HQ Camp Wingello State Forest

HQ Camp is a free, first-come campground in Wingello State Forest in the NSW Southern Highlands, set among radiata pine about 10 to 15 minutes from Bundanoon. No bookings, no fees, no cabins. Dogs are welcome throughout the forest under Forestry Corporation rules, which makes this one of the more reliable dog-friendly camps near Sydney and Canberra.

Dogs at HQ Camp

Dogs are permitted at the campground and across Wingello State Forest, with no breed or size restrictions and no pet fee. The rule is effective control at all times: voice control or a lead, and a lead is the sensible default near the camping area, picnic spots and shared trails where mountain bikers and other campers pass through. You are required to pick up and dispose of waste, and barking should stay down out of respect for fellow campers. Two forest-specific cautions matter for dog owners. Forestry Corporation runs periodic 1080 fox and wild dog baiting programs in state forests, and warning signs mark active baiting, so check current notices before you go and keep your dog close. Second, neighbouring national parks strictly prohibit dogs, so stay inside the state forest boundary when walking.

The campground

The camp is a large open grassy area with level spots for tents, caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes, popular with mountain bikers using the forest's dedicated trails. Facilities are minimal: non-flush toilets, shared fireplaces and picnic tables. Campfires are allowed in the designated fireplaces only, outside total fire bans, and firewood is not supplied, so bring your own and check Forestry Corporation's fire declarations first. There is no reliable drinking water, so pack in everything you and your dog need. A maximum stay of two weeks in any three-month period applies.

Getting there

Access is via Forest Road off the Hume Highway side, a graded dirt road generally fine for 2WD but rougher after rain. Wingello village is tiny, so stock up in Bundanoon to the north.

Close by with the dogs

In Bundanoon, Potter's Pantry and DeliLicious cover supplies and a dog-friendly coffee stop, and the Bundanoon fenced off-leash dog park gives a secure run if your dog needs to burn off energy off the forest trails. More options are on the Wingello destination page and in the NSW stays index.