Sometimes the best weekends away are the ones without a long list of things to see and do.
Burraga Dam had been on our radar for a while. We’d seen it mentioned as a free camping spot in country NSW, and being around three hours from Sydney, it seemed perfect for a quiet winter weekend away with Connie.
And winter was very much part of the attraction. We were actually looking forward to a proper cold-weather camp. Rugging up, lighting the fire, cooking outside and then retreating into a warm caravan when the temperature dropped sounded pretty good to us.
So we packed up Connie and headed to Burraga Dam to see what camping there was really like.
What we found was plenty of space, beautiful views across the water, very few other campers and the kind of weekend where slowing down became the whole point.
Where is Burraga Dam?
Burraga Dam is southwest of Oberon in the NSW Central Tablelands.
From the western edge of Sydney at Penrith, it’s roughly 200 kilometres and just over three hours by road, making it a doable weekend away without spending most of your weekend getting there.
The final section into the campground includes around one kilometre of unsealed road. When we visited, it had recently been graded and was in very good condition, so we had no trouble getting our 23-foot on-road caravan, Connie, into the main camping area.
Wet weather is worth keeping in mind, though. Reports about Burraga Dam regularly warn that access can become difficult after rain, particularly when trying to get back out. If significant rain is forecast or the area has recently had wet weather, it’s worth checking current road conditions before taking a caravan in.
There are also tracks leading further around the dam. Some were rougher, with divots and sections we wouldn’t have attempted with Connie attached. We left the caravan behind and explored those areas separately.
Our experience was an easy drive in on a freshly graded, dry road, but Burraga Dam is one of those camps where the weather can make a considerable difference to access.
Is Burraga Dam Really Free?
When we visited, yes, it was completely free.
There was no booking system, no camping fee and no donation requested.
The camping area is quite large and spread out, with some spots closer to the water and others sitting further back.
We arrived around sunset and chose what seemed like a perfectly good campsite.
It wasn’t quite as perfect the following morning when we realised Connie wasn’t particularly level.
Our solution was an epic relocation of approximately 20 metres to a lovely grassy spot nearby. 😂
Once we’d moved, Phil used our digital level to get Connie sitting properly. It’s one of those simple little tools we use whenever we’re setting up on uneven ground.
The exact model we use isn’t available on Amazon, but we’ve found one that’s very similar.
👉 Digital level similar to the one we use:
https://link.amazon/B00V4MU0s
The original site did have the better built-in fire pit, though, so after moving we pulled out our own.
These are the important decisions in caravan life.
Facilities at Burraga Dam
Burraga Dam is a basic free camp, so you’ll want to arrive prepared to be reasonably self-contained.
When we visited, there was a drop toilet and fire pits, but no bins, drinking water, or dump point.
That means bringing in what you need and taking your rubbish back out.
We also strongly recommend sorting out one more thing before you arrive.
Download your maps.
Trust us on this one.
Is There Phone or Internet Reception at Burraga Dam?
For us, essentially no.
Mobile phone and internet reception at the campground was extremely limited. Unless you’re travelling with something like Starlink, don’t arrive expecting reliable internet.
For us, being disconnected was actually part of the appeal.
Until we decided to drive into Oberon.
We hadn’t downloaded the map, had no useful internet connection and decided we could work out the way ourselves.
We could not. 😂
Our supposedly straightforward trip into Oberon became considerably more adventurous than intended.
So enjoy being offline, but download your maps and directions before you arrive.
Things to Do at Burraga Dam
One of the things we liked most about Burraga Dam was that there wasn’t a giant list of things we needed to do.
The campground and dam are really the destination.
Fishing at Burraga Dam
Fishing is popular at Burraga Dam. The dam has been stocked with rainbow trout, golden perch and silver perch, and redfin are also found in the dam.
Apparently, people actually catch them.
We hadn’t been fishing for years, so Phil pulled out the fishing gear and decided to give it another go.
He caught a tree. 🎣🌳
We’ll let you decide whether that counts.
Kayaking, Canoeing and Swimming
Burraga Dam is also used for kayaking and canoeing, while swimming is popular during the warmer months.
Power boats aren’t permitted, which undoubtedly helps maintain the quieter feel of the dam.
At around 980 metres above sea level, swimming wasn’t remotely tempting during our winter visit. But in summer, getting out onto the water would add another dimension to a stay here.
Or Just Sit Around the Fire
This was probably our favourite part of Burraga.
We spent much of Saturday doing almost nothing.
We lit the fire, settled into our chairs and listened to an audiobook together.
And it was lovely.
There was no rush to get somewhere, no list of attractions we needed to tick off and no internet constantly demanding our attention. We could simply sit beside the fire and enjoy being away together.
Later we pulled out our new extendable marshmallow roasting sticks for the first time. They turned out to be a great little addition to our campfire setup. We could sit comfortably back from the heat, toast the marshmallows evenly and, most importantly, stop losing them into the fire.
We loved them, and they’re definitely staying in Connie.
🔥 These are the marshmallow roasting sticks we used:
https://link.amazon/B08OxHy7u
We also explored the different camping areas, flew the drone, wandered around the dam, cooked dinner and watched the sunset.
Sometimes that’s more than enough.
Although apparently cutting one piece of firewood can become an activity in its own right.
At least it can when Kerryn is holding the saw. 😂
A Little Burraga Dam History
Burraga Dam was built on Thompsons Creek to supply water to the local copper mine, which operated from 1879 to 1916.
The dam is sometimes referred to as Thompsons Creek Dam, although it shouldn’t be confused with another dam of the same name near Wallerawang.
