Abercrombie NP

4WD Only Past This Point

Meeting mid afternoon at the turn off to Abercrombie River NP at Porters Retreat, we headed down the Felled Timber Rd for a weekend ‘boys only’ 4wdriving & camping trip.

The weather has been unseasonably warm so far this April, and this area is dry and very dusty from months of very low rainfall. Only just a few months ago the high ranges were subjected to a large bush fire not far from here at Bannaby.
This high range is tinder dry and weather conditions and fire restrictions can often restrict access to this remote section of the park.

Abercrombie NP

The dry forest tracks meander up and over the range. With tracks leading down to the river camping areas at Silent Creek, The Beach, The Sink or Licking Hole.


With reasonable mobile reception on the higher peaks and good maps this area is an easy weekend adventure.

And there are plenty of tracks to explore.

Camping Abercrombie NP

Friday Night Camp

With the sun setting and the air getting cool it was time to set up camp at Silent Creek. Having camped here before it’s a good choice with the ubiquitous NP drop toilet and concrete campfire ring.

The grass cover around camp is sparse this visit because of the dry year, but there is plenty of kindling for the fire.

Abercrombie NP

Time to light the campfire and get organised.
A quick dinner on the forty farts and a couple of bevies around the fire set the tone for a great brothers weekend.

Now THIS is Serenity Mr Kerrigan !!

Abercrombie NP

Saturday Touring

Setting off mid morning to explore some more tracks and find another camp for the night.
We were headed for the The Beach for a look.

However, the water at The Beach camping area wasn’t very inviting and the camping area wasn’t that great either.
So we headed off again.

Although it was exceptionally dry, the Abercrombie River had some water in it back at Bummaroo Ford. We crossed the ford on the way up on the Taralga Rd, where there were a few campers on the either side of the road. Bummaroo Ford unfortunately is also the most popular camping area because it’s just off the bitumen, and a good place to avoid if you’re after a quiet campsite.

Abercrombie River NP Tracks 1

We were determined to find the old goldminer’s cottage at Licking Hole.


Up and down, these steep tracks would be awesome in the wet
We might have to come back.

Abercrombie River Tracks 2

It gets to -10c in winter and the wettest month is June.


And it snows up on the high peaks.
Might have to re-think that idea.


Maybe a spring later this year.

Abercrombie River NP Licking Hole Hut

Some of these tracks are really quite steep and great fun to drive. This place is so under-rated, great camping and easy 4wd touring on uncrowded interesting tracks. We will definitely be coming back.


Licking Hole has relics from the gold rush of the 1800’s. The diggings and water races are visible along the bank.

The old miner’s cottage has survived and to our pleasant surprise it hasn’t been vandalised.

Next time we’ll try and find the old wattle and daub Ledinghams Hut off the Licking Hole track.

For more information see NSW National Parks

Click Here – Park Info