The best camping near Booderee National Park

Boasting some of the whitest sands in the world, fringed by high cliffs and verdant botanical gardens, Booderee National Park has some of NSW’s most impressive coastal views. Whether swimming, surfing, or snorkeling at one of the many beaches, walking along the coast or through the rainforest, or whale-watching at Cape St George Lighthouse, there are plenty of ways to get outdoors in the park. Bring your boat to cruise around the bay, try your luck fishing for salmon and mackerel, and go bird-watching before pitching your tent or parking your RV at one of the beachside campgrounds.

• Best for families: Green Patch has tent and RV sites by the beach and facilities that include hot-water showers and barbecues.
• Best for hikers: Bristol Point has walk-in campsites set in natural bushland within easy reach of the beaches and hiking trails. 
• Best for sun and surf: Cave Beach has walk-in tent sites with toilets, barbecues, and cold-water showers by the NP’s most renowned surf beach. 

1. You can reserve a campsite at one of the park’s three campgrounds online via the Parks Australia website. All campsites must be booked in advance.
2. Weekend sites typically fill up more than a month in advance from October through May—book three months in advance to avoid disappointment. 
3. Campsites for the summer school holiday periods are allocated by ballot—contact the Booderee Visitor Centre at least three months prior to enter the draw.

October through May is high season in Booderee National Park, when its beaches and trails get particularly crowded. Alternatively, time your visit to catch the winter whale migration from early June through early July, when humpback and southern right whales can be spotted along the coast. Campsites stay open year-round, and with winter temperatures rarely dipping below 10°C, it’s an ideal time for bushwalking and bird-watching.

• Booderee National Park lies along Jervis Bay, about a 10-minute drive from Vincentia and Huskisson. Both towns have supermarkets, gas stations, and other general stores.
• Facilities within the park include a Visitor Centre, restrooms, picnic areas, and boat launches. There are no lifeguard patrols, so swimming is at your own risk.
• Park passes are required for all vehicles and boats entering the park and are valid for two days; admission is free for those visiting on foot or by bike.
• Cell phone and internet coverage within the park is patchy.