These days, Burraga Dam is used primarily for recreation, with camping, fishing, and paddling replacing its original industrial purpose.
It’s a little bit of the area’s history that is easy to miss when you’re simply sitting beside the water enjoying the view.
Taking a Trip Into Oberon
If you want to leave camp for a few hours, Oberon is worth a visit.
Getting there should have been fairly straightforward.
Ours wasn’t.
Because we didn’t have internet and hadn’t downloaded a map beforehand, we took a somewhat unintended scenic route into town.
Once we finally arrived, we had a wander around the shops, including a lovely Christmas shop, and found a nice little cafe for a stop along the way.
And if your camping supplies haven’t quite gone according to plan, there’s also a Mitre 10 tucked away in one of the back streets, which is handy if you suddenly discover you need some wood, a saw or another camping repair essential.
Then there was the vanilla slice.
Trying vanilla slices on our travels has become a bit of a thing for us.
Unfortunately, the one we tried from the Oberon Bakery won’t rank anywhere near the top of our leaderboard.
Actually, it may have established an entirely new position at the other end. 😂
What About Mayfield Garden?
While we were in the area, we also called into Mayfield Garden.
We’d been hoping we might find some scones, but unfortunately that wasn’t to be.
We were also a little early in the season to see the gardens looking their best. As there is an admission charge to enter the main garden, we decided this wasn’t the right visit for us to pay to go in.
We’d rather return when the gardens are putting on more of a show and we can really make the most of it.
So Mayfield Garden was more of a quick look for us on this trip than a full visit.
Winter Camping at Burraga Dam
We chose Burraga Dam because we were looking forward to a proper cold winter camp.
There’s something we love about rugging up, lighting the fire, cooking outside and settling into Connie while it’s freezing outside.
And Burraga delivered.
We woke to a beautiful frost covering the campground, giving the whole place a completely different feel in the early morning.
We did have a brief issue with our diesel heater, which isn’t exactly what you want on a freezing winter night.
Thankfully, it was short-lived. Phil had the tools and bits we needed and got the heater running again.
It’s one of those little reminders of why being prepared matters when you’re camping somewhere with very few facilities, virtually no internet and no convenient shop around the corner.
Winter also gave us something else we were hoping for: space and quiet.
Over the whole weekend, there were only around five other campers. We had plenty of room around us and the campground felt wonderfully peaceful.
We’d expect Burraga Dam to have a very different atmosphere during summer, school holidays and long weekends, particularly when swimming and paddling become part of the attraction.
But if you’re like us and enjoy a cold-weather camping weekend, winter is part of Burraga’s appeal, not something to endure.
A Note About Connie and Caravan Access
Connie is our 23-foot, 20-year-old on-road caravan. She’s quite long, sits low, and certainly wasn’t designed for rough off-road tracks.
That makes her a useful benchmark for campground access. If we can comfortably get Connie in, we’d expect most caravans to manage in similar road conditions.
At Burraga Dam, she comfortably accessed the main camping area while the road was dry and freshly graded.
Some tracks further around the dam were rougher, though, and we chose not to take her along those.
Every caravan and tow vehicle is different, and road conditions can change quickly, particularly after rain. So our experience is a guide to the conditions we found, not a guarantee of what you’ll find when you arrive.
🚐 See more of the gear and comforts we use with Connie:
https://link.amazon/A0gea9k5Y
What to Know Before Camping at Burraga Dam
- Here’s what we’d want to know before heading out:
- Camping was free when we visited, with no booking or donation required.
- There was a drop toilet and fire pits.
- There were no bins, drinking water or a dump point.
- Mobile phone and internet reception were extremely limited. Download your maps before you go unless you have an alternative such as Starlink.
- The final access is unsealed. It was freshly graded and easy when we visited, but access can reportedly become difficult after rain, particularly when leaving the campground.
- Connie, our 23-foot, 20-year-old low-clearance on-road caravan, comfortably accessed the main camping area in the dry conditions we experienced.
- Some tracks further around the dam were rougher, and we chose not to take Connie along them.
- Fishing, paddling, and swimming are among the available activities.
- At around 980 metres elevation, it can get properly cold in winter.
- Being reasonably self-contained and prepared will make your stay much easier.
Would We Camp at Burraga Dam Again?
Absolutely.
Not because Burraga Dam has a huge list of attractions to tick off.
Quite the opposite.
We’d go back because it’s somewhere you can park the caravan, light the fire, throw in a fishing line, cook dinner, listen to an audiobook, watch the sun disappear over the water and simply enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.
In fact, spending most of Saturday sitting around that fire listening to our book together was probably one of the highlights of the weekend.
Next time, we’d happily bring some friends along and settle in for another quiet weekend.
Although we’d probably download the maps first.
And perhaps keep Phil away from the trees when he’s fishing.
Come Camping at Burraga Dam With Us
Want to see what staying at Burraga Dam was actually like?
Come along for our winter weekend, from arriving and moving Connie a whole 20 metres to exploring Oberon, fishing, frosty mornings, campfires and a few things that didn’t quite go according to plan.
▶ Watch: Burraga Dam Free Camp: A Quiet Weekend Away in Country NSW
Keep Exploring Country NSW
If a quiet waterside weekend like Burraga sounds like your kind of trip, come along for another slow weekend at Chifley Dam and Historic Sofala.
▶ Watch A Slow Weekend at Chifley Dam & Historic Sofala
🔥 What We Use Around the Fire
If sitting around the campfire is one of your favourite parts of camping too, we’ve put together some of the things we use for campfires, cooking and those slow evenings outside Connie.
👉 Browse our Around the Fire collection in our Amazon shop:
https://amzn.to/45hoDiD
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