Discover Bargo: Nature, Wildlife Encounters and Architecture

Bargo offers plenty of reasons to explore in different ways: at Bargo State Conservation Area, the focus is on rainforest, birdwatching and trails through nature. There are also special wildlife encounters and buildings whose materials and design catch the eye. When planning your trip, you might consider whether you’d rather spend time in the conservation area, get closer to animals, or explore historical and architectural details.

Nature in Bargo State Conservation Area

Bargo State Conservation Area offers several ways to enjoy an active stay. You can go birdwatching and hiking, or swim at Little River or Moore Creek. Warm temperate rainforest grows in parts of the conservation area, where eleven rare plant species can be found. These details give the area more than one main attraction: alongside exercise and water, visitors can also take an interest in its unique plant life and observing nature.

To get to Bargo State Conservation Area, you can take the train to Bargo on the Southern Highlands Line, then continue by bus or on foot. If you’d like to plan your days around a visit to the conservation area, you can take this described travel option into account. No specific route or journey time is provided.

Wildlife encounters with a difference

The Australian Wildlife Sanctuary is open exclusively for experiences booked in advance; there is no general admission. WILD Ed experiences include hands-on, interactive activities such as feeding kangaroos, touching reptiles and meeting a koala. If you’re interested in these close-up animal encounters, bear in mind when planning that access is available only as part of an experience booked in advance.

The Australian Wildlife Sanctuary is also a heritage-listed property in Bargo. At Dingo Sanctuary Bargo, a different kind of encounter takes centre stage: knowledgeable volunteers guide visitors around the facility and provide a hands-on introduction to dingoes. More than 30 native Australian dingoes are kept there. The guided introduction and the size of the group offer specific points of interest for anyone especially interested in dingoes.

Viaduct and dam: striking architectural details

Bargo Railway Viaduct spans the Bargo River as a large brick arch viaduct. It has five spans, each measuring 15.2 metres. If you enjoy noticing architectural forms while out and about, this is a detail that’s easy to appreciate: the repeating brick arches and their spans. The viaduct and the river are both part of this landmark; each of the five measurements refers to an individual span.

At Nepean Dam, the combination of different construction methods stands out. The large dam is made of cyclopean masonry, while its massive concrete structures are designed in the Art Deco style. The public picnic areas also include a former construction railway platform, now home to picnic shelters. The dam therefore brings together massive construction, the design of its concrete structures and a repurposed feature from the construction period.

When choosing a holiday apartment or house for your trip to Bargo, your preferred focus can be a good starting point: nature watching and activities in the conservation area, wildlife encounters, or an interest in architecture all offer different ways to spend your days.

More places to explore

Explore more places: Redhead, Kincumber, Sanctuary Point, Corindi Beach, Tumbarumba, Ilford, Nabiac and Tuncurry.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.