Discover Bargo: Nature, Wildlife and Architectural History

Bargo combines nature experiences with distinctive architectural history. Bargo State Conservation Area offers opportunities for birdwatching, hiking and swimming at Little River or Moore Creek. Also worth seeing are the Bargo Railway Viaduct over the Bargo River and Nepean Dam, with their distinctive architectural styles. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your trip: time in the conservation area, wildlife encounters, or architectural and cultural history.

Nature Between Rainforest and Water

Bargo State Conservation Area includes areas of warm temperate rainforest. Eleven rare plant species grow there, a remarkable botanical feature of the conservation area. Hiking and birdwatching are complemented by the opportunity to swim at Little River or Moore Creek. These activities offer different ways to spend your time: you can focus your visit on wildlife and trails or on time by the water. Check the official information about the area before your visit.

You can reach the conservation area by train on the Southern Highlands Line to Bargo, then continue by bus or on foot. Check connections for your travel date, as transport information can change. This is part of practical day-trip planning if you want to include the conservation area.

Brick Arches and Art Deco Concrete

Bargo Railway Viaduct is a large brick-arch viaduct over the Bargo River. Its five spans each measure 15.2 metres. Nepean Dam showcases different architectural forms: the large dam is made of cyclopean masonry, and its monumental concrete structures are designed in the Art Deco style. Comparing the two makes their different engineering and design features clear.

The public picnic areas at Nepean Dam also tell the story of its construction. They include a former construction railway platform that now houses picnic shelters. This detail brings together former construction infrastructure and its present-day use. It adds a specific place in the public picnic area to the picture of the dam and its concrete structures.

Wildlife Experiences with Different Focuses

Australian Wildlife Sanctuary is a state heritage-listed property in Bargo. It is open only for experiences booked in advance; general admission is not available. Practical, interactive WILD Ed experiences include feeding kangaroos, touching reptiles and meeting a koala. Which experiences are included in a booking may vary. Book in advance and check the available options before your visit.

Dingo Sanctuary Bargo offers a different wildlife experience. Knowledgeable volunteers guide visitors around the sanctuary and provide a hands-on introduction to dingoes. More than 30 Australian dingoes are kept there; the number may change. While WILD Ed focuses on a variety of wildlife experiences, the guided introduction at Dingo Sanctuary focuses on dingoes.

Consider Activities When Choosing Accommodation

For the conservation area, planning includes continuing from Bargo by bus or on foot; at Australian Wildlife Sanctuary, experiences must be booked in advance. If you want to include both destinations, plan your days around these different requirements and choose accommodation to suit your own itinerary.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Moorland, Paxton, Luddenham, Mount Hutton, Nelligen, Cobark, Clunes, Centennial Park.

Back to the main travel overview: New South Wales.