reviewed 26 Sep 2026
Before you leave: which site you mean, whether the dog can come, and what to check. Forestry Corporation has the live closures. Open the Barrington Tops State Forest page and closures. We don’t know if the forest is open.
- Manning River camp
- Cobark Lookout
- Free first-come
- Dogs under control
- Working forest
- Not the national park
Plan, camp, lookout, town bed
Not the national park
This is the State forest, not the plateau park
Barrington Tops State Forest is a Forestry Corporation of NSW working forest between Gloucester and Scone. The Manning River runs through it. The only camp Forestry names is free and first-come: the Manning River camping and picnic area, next to Henry’s Bridge on Pheasants Creek Road. Cobark Lookout is the other place on their page — a nine-metre timber deck on the eastern edge, views south, the first stop from Gloucester. It is not a camp. This is not Barrington Tops National Park. Polblue, Gloucester River, Devils Hole, Gummi Falls and Junction Pools are not in this forest. Dogs under control belong in the State forest, not in the national park. This site is an unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network.
What kind of forest day?
Camp at Manning River
Free · first-come · Henry’s Bridge
The only place to sleep. Picnic, toilet, campsites. Take your rubbish. 4WD visitors and freshwater fishing.
Stop at Cobark Lookout
9 m deck · views south · not a bed
Eastern edge. First stop from Gloucester. A cuppa and your bearings, then keep driving.
I typed Barrington Tops
State forest, not the park
Polblue and the other park camps are a different manager. This page is Manning River and Cobark only.
If the camp is full
Friday Plan B
There isn’t a second camp. The lookout is not a bed. Try Gloucester, Scone or Dungog.
Best for
A free first-come night beside the Manning, a dog under control, freshwater fishing, and a lookout stop on the way from Gloucester.
Skip if
You need a reserved pad, you wanted Polblue or another national-park camp, or you planned to sleep at Cobark Lookout.
The two official sites
Manning River and Cobark Lookout
Forestry names two places here. One camping and picnic area. One lookout. A national-park camp is a different trip.
- Manning River: next to Henry’s Bridge, Pheasants Creek Road. Toilet, picnic, campsites. Take rubbish.
- GPS on Forestry’s free-camping guide: −31.8812°, 151.5121°.
- Cobark Lookout: nine-metre hardwood deck, views south, first stop from Gloucester. Not a camp.
- Dogs under control here. Not in Barrington Tops National Park.
How long
A lookout stop, a river day, or one night
Half day
Cobark Lookout for the view, then turn around. Do not add a national-park walk on the same first loop.
Full day
The lookout, then the Manning River picnic. Bring water. Take rubbish. Forestry doesn’t give a walk distance for this forest.
Overnight
Manning River only, first-come. Read the Friday article before a holiday weekend.
Barrington Tops State Forest Guide
Barrington Tops State Forest Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries with the site name on them. Packing, Friday Plan B, half/full/overnight shapes. Official Forestry Corp / RFS links on every file.
- Planner — packing, last towns, dogs, fires, Friday Plan B
- Itineraries — half day, full day, overnight. Times below are ours
- www.barringtontopsstateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Barrington Tops State Forest guide is in that network. Not government. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Sister state forests
FAQ
Is Barrington Tops State Forest the national park?
No. It is a Forestry Corporation of NSW working forest between Gloucester and Scone. Barrington Tops National Park is NPWS. Dogs, camping and bookings follow different rules.
Where can I camp, and can I book it?
The only camp is the Manning River camping and picnic area, next to Henry’s Bridge on Pheasants Creek Road. It is free and first-come. You cannot reserve it. Cobark Lookout is not a camp.
Can I bring a dog?
Dogs under control in this State forest. The NSW Manning River listing says pet friendly — enquire. Dogs are not the rule in Barrington Tops National Park.
Is the forest open today?
We don’t know. Forestry says Gloucester or Scone. Check the closures map the morning you leave.
Is this site official?
No. Independent unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Not Forestry Corporation. Not NPWS.
Names and rules come from Forestry Corporation’s Barrington Tops State Forest page, the NSW Government forest and Manning River listings, Visit NSW’s Cobark Lookout page, and the statewide camping, dogs and fires pages. Closures are on Forestry’s notices, not here. Check before you go.
Not independently walked. Conditions and roads change. Check with Forestry Corporation of NSW. We don’t know if the forest is open.