A popular campsite on the New South Wales north coast has reopened after a major upgrade.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) says the Mibanbah Black Rocks campground in Bundjalung National Park near Iluka has been transformed.
NPWS Bundjalung National Park Ranger Emma Goodwin said the upgrade was the result of three years of planning.
“A key focus of the upgrade was relocating the existing campsites away from the sand dunes, which house Aboriginal middens with significant cultural value to the local Bandjalang people,” she said. “The previous arrangement of campsites and beach access had resulted in visitors walking over the dunes, inadvertently eroding, and damaging these important sites.”
The work was carried out in collaboration with the Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation. In total, the upgrade has delivered 51 public campsites, in addition to a cultural precinct for Bandjalang Native Title Holders, expanded parking facilities, and enhanced access to Jerusalem Creek via a new day-use zone.
“The new campsite arrangement not only better protects the Aboriginal cultural heritage values of site, but the campsites themselves are also much more comfortable,” said Ms Goodwin. “Each site has been designed with natural screening to ensure visitors can enjoy privacy, even in busy summer months … the sites have also been raised and levelled so that they are no longer inundated with sand drifts and minor flooding during bad weather.”
The NPWS says the campground also now has safe and easy access for larger camping vehicles, new picnic spots and fire pits, dedicated pedestrian paths to the beach, and directional and cultural interpretation signage.
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Sounds great! Look forward to camping there some time in the future.
I am a tenter.A lot of the upgrades are for vans..compacted hard ground.And less open grassy area’s.Also national parks allow pre bookings a year ahead.And spontaneous camping has been removed.ie.arrive and find a site.A area in all campgrounds should be for people who can turn up…set up and pay the ranger later..like only 5 years ago…and finally NO rebooking more than one month out.
I agree with you 100% Paul, these places really need to have broader accessibility so we all have a chance to share this beautiful country
Fully agree even though I’m a caravaner. This is happening in most of the traditional camp sites on the north coast beaches. Point Plummer is a good example how they are wrecking it for the sake of revenue.
Agree on the prebooking. 12 months in advance is ridiculous and restricts access to others.
I agree with the comments pre book more than lets be fair but 2 month out is very restrictive for travellers on the road. I have seen some site free and have been told they are pre booked even though they have not turned up. To fix this issue I put it out there if they where to pay and have to put up a bond and did not turn up then they lose the bond unless they have a fair and reasonable issue. This may also make the pre booked person call to cancel so others get a chance on the day to gain a site. JUST A THOUGHT.
Some of the greatest joys as a kid was camping at the beach with a two man tent, a surfboard and a backpack. Sadly easily accessible camps like these are disappearing. Heaven help our kids. So sad that we now have to book months in advance, pay way more than what used to be pocket change and then be harangued about our heritage.
Well said.
Rusty
To all above.in a perfect world it would be wonderful. Alas people won’t do the honest thing. Paying after you have stayed some won’t.
People can’t even take rubbish with them.
My wife picks it up to take to next drop of location.
It’s frustrating for us as we are traveller’s.
How about allowing dogs, many travellers have dogs for company and security
Many GN’s travel with animals would there still be a restriction on them?