[Mystic]

Please be aware that this location is within the boundaries of a National Park and fees DO apply to enter the area.

Take the C845 from Gladstone, and follow the signs to Mt William National Park. The entry road to Top Camp is signposted and about 3 km south of the township of Poole. Follow the road (gravel, but pretty good) to the campgrounds.

There is no water here, so bring your own. The location does have picnic tables and a pit toilet, and firewood can generally be found along the beach as driftwood.

This location was an absolute gem! Very long, sparkling white sandy beach in a very isolated and secluded location. It seemed as though this ground is not used very often, though it is well maintained by the local ranger.

On the western side is a buttongrass plain leading to Mt William (though how anyone can seriously name a 200 metre high hill as a mountain beats me). Beware of snakes if walking through this area.

The beach is long, and magnificent. You can walk for miles without seeing another person, and the walk up around to cape Naturaliste is peaceful and relaxing. A huge rock protudes from the ocean, only about 50 metres from the beach, virtually in front of the campground. This rock is home to a number of varieties of sea birds, and creates a spectacular vista.

The site abounds with birdlife and wallabies. You may even see a kangaroo or three here, though there is a drive nearby (aptly called Forester Kangaroo Drive) where you are gauranteed to see Forester Kangaroos, especially around dawn and dusk, when they are out grazing in the fields.

The campground has plenty of trees and shady spots, with one site where, (provided your tent is not too big) you can even pitch your tent under a grove of trees and have absolutely excellent protection on all sides. (See photo).

We loved the isolation and solitude this site gave and it is definitely one that we will visit again. There was a huge variety of bird species that we did not see anywhere else, particularly along the beach and around the cape. Magnificent views along the coast and out to sea, where there are some large, rocky reefs, provde for an all round sensory feast.

for Top Camp...aptly named

Our Capsite @ Top Camp


Location of Top camp

Map supplied by Tasmap, for more mapping information
please see www.tasmap.tas.gov.au

[Shane V]

The day we arrived here we were running away from some very extreme heat. Although it was hot at Petal Point the temperature here was much cooler, Petal Point was on the other side of the peninsular.

We set up camp underneath a tree which gave us protection from the sun. This campground has some nice views, mainly looking west but through the trees to the east you can see the ocean and the long secluded beach. We walked the beach and got some beautiful photos. The sand was soft and white although in some places it was a bit coarser.

There were a lot of animals and birds in the area. The next morning we woke up to find Bennetts wallabies around the tent grazing on the grass there. It was cool just to sit in the tent, drink a coffee and watch them.

The only thing I didn't like about this site was when the wind blew up. It didn't matter where you went, it seemed to bowl you over. We were talking to a local and they said that it wasn't always like this but sometimes it was.

Overall a beautiful site and one worth visiting.

[Mystic]

A couple of shots of the beach at Top camp.

Directly in front of our camp site is this


Looking south along the beach from the campsite


Looking north along the beach from the campsite


the wind was literally blowing at gale force on the day these shots were taken, hence the mist blowing across the beach is heavy.

[tassiesim]

This place sounds magical Anna and Margie , I stayed in a friends shack at Mussleroe bay last June for the night and got to explore this beach just a short amount ,
I would love to take my tent and go to your top camp to see the Kangaroos and bird and walk long that quiet beach again, definitely a place to enjoy and relax in Tasmania .

[nineteenineteen]

It's worth bearing in mind that there are camping fees at Hilly Willy, via self registration. They were only introduced about 18 months ago, and I think they will eventually use these funds to upgrade the toilets.

There is also bore water at one of the sampsites (can't remember which one), but this tends to smell somewhat like sulphur (by Tasmanian standards the coast at Hilly Willy is one of the most tectonically active areas, which might explain this) - they recommend using this for washing only, but my thoughts are it would only be good for fending off zombie attack.

[Mystic]

It's worth bearing in mind that there are camping fees at Hilly Willy, via self registration. They were only introduced about 18 months ago, and I think they will eventually use these funds to upgrade the toilets.

Where exactly do you mean by "Hilly Willy"? We were at Top Camp a little over 12 months ago, spoke to the local ranger, but had no fees beyond our parks pass. Given the lack of facilities provided here. I think charging fees would be outrageous. Mind you, we have restricted this post to discussing one camping ground within the NP, but I would be stunned to discover fees being charged for camping at this location.

I think you may be referring to Bottom Camp, down near Eddystone Point? This is also the camping ground within the park that provides bore water.

Parks & Wildlife have no mention of camping fees in this area on their website either.

[Shane V]

We were looking through our images and found the amenities block at Top Camp. Well ok, calling it an amenities block is a bit rich, its a dunny, . Be careful in here when it is windy, the latch doesnt hold too well and the door flies open on you and it gets very noisy and not to mention wind up private places.

