6 Best Batemans Bay Camping Spots - Australian Traveller

Stay grounded in a tent, swag or trailer while camping in Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.

Batemans Bay camping appeals to everyone – from those who like to sleep on the ground in a swag, to others who like to stay tucked up in a tent. In fact, Batemans Bay is one of the best places on the NSW South Coast to zip to and go camping. There’s nothing quite like waking in the blue darkness, unzipping your tent and gazing at the stars from the comfort of your campsite.

Raise your nylon shade and listen to the wind whine across the water. See the silvery dew on the grass. Or hear the birds that bip-bip-bip like alarm clocks demanding attention. Do a vox pop of NSW South Coast residents and they are unlikely to agree on their favourite Batemans Bay campground. But we’re here to steer you toward six of the best places to camp in and around Batemans Bay.

Holiday parks

1. NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort

Dreaming about a road trip to the NSW South Coast? Pack your trusty tent, a few fishing rods and boogie boards. Fill the esky with ice and pull the wide hips of your camper trailer out onto the highway. The NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort is for campers who like their creature comforts.

A group of friends relaxing on the balcony of a cabin overlocking the beach at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort — Reconnect with nature at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort. (Image: Destination NSW)

After setting up your tent, pull out the camp chair and look at the moon silhouetting the trees and dancing across the calm water. This is a great campground for lovers of wildlife who might well spot dolphins and whales frolicking off the coast. NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Park is affixed to the coastline along Wobbegong Bay just to the north of Batemans Bay.

a family sitting together with kangaroos facing the beach at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort — Immerse in the wilderness at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort. (Image: Destination NSW)

Accommodation: Take your pick between the cabins, beach houses, beachfront and ocean villas and powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites.

Facilities: There’s a lagoon-style swimming pool, pedal go-karts for the kids, and onsite bistro and bar and bikes for hire. There’s also a laundry, communal camp kitchen, BBQ facilities, a boat ramp and wi-fi.

Address: Mill Beach, Banyandah St, South Durras

a group of friends getting ready to surf with kangaroos surrounding them at NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort — Go surfing with your friends on the nearby beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach

You will find a range of BIG4 beachfront holiday parks that necklace the NSW South Coast and offer something to suit the whole family. Despite being a sprawling BIG4 holiday park with all the trimmings, you can keep it low-key at Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach and book an unpowered campsite. This is barefoot luxury at its best, with the campground just metres away from the white sands of Merry Beach.

a campsite facing the beach at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach, Batemans Bay — Set up your tent facing the beach at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach.

A few hours after you’ve pegged out your patch, you will find yourself flipping the switch to relaxation mode. Set up your picnic table, as the sun dips over the horizon and all the colours are muted. In front of you: beach. Behind you: bush. Wait for the sky to get dark and the stars to appear. It’s the main act here and deserves a bit of reverie. Wake to the frantic chirping of parrots and crawl out of your tent to observe the resident eastern grey kangaroos moving gently through the park.

a standard cabin at BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach, Batemans Bay — You may also opt to stay in a standard cabin.

Accommodation: Having time to spend with loved ones is the greatest luxury. And camping on the beach is a great Australian tradition. Of course, there are also cabins with ensuites, powered camping and caravan sites and even poolside cabins and two-storey presidential havens.

Facilities: The facilities of this holiday park near Batemans Bay make it a magnet for families. Be the first to leave your footprints on the sand at Merry Beach. Make the trek to Murramarang National Park. And enjoy the family-friendly amenities that include a playground, pump track, bouncing pillow, resort-style pool and BBQ area.

Address: 46 Merry Beach Road, Kioloa

a dining setup at Seaview Beach House, BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Merry Beach, Batemans Bay — Stay in the Seaview Beach House to enjoy family-friendly amenities.

