Cave Beach campground

Cave Beach is Booderee National Park's camp for people who like their camping simple and close to the surf. It's a grassy clearing among coastal tea-trees, a short walk behind one of Jervis Bay's best surf beaches, and because everything is carried in from the carpark it stays smaller and more low-key than Green Patch or Bristol Point. For surfers and lightweight campers, it's the pick of the three.

Booderee is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and jointly managed with Parks Australia, so a stay here comes with a strong connection to Country.

Getting there#

Booderee National Park is at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast, between Nowra and Ulladulla and about a three-hour drive from Sydney or Canberra. Cave Beach is signposted within the park.

The camping area is about 300 metres from the carpark, and all gear must be carried in — pack light and bring a trolley if you have one. The carpark is isolated, so don't leave valuables in your vehicle. A vehicle entry fee applies to enter Booderee; check the Parks Australia booking site for the current rate.

Unlike the park's other camps, Cave Beach campers pick up a tent tag from the visitor centre on arrival (or the next day if you arrive after hours) and attach it to the tent.

Nearest supplies: Huskisson and Vincentia to the north. There are no shops inside the park.

Sites and facilities#

Cave Beach is a small grassy camping area of around a dozen tent sites among the tea-trees. Only one tent is allowed per site — book extra sites if you're bringing more than one tent.

On site:

• Fresh drinking water
• Toilets
• Cold-water showers
• A sheltered gas barbecue area and wood barbecues

There's no power, and generators aren't permitted. Bring a gas stove as a backup for total fire ban days.

Camping fees#

Booderee charges a per-night camping fee that varies by season, plus the park vehicle-entry fee. Rates aren't published on the information pages, so confirm the current price in the Booderee booking site when you reserve. Stays can be up to 21 consecutive days (14 over the summer holidays).

Booking and seasons#

Cave Beach is booked online. Note that it can close seasonally and outside peak periods, so its dates aren't always open to book — it's the most weather- and season-dependent of Booderee's three camps. Camping over the summer school holidays is allocated by a ballot through the Booderee Visitor Centre (entries usually open about three months ahead) rather than online first-come, first-served. For changes or cancellations, contact the visitor centre on 1800 357 823.

Best time to visit#

• Late spring to early autumn is prime — warm water, good surf, and long evenings. It's also when the camp is most likely to be open and booked out.
• Summer is the busiest, with the holiday ballot in play.
• Winter often sees the camp closed; check the booking site before planning a cold-season trip.

Things to do#

• Surfing and swimming — Cave Beach is a well-known surf break; nearby Bhewerre and Steamers beaches also pick up swell.
• Beaches — the calm bay beaches around Green Patch are a short drive for flat-water days.
• Booderee Botanic Gardens — Australia's only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens.
• Bushwalking — the Munyungawaraga Dhugan Trail (about 5.5 km) is a self-guided cultural and nature walk.
• Cape St George Lighthouse — 1860 sandstone ruins with cliff-coast views.

Pets#

Pets aren't permitted at Cave Beach or anywhere in Booderee National Park. Certified assistance animals are the only exception.

Nearby alternatives#

If Cave Beach is closed or sold out, the park's other two camping areas are worth a look:

• Green Patch campground — beachside, drive-in or walk-in, great for families
• Bristol Point campground — quieter, walk-in, good for groups

Can't get a booking?#

Cave Beach is small and seasonal, so open dates get snapped up quickly — but cancellations and newly opened dates do come up.

Set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you the moment a Cave Beach site opens up. No app, no account — just your phone number.