Coopernook State Forest Guide
Just north of Coopernook, between Taree and Kew — Forest HQ, free first-come camping, a dog under control.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS · Content reviewed 26 Sep 2026
Can you camp, can the dog come, can the van get in, and is there power or a dump point? Sort that out before you leave the highway. Forestry Corporation has the live word on roads and closures. Check the official Coopernook page and the closures map. Headquarters has been shut before while harvest ran next door. Don’t assume it is open today.
- Coopernook Forest HQ
- Free first-come
- Vans welcome
- Unpowered · no dump
- Dogs under control
Plan, camp, maps, town bed
Not a national park
This is a State forest
Coopernook State Forest is a Forestry Corporation working forest on the Mid North Coast, just north of Coopernook village, between Taree and Kew, off the Pacific Highway. Crowdy Bay and Diamond Head are a different park, with a different manager. You can’t book a site here. Come for Coopernook Forest HQ: picnic and overnight grass in eucalypt forest, a nature playground, and the Tall Trees Walk. Camping is free and first-come. Caravans and campervans are welcome. The sites are unpowered and there is no dump station. Free electric barbecues are in the picnic shelter. Dogs can come if you keep them under control. Leave them out of the national parks next door. This site is an unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Check Forestry Corporation before you drive.
What kind of forest day?
Picnic and camp at Forest HQ
Grass · playground · shelter barbecues
Free overnight grass in eucalypt forest, just north of Coopernook. Vans welcome. Not a booking.
Camp tonight
Free · first-come · unpowered
No dump station. If the grass is full, there is no second camp on this page.
Tall Trees Walk
Short · level · loop
Eucalypt forest from headquarters. No length or time given.
Not Crowdy Bay, not Swans Crossing
This page is Forest HQ only
Diamond Head is national park. Swans Crossing is Kerewong. Guulabaa is a day visit in Cowarra.
Best for
A free first-come stop off the highway, a caravan on the grass, a dog under control, the playground, and a short level walk.
Skip if
You need a powered site, a dump point, a reserved pad, or a national-park day at Crowdy Bay or Diamond Head. If the grass is full, use a town.
The camp
Coopernook Forest HQ
One place: picnic, overnight grass, playground, and the Tall Trees Walk. Free. First-come. The shelter has electric barbecues. The van site does not have power, and there is no dump station.
- NSW listing: Forest Road, Moorland NSW 2443. Camping list: Bangalow Road, Coopernook.
- Pin on that camping list: −31.788881°, 152.608581°.
- Public toilet on the NSW listing. Bring drinking water.
- Nature playground: timber, places to step, climb and explore.
- Friday peaks need a town bed, not a second forest camp on this page.
How long
Times below are ours. Forestry Corporation doesn’t publish walk hours.
Half day
Picnic at headquarters, the playground, and the Tall Trees loop. Back to the highway before dark if you are uneasy on forest roads.
Full day
The same grass, a slower lunch, the loop again if the children want it. There isn’t a second named walk to add on.
Overnight
First-come on the grass. Unpowered. If you need a sure bed, or a dump point, book a town before you leave the highway.
Named walk
Tall Trees Walk
Coopernook State Forest Guide
Coopernook State Forest Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries with the site name on them. Packing, Friday Plan B, half day, full day and overnight. Official Forestry Corp / RFS links on every file.
- Planner — packing, last towns, dogs, fires, Friday Plan B
- Itineraries — half day at Forest HQ, Tall Trees Walk, overnight first-come
- Tall-trees mark + www.coopernookstateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Coopernook 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 camping free? Can I reserve Forest HQ?
NSW Government lists free entry, and the camp is first-come. You cannot reserve a site, on this page or with Forestry Corporation.
Can I bring a caravan?
Yes. Forestry Corporation says caravans and campervans are welcome. The sites are unpowered and there is no dump station. Use the tourist route on the official map.
Can I bring a dog?
Yes, under your control, in the State forest. Pick up after them and watch for 1080 signs. Dogs are not the plan in Crowdy Bay or Dooragan.
Is this Crowdy Bay or Swans Crossing?
No. This page is Coopernook Forest HQ only. Crowdy Bay and Diamond Head are national park. Swans Crossing is the camp in Kerewong State Forest.
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 Coopernook page, their free-camping list (Bangalow Road and the headquarters pin), the NSW Government listing for Forest HQ (Forest Road, Moorland, toilets, free entry), and the forest map for van access. Closures are on the Forestry Corporation notices map. For fires, check the RFS North Coast rating and Forestry Corporation’s solid-fuel notices. We read those pages on 26 Sep 2026. Check again the morning you leave.
Not independently walked. Conditions, roads and fire rules change. Verify with Forestry Corporation of NSW.