Kerewong State Forest Guide
Mid North Coast — Swans Crossing, free first-come camping, a dog under control.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS · Content reviewed 22 Sep 2026
What this guide is for: Can you camp, can the dog come, can the van get in, what to check before you leave. Forestry Corporation of NSW owns live conditions. Always confirm on the official Kerewong page and closures. This guide cannot tell you if the road is open today.
- Swans Crossing
- Free first-come
- Caravans welcome
- Dogs under control
- Working forest
Plan, camp, maps, town bed
Not a national park
This is a State forest
Kerewong State Forest is a Forestry Corporation of NSW working forest on the Mid North Coast, on Upsalls Creek inland of Kew and Kendall. It is not a national park and it is not a booked campground. The place most people come for is Swans Crossing: a former Swan family dairy and beef farm, State forest since 1964, now a wide grassed camp and picnic beside the creek, with toilets, picnic tables and a children’s nature playground. Camping is free and first-come. Caravans and campervans are welcome. Dogs are welcome under your control. The Cascade Walking Track is the 600 m walk from the camp. Longworths Tramway Heritage Walk is an easy one-way 2.1 km in adjacent North Branch State Forest — a short drive, not a track inside this camp. 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 Swans Crossing
Creek flat · playground · toilets
Former farm, now a free grassed camp and picnic on Upsalls Creek. Caravans welcome. Not a booking.
Camp tonight
Free · first-come · one named camp
If the grass is full, there is no second camp on this page. Town bed next.
Cascade Walking Track
Official 600 m from the camp
Native forest, at Swans Crossing. No published grade or time.
Longworths is the next forest
North Branch · 2.1 km one way
Easy tramway walk, a short drive away. Don’t treat it as a loop from the tent.
Best for
A free first-come creek camp, a caravan, a dog under control, the playground, and a short walk from the grass.
Skip if
You need a reserved pad tonight, a powered site, step-free access, or a national-park day with no dogs. If the flat is full, use a town.
The camp
Swans Crossing
One precinct: camp, picnic, playground, toilets, and the Cascade track. Free. First-come. The grass is a former farm, regenerated as native forest and hardwood plantation after 1964.
- Upsalls Creek Road, Upsalls Creek NSW 2439
- Barbecue and picnic tables — off on a Total Fire Ban day
- Nature playground: timber, ropes, and a mini replica steam train
- Friday peaks need a town bed, not another forest camp we haven’t named
How long
Times below are ours. Forestry Corp doesn’t publish walk hours.
Half day
Picnic at Swans Crossing and the 600 m Cascade track. Playground if you have children.
Full day
Camp precinct, then drive to Longworths Tramway in North Branch (2.1 km one way). Don’t merge the two into one loop.
Overnight
First-come on the grass. If you need a sure bed, book a town before you leave the highway.
Named walks
Two official walks, one of them next door
Cascade track
Named trackForestry Corp: a 600 m walking track at Swans Crossing, through native forest. They do not publish a grade or a time.
- Starts
- Swans Crossing
- Distance / grade
- Official length 600 m. No published grade or time.
View guide →
Longworths Tramway
Named trackEasy, one-way, 2.1 km. Forestry Corp places it a short drive from Swans Crossing, in adjacent North Branch State Forest — not inside the Kerewong camp.
- Starts
- North Branch State Forest, a short drive from Swans Crossing
- Distance / grade
- Official: easy, one-way, 2.1 km. No published time.
View guide →
Kerewong State Forest Guide
Kerewong 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 Swans Crossing, tramway in the next forest, overnight first-come
- Creek mark + www.kerewongstateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Kerewong State Forest guide is in that network. Not government. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Next forest
Not linked yet.
- North Branch State Forest
FAQ
Is camping free? Can I reserve Swans Crossing?
Entry is free on the NSW Government listing, and the camp is first-come. You cannot reserve a site, on this page or with Forestry Corp.
Can I bring a caravan?
Yes. Forestry Corp says caravans and campervans are welcome at Swans Crossing. That is not a promise about today’s gravel.
Can I bring a dog?
Yes, under your control, in the State forest. Pick up after them and watch for 1080 signs. Dogs are generally prohibited in national parks.
Is Longworths Tramway in this forest?
No. It is an easy one-way 2.1 km walk in adjacent North Branch State Forest, a short drive from the camp. Cascade Walking Track is the 600 m walk at Swans Crossing.
Is this site official?
No. Independent unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Not Forestry Corporation. Not NPWS.
Rules and site names come from Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Kerewong page and their statewide camping, dogs and fires pages. Closures: official notices map. Fires: RFS North Coast area plus Forestry Corp solid-fuel notices. The NSW Government Swans Crossing listing is used for address, free entry, toilets and facilities.
Not independently walked. Conditions, roads and fire rules change. Verify with Forestry Corporation of NSW.