[nineteenineteen]

It might have been introduced more recently then, I know they were definitely running the fee system this summer. It is a bit rich and did seem to annoy a lot of the long time campers - especially seeing as there was no increase in provision of service or facilities.

http://parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/camping/camping.html#mtw

Hilly Willy is my nickname for Mt William...in line with your comment:

"how anyone can seriously name a 200 metre high hill as a mountain beats me"

[Mystic]

Ack, ack, and double ACK!!!! That sux the big one.

Thanks for that info though nineteenineteen. I can understand some of the other campgrounds within the park charging a small fee, but this one is over the top.

I am a supporter of the user pays principle, especially where it generally means an improvement of overall facilities, which is why I happily pay for a parks pass. Fair enough, the local ranger does regularly check this site out, and the toilet does get cleaned, and I realise that does cost money to do, but charging half the cost of staying at what is ostensibly a private camping ground at Mt Field, where you have electric BBQ's sheltered picnic areas, fireplaces with wood, laundry,. showers, etc, now that is a touch rich.

I guess it was just easier to slap a park wide fee down, rather than calculate something based on the supplied facilities. One thing is likely to be certain is that any money spent in this park is unlikely to be spent at Top Camp, as it would be the least popular of the camping grounds available within the park.

The fee will not stop me from going there, as it is a very nice place to get away from people, but I will certainly be paying my fees along with a letter of protest.

A warning to those planning on going here, given this info about the new fee structure, the nearest place to get cash if you are coming from the northern end is Gladstone. From the southern end, I am not sure if you can get cash at Ansons Bay, otherwise it would be St Helens.

A long way to an ATM, so what happens to those souls who turn up without cash?

[Serrator]

Great shots! Looks like a great place to wander around in for a few years!

[Shane V]

When we woke up the next morning we were here we looked outside the tent and we had a morning visitor. He was so cute. he didnt move much when I got out of the tent to make a coffee, just went about having a feed.
He was about a metre from the tent door.

[tassiesim]

wow how awesome is that way cool shot and experience would be , to have a visitor like that just at the door of your house .

[Mystic]

I have had a response from Parks & Wildlife regarding my question abotu a camper arriving without cash...

The scenario that you propose of a camper arriving with no cash would be extremely remote.
I believe that most travellers will carry some cash to cover emergency situations and as the camping fees have now been applicable for two seasons it will remain for the discretion of the Ranger to assess each situation on the circumstances at the time and if the camper may opt to make their payment by other methods.

Murray Luttrell
RIC St Helens
TASMANIAN PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
St Helens Field Centre
Eagle Street, St Helens

Although Murray thought it an unlikely situation, I am not so sure. These days most places have eftpos facilities, and we never carried cash while camping in case we lost it.

[philhick]

Hey Guys,

My girlfriend and I are coming over on the boat from Victoria on Christmas day and traveling around Tas for 9 days.
After reading the campsite reviews on this site I think Topcamp would suit us nicely, we are looking for a nice spot by the beach with as few people around as possible.

How busy is this spot likely to be just after Christmas?
We will probably be getting there on boxing day afternoon, do you think there would be any problems getting a spot here?

Also I was considering taking my surfboard with me, is there any surf in this area?

Cheers

[Mystic]

Hi philhick and welcome.

Last time I was at Top Camp was just a few days before Xmas and the place was empty. A couple fo cars came in during the couple of nights I was there, but left soon after, and this is one location that does not appear to get much use. Most people tend to go to Bottom Camp.

The surf had a pretty good swell while I was there, and did not seem to be ripped, though you do have a very long beach, and a more sheltered beach on the other side of Cape Naturaliste as well.

Doubt you would have any problems getting a spot there, even though it is quite a small campground. Apparently you are supposed to pay to stay here, but was never asked for any fees, even though the local ranger did drop down to check on things.

[philhick]

Hi Strange Anna,

Thanks heaps for your reply! It was exactly what I wanted to hear!!!
I was planning on picking up a 7 day camping permit from the Gladstone store on my way thru but was thinking it may be closed on boxing day.

[Mystic]

Gladstone store should be open on boxing day, being the only store in town, and also the office for the local caravan park. Not sure if you can pick the permit up there though, let me know please if I am wrong. There is an honesty box at Top Camp, and the ranger does visit regularly, so you may be better off holding onto your cash and waiting for the ranger to come through. Just make sure you have a parks pass though, as it is within a national park.

[philhick]

I am going to purchase my parks pass online, it seems to me that the 8-week pass for 1 vehicle @ $60 is my best bet.

The reason I thought I might get the camping permit from Gladstone was because on the parks tas site is states:

"Camping Permits: Camping permits are available from the Gladstone Store. Permits cover up to 7 nights. For 1-2 adults the cost is $50.00. Each extra adult is $25.00, each extra child is $10.00."

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=412#mtw

I assume they are talking about the general store?

[Mystic]

OK, that must be new, have not seen that before, but we have had changes in parks management down here. Thank you for the info

[col135]

For those who may be interested, the signs at Top Camp taken in JAN 2009 showing all the fees at that time.

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