6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents108 acres · The Branch, NSWOur property is private and we ask you to contact us first to ensure we can provide the facilities suitable for you. The property has limited facilities, but is the perfect setting for birdwatchers and native animal lovers. Just a 2-3 hour trip north of Sydney take the Bucketts Way to stay on sealed roads. A tributary river to Nelson Bay there is a rare offering in diversity as estuary dolphins gently make their way past the riverside sites at least once a day. The Branch River Retreat offers 110 acres with a range of sites beside a wide river, a fish-filled dam and other scattered paddock sites among trees and dams. This will suit off-road independent hybrid caravaners and tent dwellers. The river is lined with mangroves and branches off the Karuah River and the Port Stephens system.
The extraordinary array of birdlife includes the quintessentially Australian Wedge-tailed eagle and sea eagles, hawks, and Tawny Frogmouths, water waders and even a regular visit from a Jabiroo and pelicans.
Be lulled asleep under starry nights and be woken by Magpies and Kookaburras, and be dazzled by the colourful parrots and smaller shyer birds. You may even be visited by curious Kangaroos, Wallabies, or Echidnas. For the lucky few, you may espy a Koala along the foreshore. For this reason, while we accept dogs, they must be on a leash (if not just for their own safety).
The rest of the property enjoys aspects of undulating landscapes with small mountains and valleys. The night sky puts on its own stellar show between setting suns and rising moons.
The boat ramp offers easy access for kayaks and canoes (no motor vessels please). Or just sit on a camper chair and dangle your feet in the water while watching the mud crabs go about their social business.
Riverside sites are not powered and do not have water or sewerage. They are situated within 10m to 25m of each other and if this is too close, we recommend booking two sites. (For this reason we have kept the price lower.) Generally, we prefer campers to be 100% self-contained, with their own toilet. A toilet is however accessible, but some 300m to 400m distance from the dams and rivers. There is cold potable running water here for topping up.
There are sealed roads to the front gate to access the property from north and south.
All-weather gravel road access is available, although paddock sites can only be accessed by vehicle during dry periods. Weather willing, we can provide more secluded sites by some lovely dams.
If touring around the area is your aspiration, the property lies central to Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest, the Great Lakes district, Stroud Valley, Dungog, Gloucester/Barrington Tops, Nelson Bay, and Newcastle. Local groceries can be sourced from Karuah and Stroud.
Activities include:
- Bird/nature watching
- Paddling/canoeing
- Fishing
- Bike riding
(No motor vessels please)
- Surface type: grass or paddock leveled areas and others with slight slopes and accessed with the essential 4WD (of course subject to weather).
- Generally fair to good Mobile phone access.
- It will be necessary to BYO or Preorder firewood for applicable sites out of fire season, (where facilities are provided).
- No electrical connections unless by arrangement (for longer term Hipcampers)
- We treat our own sewerage.
- No generators please.
