Twin Beaches campground

Twin Beaches campground is a water-access expedition in miniature: two small camping areas on the western shore of Berowra Creek, with no road, carpark, shop or tap at the destination. It suits self-contained paddlers and boat campers who value a simple riverfront camp. It is the wrong choice for caravans, first trips in an unfamiliar craft, comfort-first stays or anyone who cannot carry every litre of water and all waste back out.

The three decisions that matter#

North or South?#

The official campground page places the two areas about 400m apart. Heading upstream in Berowra Creek, North is first and South is second. Sites are unmarked and unpowered; NPWS does not publish numbered pads, pitch dimensions or a fixed total capacity.

• Choose South when low-tide landing is the priority: NPWS says it is larger and easier to access at low tide.
• Choose North for the first upstream landing: useful if its beach and wind exposure are favourable, but “first” does not mean best in every tide.
• Before unloading: hold the craft securely, inspect the landing, identify legal camping flats behind the beach, check the toilet route and leave room for other booked campers.
• If neither landing is safe: do not force a beach arrival. Return to the launch or another pre-planned legal destination while conditions and daylight allow.

There is no defensible numbered favourite. Tide, wind, beach shape and the craft matter more than a generic recommendation.

Booking and cost#

Bookings are required. NPWS currently lists no camping fee and a $6 booking fee, with online bookings for up to 15 people or three sites. Larger groups need a group enquiry. Treat the live checkout as authoritative because fees and limits can change.

The booking does not allocate a serviced pitch or transport. Every person still needs an appropriate craft, required marine safety equipment and a weather-and-tide plan.

Launch routes and arrival#

The official visitor information gives two approaches:

• Mooney Mooney: launch at Deerubbun Reserve, follow the Hawkesbury River upstream about 8.5km to Berowra Creek, then find camp on the right-hand western shore.
• Berowra Waters: launch at Dusthole Bay, follow Berowra Creek downstream about 10km to the Hawkesbury junction, with camp on the left-hand western shore.

These distances are official route guidance, not navigation instructions or paddling-time promises. Check the marine forecast, tide, current, ramp access and required safety gear for the actual craft. Leave enough daylight and reserve energy for a changed landing or return. Save maps, booking details and emergency contacts offline because mobile reception is limited.

On arrival, secure the boat before moving gear, inspect North and South if conditions permit, carry equipment above the beach and set up only on the flats behind it. Locate the toilet and agree on a safe waterline with children before dusk.

Water, food, fires and safety#

Twin Beaches has non-flush toilets and fire rings. It has no drinking or cooking water and no bins. Carry the full water allowance plus contingency, sealed food, insect repellent, rubbish bags and your own firewood if you plan to use a ring.

Collecting firewood is prohibited. Fires are allowed only in provided rings when current conditions permit and never during a Total Fire Ban. Pets are prohibited except certified assistance animals. Fishing requires a current NSW recreational licence.

The beach and creek are natural waterways, not a supervised swimming facility. Check current, tide, water quality and submerged hazards. There is no wheelchair access, and boat landing, sand and unmarked ground create substantial mobility barriers.

A worthwhile day on the water#

Bar Island's ruins and cemetery are a named nearby objective shown by NPWS for this campground, while Marramarra Creek offers further paddling. Neither page publishes a universal camp-to-island distance or safe duration. Plot the route on a current marine chart, calculate it for your craft and forecast, and set a firm turnaround that preserves the return tide and daylight. If wind or current rises, keep the day local rather than turning the campsite into a fixed-distance commitment.

What campers say#

Public evidence is sparse. ParkCheck summarises four reviews, a River Canoe Club trip report documents a 2022 paddle, and a public Reddit thread describes a separate recent sea-kayak visit.

• Quiet, scenery and the pleasure of arriving by water recur across independent channels.
• One ParkCheck reviewer reported goannas repeatedly investigating food. Treat it as an anecdote, but use hard-sided or securely sealed food storage.
• One reviewer heard distant M1 traffic at night. Pack earplugs if noise sensitivity would affect sleep; remoteness does not guarantee silence.
• The canoe-club report found mud and very shallow water at low tide and was delayed farther upstream by low creek levels. This supports planning around tide, while the official page specifically identifies South as the easier Twin Beaches landing at low tide.
• Reports describe kayaks and small boats landing on sand, but none establishes suitability for every hull, tide or weather state.

Alternatives: when another campground is a better fit#

• Choose Marramarra Creek campground if you want a 3.5km walk-in option as well as water access and a trailhead for Marramarra Ridge to Smugglers Ridge. It is still remote, unpowered and without water or bins.
• Choose Gentlemans Halt for a timber wharf and Hawkesbury River outlook, or when a demanding land approach is preferable: the official walk is about 10km from the Canoelands Ridge carpark. It remains basic and remote.

Recheck before launching#

On 1 October 2026, the Twin Beaches alert page said there were no current alerts in this area; nearby alerts did not apply to the campground. Recheck the live alerts, RFS status, tide, marine forecast and ramp access on departure day. Call NPWS on 1300 072 757 if booking scope or current access is unclear.