Picnic Point campground

Mimosa Rocks National Park

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Overview

Camp by the beach and banksia trees at Picnic Point campground. Find your favourite fishing spot; enjoy swimming and scenic views of the stunning Sapphire Coastline.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 17
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Barbecue facilities, carpark, toilets
What to bring Cooking water, drinking water, firewood
Group bookings Bookings for up to 9 sites and 40 people can be made online. School groups and commercial tour operators can submit a group booking enquiry form.
Please note
  • Sites are marked
  • The campground can be busy during holiday periods
  • During school holiday periods the maximum length of stay is 2 weeks, at all other times it's 4 weeks.
  • All visitors are required to make themselves aware of the essential information, rules and regulations displayed at the entry to all campgrounds.

Like the idea of basing yourself just steps away from your next catch? Then head to Picnic Point campground.

Nestled beside two beautiful sandy beaches, the campground is ideally located for beach fishing. Choose your perfect campsite amongst the banksias, then grab your rod and see if you can hook some bream to barbecue back at the campground.

Why not try a pretty coast walk or refresh with a dip in the ocean? And don’t forget to do as the name suggests and enjoy a picnic on the point. At the end of the day, fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and get ready to do it all again tomorrow.

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/picnic-point-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Picnic Point campground.

Getting there and parking

Picnic Point campground is at the end of Wapengo Lake Road, off the Tathra-Bermagui Road. The road leading to Picnic Point is a private road – please leave the gate as you found it.

Road quality

Check the weather before you set out as roads within the park can become boggy when it rains. Access road, picnic areas and campground at this site are not suitable for large vehicles including caravans, motorhomes and buses.

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available next to your campsite. There is a limit of 1 vehicle per campsite.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Mimosa Rocks National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Spring

Head to one of the park's headlands for great whale watching – don't forget your binoculars for up close views.

Summer

A great time for a family camping holiday by the beach, try Aragunnu campground or Gillards campground .

Winter

Keep your eyes on the parks winter-flowering plants, like spotted gums, mugga ironbark and coastal banksia for honeaters and lorikeets.

Facilities

  • Firewood is not provided and cannot be collected from the park. Please bring your own firewood, or you can purchase firewood in nearby towns.
  • Water is not available at this campground.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Barbecue facilities

  • Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Beach safety

Beaches in this park are not patrolled, and can sometimes have strong rips and currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

There are many patrolled beaches nearby, please see Surf Life Saving Australia.

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.

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).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Assistance may be required to access this area

  • Picnic Point campground and picnic area has a flat grassy surface and parking is adjacent

Permitted

Fishing

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

Prohibited

Gathering firewood

Firewood cannot be collected in Mimosa Rocks National Park. Penalties apply.

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

Picnic Point campground is in Mimosa Rocks National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Ancient connections

Mongarlowe River, Dasyurus picnic area, Monga National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

Mimosa Rocks National Park lies within the traditional Country of the Yuin people who have inhabited the region for thousands of years, climbing these headlands, swimming in the rivers and lakes, crossing the sand dunes and walking the beaches. The plants and animals within the park were a source of food, medicine and shelter for the Yuin people and the park's landscape is strongly connected to Dreaming stories. Be sure to take the Mimosa Rocks walk for an insight into the Aboriginal heritage within the park.

  • Living Country living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 HSIE excursion in Mimosa Rocks National Park. An Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
  • Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 2 HSIE excursion in Mimosa Rocks National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
  • Mimosa Rocks walking track Great for walking with children, the easy Mimosa Rocks walk takes you along a short boardwalk to a lookout. You may spot the Mimosa shipwreck on the rocks below.

Bygone eras

Moon Bay, Mimosa Rocks National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

White settlers arrived in the Bega Valley in the 1830s, attracted by its grazing and farming potential, with Bega township being established in 1851. In its earliest years the town traders used Moon Bay as a regional port shipping Timber and sheep products from its sheltered waters. You can still see a log-slide and mooring ring from bygone days, or take a walk to 'Riverview' in the park's south-east, the remains of these historic premises have important associations with the 19th century timber and coastal shipping industries. 

  • Mimosa Rocks walking track Great for walking with children, the easy Mimosa Rocks walk takes you along a short boardwalk to a lookout. You may spot the Mimosa shipwreck on the rocks below.
  • Moon Bay A short and easy walking track descends steeply to the secluded beach at Moon Bay in Mimosa Rocks National Park. Enjoy a picnic on the sand and explore the historic heritage of the area.

Plant spectacular

Mimosa Rocks walking track, Mimosa Rocks National Park. Photo: David Finnegan

When you’re driving from the south and about to cross the Bega River, you are sure to notice the knife edge boundary of spotted gum, with an understorey of burrawang palms; characteristic vegetation of Mimosa Rocks National Park. When exploring the dunes and cliffs of the park you’ll see coastal banksia, coast wattle and drooping she-oak that can withstand winds and salty air. Check the gullies for the tubular flowers of the endangered chefs hat correa, so called because it’s a similar shape to a chef’s hat.

  • Forest meets the sea guided walk Experience some of the best coastal views Mimosa Rocks National Park has to offer on this exciting guided walk with Navigate Expeditions.
  • Merimbula guided photography tour Capture Merimbula’s stunning scenery on this unique tour guided by Mark Gray Gallery and Photography Tours. It’s a great way to learn new photography skills while exploring this magical area.
  • Mimosa Rocks walking track Great for walking with children, the easy Mimosa Rocks walk takes you along a short boardwalk to a lookout. You may spot the Mimosa shipwreck on the rocks below.
  • Moon Bay A short and easy walking track descends steeply to the secluded beach at Moon Bay in Mimosa Rocks National Park. Enjoy a picnic on the sand and explore the historic heritage of the area.

Wildlife haven

Middle Lagoon walking track, Mimosa Rocks National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

The park provides refuge for koalas, swamp wallabies and ringtail possums, to name a few. Of an evening at Aragunnu campground, you may not see yellow-bellied gliders flitting between trees, but you might be able to hear their distinctive cackling sound that cuts through the silence of the night. At Gillards campground you may well see a long-nosed potoroo. About the size of a rabbit, they look quite similar to a bandicoot, except that they hop in a similar way to a kangaroo. The potoroo is nocturnal, so you are most likely to see them in the evening. The park is an important stop for many migratory birds that nest along the park’s coastline. Look along the beaches and rock platforms – you may see threatened hooded plovers or pied oystercatchers. The bar-tailed godwit stops by briefly in summer during its migration from Alaska to New Zealand. It’s a well deserved stop off as the bar-tailed godwit makes the longest known non-stop flight of any bird and the longest journey without pausing to feed by any animal. Look for them around the park’s lakes and lagoons.

  • Forest meets the sea guided walk Experience some of the best coastal views Mimosa Rocks National Park has to offer on this exciting guided walk with Navigate Expeditions.
  • Wajurda Point lookout Wajurda Point lookout, in Mimosa Rocks National Park offers coastal and ocean views with seasonal whale watching opportunities.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • Sugar glider. Photo: Jeff Betteridge

    Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

    The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

Plants

  • 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.

  •  Black sheoak. Photo: Barry Collier

    Black sheoak (Allocasuarina littoralis)

    The black sheoak is one of a number of casuarina species found across the east coast of Australia and nearby tablelands. Growing to a height of 5-15m, these hardy Australian native plants can survive in poor or sandy soils. The barrel-shaped cone of the black sheoak grows to 10-30mm long.

  • Blueberry ash. Photo: Jaime Plaza

    Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

    The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.

  •  Grey mangrove, Towra Point Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer

    Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)

    Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)

School excursions (3)