North Head campground

North Head campground is a basic 10-site bush camp near North Head Beach in Murramarang National Park. It feels far more remote than its distance from Batemans Bay suggests. Come for a quiet coast, marked sites and simple access to beach and headland walks; accept that the road, water supply and facilities require genuine preparation.

Sites and facilities#

The official North Head page lists 10 marked, unpowered sites for tents and camper trailers. Some campers must walk a short distance from the car. Caravans are not included in the current official camping types, despite older third-party accounts mentioning small vans, so do not use those reviews as permission for a caravan booking.

Facilities are toilets and a carpark. There are no showers, powered sites or listed drinking-water points. Bring all cooking and drinking water and a fuel stove. Pack food securely: possums and other wildlife are active after dark, and feeding them creates lasting problems.

Booking is required even though the current official page lists no camping charge; a booking fee and separate park entry fees apply and may change. Up to 40 people or nine sites can be handled online, while larger groups need a group-booking enquiry.

Road and arrival planning#

North Head Road is the defining practical issue. Multiple travellers describe roughly 7–10km of slow, unsealed driving with potholes, corrugations and narrow sections. Conditions vary by season and maintenance, and an ordinary vehicle reaching camp once does not guarantee safe access after rain.

Check the campground page and Murramarang National Park alerts on departure day. Allow enough daylight to drive slowly, pass safely and identify your numbered site. Carry a usable spare tyre and offline directions, and be ready to turn around if the road or weather is outside your vehicle's capability.

Mobile reception is reported as weak or absent around camp. Complete the booking before leaving service and tell someone your plan.

Beach, headlands and walks#

North Head Beach is a short walk from camp, with Honeysuckle Beach and rocky headlands extending the coastal exploring. Oakey Beach walking track is a short drive or a longer walk away. Fishing, swimming and snorkelling are promoted by NPWS, but this is a wild, unpatrolled coast: assess surf, rips, swell and rock conditions each time rather than assuming a sheltered-looking section is safe.

The combination of forest, headland and low light pollution makes evenings especially rewarding. Keep torches low around neighbouring tents and avoid bright campsite lighting. The sound of surf carries strongly, which many campers enjoy but light sleepers should expect.

What campers say#

Public reviews are unusually consistent about both the setting and approach. CamperMate reviews, Anycamp comments and an independent Murramarang trip guide suggest:

• The short walk to a quiet beach is the campground's standout advantage.
• The long dirt road feels much slower and rougher than the map distance implies; reports repeatedly recommend extra time.
• The 10 marked sites can fill, so arriving without a confirmed booking is risky.
• Basic toilets and no water make North Head noticeably more primitive than Depot Beach.
• Possums may visit at night, and reception can be unreliable even when a phone briefly shows a bar.

These are traveller-reported patterns, not guarantees about road access, wildlife or signal. Follow current NPWS advice.

Booking North Head campground#

Book via NSW National Parks, recheck access and choose a site compatible with a tent or camper trailer. A CampWatch availability alert can monitor for cancellations when the small inventory is full. Campers needing showers, easier logistics or caravan-compatible sites should compare Depot Beach and other official alternatives before committing to North Head.