Colo Meroo campground

Colo Meroo is a genuinely remote walk-in campground on grassy flats about 100m from the Colo River in Wollemi National Park. With only two unmarked sites and no vehicle access, it is designed for experienced, self-sufficient walkers rather than casual car camping.

Sites and booking#

NPWS lists two unpowered tent sites, with online bookings available for up to 12 people or both sites. There are no caravan or camper-trailer sites. The grassy camping area is open rather than divided into numbered bays, so keep your footprint compact and leave space for the other booking.

The official campground page recommends a trip-intention form and notes that a personal locator beacon can be hired free from the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre.

Two access routes#

The shorter approach begins near Upper Colo Road and involves a walk of at least 2.5km across private property. Stay on the marked route and leave gates as you find them. The longer alternative follows Gospers Ridge Trail for about 4km by vehicle, then continues roughly 8km on foot to camp.

NPWS lists the unsealed trailhead access as 2WD but dry-weather only. The campground itself is foot-access only. Use the detailed visitor directions, carry an offline map and allow enough daylight for whichever route you choose.

Do not combine distances from different approaches when estimating the trip. Confirm the intended trailhead, parking point and return route before leaving home, and share those details with your emergency contact. A short approach can still become slow with overnight water and gear, while the longer Gospers Ridge option needs a realistic walking-time and turnaround margin.

Water, toilets and pack weight#

Facilities are limited to a non-flush toilet and wood barbecues. There is no supplied water and no rubbish service. Carry drinking and cooking water, rubbish bags and a backup purification method; any river or creek water must be boiled or treated.

Firewood must be carried in when solid-fuel use is permitted, which makes a fuel stove the lighter and more dependable option. Limited mobile reception means your emergency plan should not depend on making a call from camp.

River and weather risks#

The campground sits close to a wild river in a large catchment. NPWS specifically warns campers to monitor the Colo River level because heavy rain can cause flooding. Check conditions across the catchment, not only the forecast at the trailhead.

The riverside location can also tempt campers to rely on swimming or river water. Treat both as condition-dependent: avoid entering fast, discoloured or rising water, and keep tents well back from the bank. Hot weather increases water demand on the carry in, while overnight rain can alter both the river and the dry-weather road out.

As checked on 26 September 2026, the campground page also displays a fire-ban alert. Recheck Colo Meroo local alerts before leaving and postpone if flood, fire or access conditions undermine your route.

What walkers report#

Public Colo Meroo-specific reports are sparse and mostly older, so these are route observations rather than a current consensus.

• A Bushwalk forum discussion and a Colo River trip report describe the campground as a useful overnight base for experienced river-country walks.
• Public photo reports commonly show a sandy river edge and swimming as the reward after the walk, but river depth, current and water quality can change quickly.
• Route choice changes the character of the trip: the short private-property approach reduces distance, while the Gospers Ridge approach is a much longer carry.

Booking checklist#

Book before departure, choose and share your exact route, check river levels and alerts, and carry every essential item—including water—without relying on reception. Pack out all rubbish and arrive with enough daylight to locate the unmarked camping flats. If the two-site allocation is full, a CampWatch alert can watch for a cancellation, but conditions still need a fresh check before travel.