Closest point to drive and park is on sealed roads, from there it is on foot to the campsite
35.9 km SSW of Sydney
GPS: Latitude 34° 10′ 37.92"S Longitude 151° 3′ 20.952"E (-34.17720, 151.05582)
Walk in along the coastal track. Closest access is to walk south from Garie Beach, or down the Stockyard Spur from the Squeeze Way.
General Information
There is a long walk into this campsite There are a total of 12 campsitesA maximum of 36 people can camp here. This campsite with basic facilities is on the grassy area just above North Era Beach, next to the toilet. The campsite needs to be booked ahead and is popular with groups of people walking the coast track. The campsite can be exposed to the high winds of the coast, but is generally a pleasant area. Do not rely on getting water here, best to carry water in. The beach is not patrolled. Era (to the south) and Garie Beach (to the north) are patrolled most weekends.
Bookings and contact information
You can book a campsite by phoning the Campsite contactFor more information contact the Sydney South (Royal National Park) Camping bookings office on:Phone:(02) 9542 0683
(more contact details)
Fees
Camping fees applyAdult=$10 Per NightChildren=$5 Per Night
Car entry fees applyVehicle=$11 Per Day
Children rates apply to people aged 5-15 years (children under 5 are free)
Facilities
Toilets Pit or composting toilets are available
Showers No showers are provided on site
Water No drinking water onsite - bring your own water
Picnic Tables No Picnic tables or shelters are provided on site
Pit fire BBQs Wood fired BBQ's are not provided
Electric of Gas BBQs Gas or electric BBQ's are not provided
Rubbish Bins No rubbish bins provided - take your own rubbish with you
Campfires This is a Fuel Stove only area, solid fuel (eg wood) fires are not permitted at any time. Gas stoves may be used, but be aware of local fire bans.
ActivitiesSwimmingThere are places to swimNearest known Camping Stores
This is a great walk, lots to see and fairly easy going. If your generally an active person, this is just what your looking for. Possibly a little lacking on some parts of the track in terms of directions.
admin - Directions
Super Administrator | 2008-12-07 14:19:07
Hay Ben
Yeah Soon I plan to link walks to the campsites. We have about 8 walks that go through North Era that will describe this in detail.
Here is the shortest route in
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/royal-national-park/garie-beach-to-north-era-beach.html
With that link you put up, does that mean it takes 2 hours to walk from garie beach to north head? Or 1 hour each way?
James
admin - re: walking time for Garie Bea
Super Administrator | 2009-02-05 08:34:40
James wrote:
With that link you put up, does that mean it takes 2 hours to walk from garie beach to north head? Or 1 hour each way?
Hi James
That is one hour each way :) That is rounded up. It is about 40 mins of walking time (the right hand side of the track notes show approx walking time for each section of track)
Happy camping
Matt :)
Stephen - Love your site
IP:123.243.78.xxx | 2009-04-17 09:33:56
Hi Matt, love your site. I cant help but notice the prices vary from the national park list and suggest that the ocean is a reasonable guess for swimming.I know lots of info it must be hard to get across it all and I appreciate your efforts your site is excellent. Stephen
admin - re: Love your site
Super Administrator | 2009-04-17 13:42:46
Stephen wrote:
Hi Matt, love your site.
Thanks :)
Stephen wrote:
I cant help but notice the prices vary from the national park list
Oops silly me, I have updated this thanks :)
Stephen wrote:
and suggest that the ocean is a reasonable guess for swimming.
You know this drought is having big effects :) Again an oversight on by behalf. Fixed this to.
Stephen wrote:
I know lots of info it must be hard to get across it all and I appreciate your efforts your site is excellent. Stephen
Thanks for your understanding and kind words. I greatly appreciate prompts like this.
Matt :)
Alison
IP:124.176.79.xxx | 2010-01-24 08:27:12
Hi Matt,
We are trying to find a good place to camp with 2 kids (5 and 7). We checked out Bonnie Vale today but not quite what we are after. Would Garie or Nth Era be an option? How long do you estimate the walk from the nearest parking would be? Also love your site. Have used it for walks in Blue Mts and St Albans area. Many thanks.
admin - re: walking time
Super Administrator | 2010-01-24 09:24:32
Alison wrote:
Would Garie or Nth Era be an option? How long do you estimate the walk from the nearest parking would be?
Hi Alison
Thanks for your kind words, Glad to here you like Wildwalks.
Here is the descrition of the walk in to this campsite - http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/royal-national-park/garie-beach-to-north-era-beach.html It is a two hour rtn walk. Most adults would walk for Garie Beach car park in about 40mins, but best to leave an hour. The walking notes provide driving direction etc. There is no camping at Garie (other than at the YHA, which is about 15min walk from the same car park in the other direction).
It is not as well set up for kids. There is very limited shade, and the toilet is very simple. You need to carry in water etc. If your kids are used to that style, or getting used to that style of camping, then great. But it is not like Bonnie Vale where there are lots of facilities.
Hope that helps
Have a great time. Please let us know what you end up doing. I want to get more here about camping with kids, in time.
Matt :)
Daryl - 3 day 2 night camping trip
IP:122.106.201.xxx | 2010-09-25 16:02:32
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your site! Looks great.
I was just wondering if you have any ideas on whether it is possible to make a 3 day 2 night trip along the coastal walk?
Im trying to find places to camp and north era looks good but i cant find another one we can walk to for the second night.
We dont mind the walks being too short, have a beginner group and would like to explore.
Hi Matt,
We are trying to find a good place to camp with 2 kids (5 and 7). We checked out Bonnie Vale today but not quite what we are after. Would Garie or Nth Era be an option? How long do you estimate the walk from the nearest parking would be? Also love your site. Have used it for walks in Blue Mts and St Albans area. Many thanks.
[P]
Hi, we've just returned from an overnight hike to North Era with our kids (8 & 6) and we all had a great time. We parked at Garie Beach and did the short 1.5km walk in. The kids carried their school packs with sleeping bag, thermarest, water and change of clothes for the walk in.
The track is easy to follow and while there is a climb up over the headland just south of Little Garie (and vise versa on the return) the walk is relatively easy and I would recommend it to families with young kids.
Our kids havent stopped asking when we're going again.
Hope this helps
Regards
Dave
admin - re: re: kids and Nth Era
Super Administrator | 2012-03-27 02:21:40
Dave wrote:
...I would recommend it to families with young kids....
Great feedback,
Thanks Dave, glad you and the kids had fun.
Matt :)
Di551 - Coast track in desperate need
IP:58.107.232.xxx | 2012-08-26 09:54:20
Just finished the 2 day walk Otford to Bundeena, what a poor state the track is in. I don't think anything new or improved has happened to this poor old track in many many years. No water to drink. We did the larapinta in northern territory and it was just fantastic! Come on nsw get your act together!,,,,
Adam
IP:220.233.11.xxx | 2014-01-23 16:44:24
Did the walk in from otford with 10-15 kgs each.
Was fairly easy even in the rain. Plenty of elevation though and a few leeches. Just take the water u need for the hike if going on a weekend in summer as there are the two SLSC's nearby to refill for the way out.. Always double check this with npws and bring water filtration just in case.
The beach was all ours and such a contrast in vegetation from rainforest to palm trees to grassland and then beach..
Best hiking and camping place around Sydney by far... But. Port-a-loos overflowing and a giant garbage dump so, please bring a trowel and hike your rubbish out... You got it in... Easier to get it out empty yeah...
Worth the extra 2kgs for fishing gear I reckon..