Clyde River National Park
Overview
Clyde River National Park is a natural playground by the river, offering kayaking, canoeing, swimming and fishing, alongside its beautiful views.
Read more about Clyde River National Park
Clyde River National Park is a secluded water sport playground near Batemans Bay, just waiting to be explored. With 9km of river frontage, steep forested hills, tree-lined foreshores with mangroves, and rare patches of saltmarsh, there are plenty of beautiful locations to discover.
Looking out over the entire bay, Holmes lookout is a must-see. Pack a picnic and admire the spectacular views while you orientate yourself for the adventure that awaits below. Drive through the forest and try your luck fishing in the river or find a secluded spot to enjoy a good book and watch the world go by. Hire a canoe or kayak, or launch your own, and set off to explore the mighty Clyde River.
With so much to see and do, why not stay overnight? Get back-to-basics and enjoy remote riverside camping at Red Gum and Beach campground.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/clyde-river-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the South Coast region
Clyde River National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Ulladulla office
02 4454 9500
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. - Lot 9 Blackburn Industrial Estate, 6 Coller Road Ulladulla NSW 2539
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Email: npws.shoalhaven@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Ulladulla office
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Nowra office
02 4428 6300
Contact hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. - 104 Flatrock Road, Mundamia NSW 2540
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Email: npws.shoalhaven@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Nowra office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Clyde River National Park.
Map
Map legend
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Batemans Bay:
- Travel north on the Princes Highway, then turn left onto the Kings Highway at the roundabout after the Batemans Bay bridge.
- Drive for approximately 3km along the Kings Highway
- Turn left into Rotary Drive, which is the entrance to the park.
From Braidwood:
- Travel on the Princes Highway towards Batemans Bay
- Continue through the township of Nelligen and cross the Clyde River
- Turn right into Rotary Drive, which is the entrance to the park.
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- All roads require 4WD vehicle
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options to Batemans Bay, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Clyde River National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
Take in magnificent sunset views from Holmes lookout after a day of exploring.
Summer
Get away from the holiday crowds and enjoy peaceful camping, swimming and kayaking on mighty Clyde River.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
14°C and 24°C
Highest recorded
43.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
6°C and 17°C
Lowest recorded
0°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
867.5mm
Facilities
Toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
Maps and downloads
Prohibited
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.
Nearby towns
Batemans Bay (4 km)
Batemans Bay is a bustling coastal town with majestic seascapes. It's located on the estuary of the Clyde River.
Moruya (31 km)
Moruya is a historic dairy town on the Moruya River surrounded by dairy pastures and rugged national parks.
Braidwood (56 km)
Braidwood was the first town to be listed on the NSW State Heritage register. Today, you can tour the town on a self-guided heritage walk and see dozens of impressive historic buildings dating from the gold-rush days.
Learn more
Clyde River National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
Waterway wonders
The waterways of Clyde River offer plenty of options to explore and enjoy. Launch your boat, kayak or canoe to see the natural beauty here from the water. Explore the shorelines paddling along the river and see the abundant birdlife. There are also plenty of spots to enjoy a peaceful swim in the calm waters of the river, or throw in a fishing line and relax as you watch the world go by.
- Holmes lookout Get a wonderful bird’s-eye view of Clyde River and scenic views of the district at Holmes lookout, a popular picnic spot that’s perfect for a birdwatching day trip.
Sites and storylines
Welcome to the land of the Walbunja people. Clyde River, or Bhundoo as the locals call it, has provided an abundant food source for Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Several middens have been found along the shores where there are freshwater soaks and flat areas suitable for camping. The river, islands, and surrounding bushlands also have important cultural significance for the Walbunja people. Holmes lookout is part of a local dreaming story and was an important meeting and communication point due to its high vantage point.
Protecting the unique
As you enjoy the natural beauty of the Clyde River National Park, you’ll see the unique plants and animals protected here. The threatened glossy black cockatoo finds much needed feed trees such as black she-oak in the park. The yellow-bellied glider and masked owl, also a threatened species, make homes here where trees with suitable nest hollows for living and breeding occur.
- Holmes lookout Get a wonderful bird’s-eye view of Clyde River and scenic views of the district at Holmes lookout, a popular picnic spot that’s perfect for a birdwatching day trip.
Forests along the foreshore
Clyde River National Park has patches of rare forest red gum and three endangered ecological communities; swamp oak floodplain forest; river-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains; and coastal saltmarsh. Mangroves along the river also provide important fish nurseries.
- Holmes lookout Get a wonderful bird’s-eye view of Clyde River and scenic views of the district at Holmes lookout, a popular picnic spot that’s perfect for a birdwatching day trip.
Education resources (1)
What we're doing
Clyde River National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.