Batemans Bay is where Canberra meets the coast, and it fills on every long weekend. The town and its beaches do not allow free camping, but the country around it does better: beachside national park campgrounds to the north, state forests inland and rest areas along the highways. Book the coast in advance, use the forests for a cheaper night, and keep the highway stops for a night in the vehicle.
What Batemans Bay allows
Eurobodalla Shire Council signs against camping and overnight parking in the town, on the beaches and in the reserves, and rangers do patrol in summer. Holiday parks in Batemans Bay and the nearby villages are the legal, easy choice.
The good news is that the coast around the town has more bush camping than most places on the NSW south coast, so a free or cheap night is not far.
| Where | Cost | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday parks in the town | Paid | Power, showers, cabins | Book school holidays |
| Murramarang National Park | Booked fee | Beach camping, kangaroos | No dogs; book early |
| State forests inland | Free or low fee | A cheap bush night | Fire bans and closures |
| Highway rest areas | Free | One night in the vehicle | No facilities |
- No camping in town
- Holiday parks are the base
- Bush camps nearby
Murramarang National Park
Murramarang is about 30 minutes north of Batemans Bay and has campgrounds right on the beach at Pretty Beach, Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach. Pebbly Beach is known for wild kangaroos that graze near the sand.
Camping is booked and paid, and the dates around Christmas and Easter sell out. Dogs are not allowed in NSW national parks.
- Beachside camps
- Wild kangaroos at Pebbly Beach
- Book for holidays
State forests and the hinterland
The forests behind the coast, around Mogo and along the Clyde River, are run by Forestry Corporation of NSW and some allow free or low-cost camping. Facilities are basic, so bring water and take your rubbish out.
Check the forest's page for closures and fire bans before you drive, because logging and fire can close roads.
- Basic facilities
- Bring water
- Check closures
Rest areas on the highways
The Princes Highway along the coast and the Kings Highway to Canberra have rest areas for driver fatigue. Use one for a night in the vehicle, not a campsite, and leave no rubbish.
If the sign says no overnight stays, move on. The next forest or holiday park is rarely far.
- One night in the vehicle
- Read the sign
- Take your rubbish
Busy dates and bushfire
Long weekends and school holidays fill the coast, and Canberra visitors arrive on Friday night. Midweek and the shoulder months are much easier.
Bushfires and smoke have closed this part of the coast in recent summers, so check the fire danger rating and park alerts each morning and keep a second plan.
- Book long weekends early
- Midweek is easier
- Check fire alerts
Plan the south coast in AussieCamps
AussieCamps lists 1,838 campgrounds and 745 national parks from the state park agencies, plus 5,552 rest areas from road authorities, with each place's facilities, fees and rules as the agency publishes them. You can filter by cost, save places to a trip and see the driving distance between stops.
State forest and council camps are not all in the app, so check the Forestry Corporation and council pages for those. AussieCamps runs on iPhone.
- Filter by cost
- Save places to a trip
- iPhone only
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
Can you camp for free in Batemans Bay?+
Not in the town or on the beaches, where Eurobodalla council signs against overnight camping. Free and cheap camps are in the forests inland and along the highways, and the coast has booked national park campgrounds and holiday parks.
Where can you camp near Batemans Bay?+
Murramarang National Park to the north has beachside campgrounds such as Pretty Beach, Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach, all booked and paid. Holiday parks in Batemans Bay and Surf Beach suit powered sites, and state forests inland suit a low-cost bush night.
Can I see kangaroos on the beach?+
At Pebbly Beach in Murramarang, yes, wild eastern grey kangaroos graze near the sand. Keep your distance, do not feed them and keep food out of reach.
How far is Batemans Bay from Canberra?+
About a 2.5 hour drive down the Kings Highway, which makes it a popular weekend trip, so the coastal parks fill on long weekends and school holidays.
Places to camp in New South Wales
Take it on the road
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