3. Barlings Beach Holiday Park

Conversations in communal areas at campgrounds often tend to be about camping, which is the first thing everyone under canvas at Barlings Beach Holiday Park has in common. There’ll be chatter about trips to the best places. Stories about the things you’ve forgotten to pack and how you’ve MacGyvered your way out of it. Inevitably, someone pulls out a guitar and creates an impromptu party.

Barlings Beach Holiday Park has pegged out campsites and communal spaces with congeniality in mind. The campground is about a 20-minute drive from Batemans Bay and a great base from which to dive headfirst into Mogo Zoo, or Batemans Marine Park. It’s also near Tomakin Sports Club – one of the best places to eat near Batemans Bay.

Accommodation: Fancy an upgrade? In addition to the powered and unpowered sites for camping and caravanning, you’ll find a range of cabins and cottages.

Facilities: There is also a playground, recreation room, games room and camp kitchen. There’s a beach nearby and the park is pet-friendly.

Address: 1939 George Bass Drive, Rosedale

National Parks and reserves

4. Currowan Creek Campground

This basic campground in Currowan State Forest is for hardcore free campers who have all the gear. Those with soft office hands should not consider a stay at this rustic campground located about a 30-minute drive from Batemans Bay. But those who like to go off-grid in a 4WD will think it’s you-beaut.

Switch your phone off. It’s unlikely you will have coverage deep in the forest, which features deep swimming holes, a freshwater creek and is fantastic for self-contained camper trailers who like their own space.

Accommodation: Sleep in a swag or in your camper trailer. Be prepared to take all your rubbish out with you.

Facilities: There is a lean-to that was made by previous campers and it’s a handy place to shelter in the event of rain.

Address: Near Clyde River National Park and Budawang National Park

5. Red Gum Campground

Red Gum is a campground that will appeal to adventurous types. Best of all, it’s only a 15-minute drive from Batemans Bay to get to this pretty corner of Clyde River National Park.

a peaceful riverside campsite at Red Gum Campground, Batemans Bay — Camp on the side of the river at Red Gum Campground.

There are only four sites available: two walk-in sites, which offer more privacy and space, and two drive-in sites which are a bit close for comfort unless you’re in a group. There are viewing platforms that look out over the Clyde and stairs to access the river.

Avid birders will have to rely on their eyes not their apps to spot the abundance of birds that perch in the trees and on the water. Bring binoculars as there is some excellent ornithological entertainment here at dawn and dusk. Knowing you are unlikely to get service makes this a hardly visited campsite. It’s the place to zig when everyone else zags.

the Clyde River National Park near Batemans Bay — Clyde River National Park is a tranquil water sports area near Batemans Bay.

Accommodation: Four basic levelled plots for camping.

Facilities: A fire pit, benches and drop toilets.

Address: Little Island Trail, Batemans Bay

a kid's bicycle parked near the river on Red Gum Campground — The Red Gum Campground offers access to the river. (Image: Lucas Boyd/DPE)

HipCamp

6. The Hundred Acre Woods

Pack your swag and a small duffel bag loaded with a few pieces of clothing, peanut butter, tuna and nut bars and head to The Hundred Acre Woods , popular with fishos for its proximity to local waterways. Fishing is one of the best things to do in and around Batemans Bay, especially if you know what you’re doing because you can find a prime shaded spot away from the crowds. This is hardly backcountry. It’s the back blocks of Batemans Bay. But it feels a helluva lot more off-grid.

Accommodation: Those hip to the concept of HipCamp can enjoy the 40-hectare property, which caters to self-contained campers who have their own camping toilets only. Bookings must be made through HipCamp and guests need to check in upon arrival.

Facilities: Fires and pets are allowed. But other than that, it’s BYO everything. Luckily, you’re just 10 minutes from Batemans Bay, where you will find a range of great options for eating out, including the East Lynne Fuel, a low-key service station where you can buy a bag of un-shucked Clyde River oysters.

Address: East Lynne, near Batemans Bay

If you’d prefer not to camp, read our ultimate guide to Batemans Bay accommodation for all kinds of stays.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

6 of the best camping spots in and around Batemans Bay