Depot Beach, Murramarang National Park

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Posted 2014-02-07 by Mila Wood ⇒ follow

Elation is not the right word for how I felt when I discovered this amazing place. I was surrounded by majestic spotted gum trees, the enchanting forest where you can explore a variety of fascinating historic walks, the abundance of wildlife that welcome you to their world, the azure seashore, and the stunning surroundings that will make you feel you are in paradise; I was in awe.

It's a place called Depot Beach which nestles in the heart of Murramarang National Park, an easy 3 hour's drive from Sydney and 2 hours from Canberra.

This place is surrounded by magnificent evergreen forests, where you can embark on an adventure, find the littoral (physical geography - a coastal or shore region) temperate rainforest and take a glimpse of a world that existed 50 million years ago.

There are only a few remaining historical sites like this, hence the place has been listed as an endangered ecological community in NSW. The 20 minutes' walk is accessible from behind North Depot beach or from the car park.

The clean turquoise beach is quite inviting, although at this time of the year the water is a bit nippy. Nevertheless we had a quick dip and had fun. There are secluded areas along the seashore where you can enjoy some privacy or simply lay on the sand and feel the sun as it caresses your skin. (Slip, slop slap of course).

The flat bed rock on the south side of the beach creates a channel which makes it an ideal spot for fishing. Luck might be on your side to catch some salmon, groper or snapper.

The vast array of wildlife are friendly, and one of the main residents are the eastern grey kangaroos. Different species of birds are also abundant, which make this place a perfect spot for bird enthusiasts. I was sitting on a log and had an up close and personal with a magnificent colourful rosella. It landed so close that I could virtually touch this beautiful bird.

Huge goannas are also one of the regular visitors. Oblivious to the cars passing by, a family of ducks strolled side by side and rested on the side of the road.

As much as it is inviting and tantalizing to feed the wildlife, please refrain. Human diets greatly harm these creatures. They also tend to become aggressive as they become dependent on human food and could possibly harm you.

Set amidst this beautiful location is Depot Beach Camp which is run by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services.

Depot Beach camp has various types of accommodation to choose from. There are 50 camp sites, and 9 are powered. The tent sites are ideally located under the canopy of the towering gum trees and a short walking distance to the beach.

Amenities are basic but clean. For $1 you can indulge in a 5 minutes hot shower, or $0.20 will provide a minute of warmth. But who needs a hot shower when it's a blistering over 30 degrees heat. Cold water will invigorate and refresh you, and in no time you will feel as cool as cucumber.

Have a barbeque, enjoy a campfire at the designated fireplaces, and dine at the picnic tables that littered around the campsite.

There are also self-contained one or two bedroom cabins that have been fully renovated and can easily accommodate a family of six, all with amazing views of the ocean.

Depot Beach rates for accommodation ranges from $20 to $220, depending on the season.

This place is a perfect holiday spot for the whole family or for a couple who wish to spend a romantic weekend getaway.

Apart from the cost of the accommodation or the camp site, there is also a minimal fee of $7 per vehicle per day. You can choose to pay daily or yearly which will enable you to gain access to any NSW National Park. For more information,please log on to this site .

For further enquiries, please call or email, and one of the rangers will respond to your query.
Phone: [02] 4478 6582
Facsmile: [02] 4478 6582
Email: [email protected]

We arrived at 10 pm, which is not advisable for amateur campers or even the experienced ones. Nevertheless the expertise of my partner was put to good use. Within half an hour, he was able to put together a four man tent while I laboriously pumped the air into the blow-up mattress and made our bed. Five hours later we were harvesting the fruits of our arduous labour and I was rewarded with a glass of wine. Although we were both quite tired, we felt comfortable; and in the darkness of the night, we listened to the chattering of the night creatures and savoured the serenity of our surroundings.

In the morning daylight beckoned, and some of the campers, including us, were woken by the sounds of the birds that were clamouring for their early feed and the warmth of the sun gently rising from the horizon. Indeed, it was a great start of a wonderful fun day.

How to get there

By car:
Depot Beach is located at Murramarang National Park. It's north of Batemans Bay and south of Ulladulla.

If you are travelling from Sydney, follow the Princes Highway, travel south through Wollongong, Nowra and Ulladulla. Travelling
time is approximately 3 hours.

If you are coming from Canberra, follow the Kings Highway through Bungendore, Braidwood and Batemans Bay. From Batemans Bay follow the Princes Highway north, and then turn off at East Lynne.

Public tranport
www.countrytransport.131500.com.au

You'll also be glad to know that between Princes Highway and Depot Beach, the road is sealed.

The information centre is located on the right as you enter the Depot Beach Camp.