Point Plomer is a good fit if your ideal trip is surf, beach time and meals together outside, and you are happy to trade hot showers and powered camping for that setting. It is less convincing for someone seeking guaranteed solitude or an effortless caravan-park stay: there are 84 sites, a boat ramp and shared facilities, and you must bring drinking and cooking water.
The decisions that matter most are approaching from the north, booking enough space for your actual setup, and choosing between a beach-facing position and a shorter amenities walk. A beachfront booking is not a promise of shade or privacy.
How to book Point Plomer campground#
- Search dates and party size on the official Point Plomer booking page.
- Compare the site plan below with the available equipment category. Match your full setup to the pitch; site 33 is tent-only walk-in group camping.
- Check the total including park entry and save the confirmation. NPWS camping cancellation terms currently refund 75% at 31+ days or 50% at 0–30 days before arrival, excluding the booking fee.
Dates sold out? Set up a Point Plomer CampWatch alert using the form on this page. We'll text when the booking system reports availability matching your dates and selected camping type. Check the actual pitch before paying; the alert does not reserve it or watch a specific site number.
Choose a site for your trip#
Use the official November 2024 site plan beside the booking screen. It distinguishes medium sites for equipment up to 4.6m, large sites over 4.6m, and group sites. Those are categories, not measured pitch boundaries; include your awning, guy ropes and vehicle when checking fit.
| Your priority | Where to look on the plan | The trade-off to check |
|---|---|---|
| Beach outlook and easy beach access | Compare the beachward rows around 34–41 and 56–62 | Internal roads and shared beach access still intervene; the plan does not establish an uninterrupted view or afternoon shade. |
| Shorter toilet and shower trips | Compare sites around 20–21 and 51–55 with the central amenities block | Convenience can mean passing foot traffic. Ask the office about the actual route from an available pitch. |
| Camping with a group | The designated group symbols, including tent-only walk-in site 33 | Site 33 is beside a separate parking area: check carrying and group eligibility before choosing it for bulky equipment. |
| More distance from shared activity | Compare available pitches away from the boat-trailer parking, ramp and group site | This reduces proximity to those features, not a guarantee of quiet; noise from neighbours remains unpredictable. |
There is no verified pitch-by-pitch shade survey. For a heat-sensitive camper, ask the Kempsey office about the available site's afternoon sun and usable footprint before paying: 02 6561 6700. Do not assume the green background on the plan represents trees over your tent.
Booking and the full cost#
Start from NPWS Point Plomer bookings. Tents, caravans and camper trailers are listed; all pitches are unpowered. Standard online group bookings cover up to 20 people or 5 sites; larger groups use the linked enquiry form. That overall booking limit is not permission to put 20 people on one pitch.
Budget for the campsite quote, the additional non-refundable booking fee under NPWS booking conditions, and $8 per vehicle per day park entry unless your valid pass covers it. Brazier hire and purchased firewood are separate choices. Prices and available equipment categories must be checked for your dates; we could not obtain a live quote from the booking interface during this review.
Check in after 2pm at the onsite office, and leave before 10am. Confirm arrangements beforehand if you cannot arrive while the office is attended. CampWatch can help you watch for cancellations; see current plans.
The approach and your first hour#
Follow the NPWS directions from Crescent Head along Point Plomer Road/Bakers Road: roughly 12km sealed to the Big Hill entrance, then 5km gravel. The southern Plomer Road approach is 4WD-only and unsuitable for towing caravans. Do not accept a navigation shortcut from the south with a caravan.
The northern route is listed for 2WD, but rain can leave potholes. Check local alerts before leaving Crescent Head; if access is closed or unsuitable, stop and rearrange rather than trying the southern road as a towing detour.
After office check-in, follow the signed internal circulation rather than cutting through empty pitches. Before unloading everything, locate your boundaries, walk the route to the amenities and beach ramp, and agree where children can go. Keep boat-trailer parking separate from ordinary parking. Download the plan and confirmation beforehand: phone reception is limited.
Comfort, packing and setup#
Expect flush toilets and cold showers, accessible amenities, picnic tables, bins and a shelter. Bring your whole drinking/cooking water supply, a fuel stove, lighting and a charging plan. Do not base a stay on a review mentioning a shop or vending supplies.
Fires need an off-ground brazier and must comply with current restrictions; the office offers hire and the manager sells wood. Do not collect park firewood or lay tarpaulins over the grass. Generators and pets are prohibited, apart from certified assistance animals; keep noise down after 10pm. The mapped Dump-Ezy is useful for a toilet-equipped rig, but is not a drinking-water refill point.
For mobility needs, there are paved amenities access and beach ramps, but other movement is over grass and some slopes. Confirm the route from your particular pitch, rather than treating an accessible toilet as proof the entire stay will be accessible.
A worthwhile day without a long drive#
For a change from beach time, drive back towards Big Hill for the Big Hill Rainforest walking track. NPWS lists a 1.4km loop, 45–60 minutes, Grade 4. Its short distance does not make it a flat family stroll: choose it for capable walkers, carry water, and return to the same picnic-area start. If the terrain or weather is unsuitable, make the beach lookout and picnic shelter your land-based outing instead.
The beaches are unpatrolled and can have strong rips. With children or uncertain swimmers, make sand play the default; use Beachsafe to locate an operating patrolled beach for swimming between flags. A family-friendly campground is not a supervised swimming venue.
What campers say#
The accessible CamperMate reports and Anycamp reviews provide a small, mixed-age sample, not a survey:
- Beach position is the repeated attraction. A July 2026 report particularly valued its campsite's ocean outlook; a January 2025 visitor also liked the beach setting. Select for outlook if that is your main reason to come, without assuming every pitch shares it.
- Road experiences disagree. January 2025 described a bumpy final section; an Anycamp report displayed as one year old said the entrance had been improved. This makes current NPWS advice more useful than an old blanket claim that the road is always terrible.
- Shelter may be worth sacrificing frontage. One older Anycamp report distinguished beachfront pitches from more sheltered rear options. Treat this as a question for the office, not a verified wind rating for a numbered site.
When another campground makes more sense#
Melaleuca campground offers a more sheltered setting and unmarked pitches if choosing your position matters more than Point Plomer's beach frontage. It has basic toilets and requires your own water; its adjacent waterway is private and cannot be used for swimming or kayaking.
Trial Bay Gaol campground is a stronger alternative when hot showers, drinking water and a powered-site option matter. Its official listing also imposes stricter setup boundaries and bans fires; it is a different coastal destination, not a spare pitch at Point Plomer.
Reviewed 29 September 2026. Recheck road/fire alerts immediately before departure; resolve pitch dimensions, shade and late arrival with NPWS before booking.
Location
Open in Google MapsGet alerts for Point Plomer
Enter your dates and we'll text you the moment a spot opens up. No app, no account needed.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which Point Plomer site should I book?
Use the official plan to compare beachward rows with pitches near the central amenities, matching the equipment-size symbol to your full setup. Site 33 is tent-only walk-in group camping. Ask the office about shade and the available pitch.
Can I tow a caravan to Point Plomer?
Use the northern approach from Crescent Head along Point Plomer Road/Bakers Road. The southern Plomer Road approach is 4WD-only and unsuitable for towing caravans. Check current road alerts.
Does Point Plomer have drinking water or hot showers?
Bring all drinking and cooking water. Showers are cold, and campsites are unpowered. Accessible amenities do not establish an accessible route from every pitch.
What time is check-in?
Check in after 2pm at the onsite office and leave before 10am. Arrange late arrival beforehand; save the confirmation offline because reception is limited.