Barrington Tops National Park
Aberdeen
Our drive to the Barrington Tops started at Aberdeen in the NSW Hunter Valley. This is a small town, famous for its Scottish heritage and its annual Highland Games. Also of interest as you pass through the town is St Mark’s Church.
St Mark’s Anglican Church
Polblue Swamp Walk
Polblue Swamp Walk can be started in either the camping ground, or the nearby day parking area. The walk forms a loop that passes through both areas. This was a nice walk that took us 30 minutes to complete. The loop, skirts the swamp area and passes through wooded area, over several creeks (with bridges) and finishes with a board walk over part of the swamp.
We found the board walk to be the most interesting, as it had a variety of bird life and plants.
Polblue Swamp
Devil’s Hole Lookout
The track to Devils hole Lookout is very short (about 5 minutes) and paved. The view is amazing over the Barrington Tops, because the viewing platform is placed well.
Devil’s Hole Lookout 
Devil’s Hole Lookout
Thunderbolt’s Lookout
Thunderbolt’s Lookout gives views similar to Devils hole, but also has a more interesting walk to the viewing area. You pass ferns, huge trees, and part of the path is enclosed overhead with tree branches forming a passageway.
Thunderbolt’s Lookout Track
Honeysuckle Walk
Honeysuckle Walk was our favourite in the Barrington Tops, because of its wonderful trees and undergrowth. The walk starts at the Honeysuckle Picnic Ground and then loops around through the forest before returning to the picnic area.
The walk passes through Antarctic beech forest with an undergrowth of tree ferns. Many of the trees have moss covered trunks are a spectacular sight. This walk took us 30 minutes, but could be quicker if you don’t stop to admire the surroundings.
Moss Covered Trunk 
Honeysuckle Walk 
Honeysuckle Walk 
Fern Understory Honeysuckle Walk
Mountain Maid Gold Mine
Hidden Treasure track is an easy walk through dry rain forest following Copeland Creek beneath the rain forest canopy. This hike also takes you past remnants of the area’s mining history. Along the track you will pass mine adits that have been barred shut. Some are now home to micro bats and you can smell the guano from the entrance.
We took 90 minutes to complete this track. Be careful of the signage and take a map (or photograph the map at the start of the walk), because some signs are not obvious.
The Basin Loops track takes 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours and is an extension of the Hidden Treasure track. We didn’t have time to complete this one, so left it for another day.
Giant Fig Tree 
Mountain Maid Gold Mine Entrance 
Hidden Treasure Track
What Did We Think?
Our trip finished in Gloucester, where we had a late lunch at a cafe on the main street before the drive home. The Barrington Tops was a great day out with some lovely walks and scenery. There are many places to stop and admire the scenery as well as walks for beginners to the more adventurous.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.