Blue Range Recreation Area

Book online for general camping, camper-trailers and small vans.

To hire the area for large gatherings of 20 people or more you must apply for a permit instead of using the 'Book now' button.

Book now

Blue Range Recreation Area is centred around the heritage-listed remains of a World War II internment camp.

Blue Range Recreation Area provides a picturesque campground set amongst tall ribbon gum eucalypts (Eucalyptus viminalis) and former pine plantation.

The campground caters for a range of camping styles from swags to camper-trailers and small vans. To hire the area for large gatherings of 20 people or more, apply for a permit.

Horse riding is welcome.

Dogs are welcome on-leash at Blue Range Recreation Area.

You must not take dogs or horses into the nearby Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve (0.5 km south of Blue Range) unless travelling by vehicle on a through-road.

What you'll see

Group relaxing amongst daffodils at the Sherwood Homestead site.

What you'll see

At Blue Range Recreation Area, you can see:

historic relics of World War II internment camp
thousands of daffodils at nearby Sherwood Homestead during spring
native bushland
Uriarra Forest pine plantation

Add a plant or animal sighting to the NatureMapr or visit the Canberra Birds website.

Things to do

Activities

Features

BBQs - gas
Dogs on-leash
Dog exercise area
Fireplace (communal)
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Picnic tables
Shelter - picnic
Toilets
Walking track/s
Wheelchair access

Restricted or Prohibited

You must not take dogs or horses into the nearby Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve (0.5 km south of Blue Range) unless travelling by vehicle on a through-road
The maximum booking duration for this campground is 2 weeks within any 6 week period

Walking tracks

Each of these walks ends at the remains of the Sherwood Homestead and gardens, first established by Henry and Eliza Philips in 1863.

The walks themselves are each slightly different and take you through both native bushland and pine plantation.

In Sherwood Forest Special Purpose Reserve, dogs are not permitted, and horse riding is permitted on management trails only.

Sherwood Homestead from Blue Range Recreation Area

Distance: 7.2 km return
Time suggested: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

Sherwood Homestead from East West Road

Distance: 6.4 km return
Time suggested: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

This walk commences at East West Road 800 m from Brindabella Road.

Blue Range Hut at Blue Range Recreation Area.

Ngunnawal Country and People

The waterways on Ngunnawal Country have sustained all life including their people, the plants and animals. The Murrumbidgee is part of Ngunnawal songlines, and pathways throughout Ngunnawal Country.

Songlines are the memory code that gives Ngunnawal people information from the landscape to tell the stories of vital knowledges, cultural values and wisdom.

European heritage

Blue Range Recreation Area features the remains of a World War II internment camp for Italian people. The men of Blue Range Internment Camp were involved in the clearing and preparation of land, planting, cutting hardwood, regenerating neighbouring plantations, raising pine seedlings, and producing charcoal from hardwood.

All that remains of the 1863 Sherwood Homestead (accessible via the walking tracks) is some stones from the fireplace, however a number of exotic trees indicate the layout of the site. The garden was once delightful, with flowers, cherry trees, apples, walnuts, raspberry bushes and more.

On Ropers Hill, overlooking the site, the stump of a once-massive oak tree still stands. This is in fact the grave where Henry, Eliza and their infant son, also Henry, now lie. A wooden fence surrounds the stump and a memorial plaque set in stone was put in place in November 2000.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by:

understanding safety
checking alerts
making a campground booking online

Remember:

mobile phone reception may be unreliable
bring your own drinking water
abide by campfire usage guidelines:
- bring your firewood with you
- only use constructed fireplaces provided
- do not light a fire a on a day of total fire ban
- keep 3 metres around the fireplace clear of flammable material
- remain in attendance at all times
- completely extinguish the fire before leaving
- you can bring your own gas barbecue

How to get there

Blue Range Recreation Area is located approximately 45 minutes west of Canberra's city centre. It is located at the intersection of East West Road and Blue Range Road, accessible via Brindabella Road.

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Blue Range Recreation Area

What you'll see

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or Prohibited

Walking tracks

Sherwood Homestead from Blue Range Recreation Area

Sherwood Homestead from East West Road

Ngunnawal Country and People

European heritage

Before you go

How to get there

More information