Freshwater campground

Myall Lakes National Park

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Overview

For boat-based camping near Nelson Bay, Freshwater campground is a secluded camping spot in Myall Lakes National Park. You can get there by boat or by walking along a 2km trail.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 7
Camping type Tent, Remote/backpack camping
Facilities Barbecue facilities, toilets
What to bring Drinking water, cooking water, insect repellent, firewood
Entry fees

Park entry fees apply in addition to camping fees.

Group bookings Bookings for up to 5 sites and 20 people can be made online. School groups and commercial tour operators can submit a group booking enquiry form.
Please note
  • This campground is only accessible by boat or by walking 30 to 45min along a 2km track with your overnight pack.
  • If you’re coming by boat, avoid visiting when there’s a strong southerly wind.
  • Please camp in marked sites only.
  • This is a remote campground, please arrive well prepared.

Located between Nelson Bay and Seal Rocks, Freshwater campground offers remote bush camping with pretty views across Two Mile Lake. The shallow waters and sandy beaches make it a perfect camping holiday for families with older children or backpack campers. Spend your days exploring the nearby walking and cycling trails or enjoy swimming and boating on the lake.

Pitch your tent, light a campfire and relax with a cup of tea as the kids swim and paddle in the lake's calm waters. Paperbark trees fringe the shoreline and the twisting angophora trees offer shade.

The charm of this campground is that it’s tucked away from everything. But if you want to explore other parts of the park, hop in your boat and head to Mungo Brush campground where you can take the short stroll along Mungo Rainforest walk and stop for a barbecue lunch.

If you’ve got a few days and a bike in tow, ride some or all of the Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail. Then head back to your campsite to enjoy the stillness and beauty of the sunset over the lake.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/freshwater-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

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Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Freshwater campground.

Getting there and parking

Freshwater campground is in the Bombah Broadwater area of Myall Lakes National Park. The campground is only accessible by boat or walking for 2km. To get there from Bulahdelah:

If you’re walking to the campground, you can park at Taits Trail gate on Mungo Brush Road, near Bombah Point Ferry. It’s a 30-45min walk from there to the campground along a flat, easy track.

Road quality

There’s a mixture of sealed and unsealed roads to the boat ramps in Myall Lakes National Park and to Taits Trail gate.

Vehicle access

  • No vehicle access

Parking

If you’re getting there by boat or canoe, the closest parking is available next to the boat ramps at Korsmans Landing campground and picnic area and at Mungo Brush campground.

If you’re walking in, park on Mungo Brush Road near Bombah Point Ferry.

By bike

You can cycle along Taits Trail to get to this campground.

Facilities

There are no rubbish bins, please take all rubbish with you when you leave.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Barbecue facilities

  • Fire rings (bring your own firewood)

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Boating safety

If you're out on your boat fishing, waterskiing or just cruising the waterways, read these paddling and boating safety tips.

Bushwalking safety

If you're keen to head out on a longer walk or a backpack camp, always be prepared. Read these bushwalking safety tips before you set off on a walking adventure in national parks.

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Cycling safety

Hundreds of cyclists head to our national parks for fun and adventure. If you're riding your bike through a national park, read these mountain biking and cycling safety tips.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Paddling safety

To make your paddling or kayaking adventure safer and more enjoyable, check out these paddling safety tips.

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

Accessibility

Disability access level - no wheelchair access

Permitted

Camp fires and solid fuel burners

Cycling

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

Please be considerate of other campers and keep noise down.

Gathering firewood

Generators

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Freshwater campground is in Myall Lakes National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Ancient connections

Dark Point Aboriginal Place, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: OEH

Myall Lakes National Park is part of the Country of the Worimi Aboriginal people, who used the area's natural resources, like freshwater lakes, the ocean and native flora and fauna to live a traditional fisher-hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Much evidence of their long connection with this Country can be seen today throughout the middens in the park. The landscape of Myall Lakes includes important spiritual sites that are an important part of the identity of local Aboriginal people. Make sure you visit Dark Point Aboriginal Place while you're at visiting the park. This rocky headland has been of significance to Worimi people for at least 4000 years. The clans or nuras (family groups) within the Worimi people would gather together here for ceremonies and feasts.

  • Dark Point Aboriginal Place Dark Point Aboriginal Place, in southern Myall Lakes National Park, is a culturally significant site for the Worimi people with scenic coastal views across to Broughton Island.
  • Mungo walking track Mungo walking track offers a variety of Aboriginal and historic sites, diverse vegetation, and mountain biking in Myall Lakes National Park, near Hawks Nest.

Go fish

Violet Hill campground, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Fishing is a popular activity in Myall Lakes, with catches likely to include bream, whiting, Australian salmon, flathead and mullet. There are lots of great places in the park to throw in a line, like the beaches, lakes or rivers. Try fishing from your boat or for a relaxing day on the water you could try a spot of kayak fishing. At Myall Lakes you can also go camping, boating, swimming and canoeing. And when you’ve tried all of those, you can explore the park on foot, by 4WD or bike, stopping for a spot of bird watching or to enjoy a picnic or barbecue lunch along the way. Whatever your interests, there is bound to be something that takes your fancy.

  • Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail Mining Road to Old Gibber Road cycling trail is an easy bike ride within Myall Lakes National Park. You can complete the ride in one day or take your tent to camp overnight.
  • Mungo Rainforest walk Enjoy a short and easy rainforest walk with the birds in Myall Lakes National Park, not far from Buladelah. Afterwards, you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue at Mungo Brush.

Internationally recognised wetlands

Pipers Creek picnic area, Myall Lakes National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Since 1999, this internationally recognised wetlands site, has been listed under the Ramsar Convention due to its diverse mosaic of near-natural wetlands, within a relatively unmodified coastal lake system. There are 18 different wetland types with extensive interconnected lake and river systems within the forested wetlands and swamps that fringe the waterways, rocky and sandy shores, and offshore islands off the coastline. This wetland site houses a complex variety of habitats with rich biodiversity, including threatened species and migratory birds protected under international agreements. The Myall Lakes wetlands also have a high cultural and social value as they occur within the traditional lands of the Worimi Aboriginal people, where the varied wetlands, environments and abundant resources provided an ideal living environment. Evidence of this traditional occupation exists across the landscape, including the Dark Point Aboriginal Place.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • White-bellied sea eagle. Photo: John Turbill

    White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

    White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.

  • Long-nosed bandicoot, Sydney Harbour National Park. Photo: Narelle King

    Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

    A nocturnal marsupial and one of the smaller Australian native animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is found across eastern Australia. Populations in the Sydney region have dwindled since European settlement, leaving only endangered colonies in inner western Sydney and at North Head, near Manly. The long-nosed bandicoot has grey-brown fur and a pointed snout which it uses to forage for worms and insects.

  • Brown-striped frog. Photo: Rosie Nicolai/OEH

    Brown-striped frog (Lymnastes peronii)

    One of the most common frogs found in Australia, the ground-dwelling brown-striped frog lives in ponds, dams and swamps along the east coast. Also known as the striped marsh frog, this amphibian grows to 6.5cm across and has a distinctive ‘tok’ call that can be heard all year round.

  • Profile view of a grey-headed flying-fox flying past eucalupt trees. Photo: Shane Ruming © Shane Ruming

    Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

    The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.

Plants

  • Cabbage tree palm in Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)

    With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.

  • Wonga Wonga vine. Photo: Barry Collier

    Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

    The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)