The Bundjalung National Park is a spectacular 210 sq km national park which is nestled on the north coast of New South Wales.
Situated about 550 km north-east of Sydney, it encompasses the picturesque stretch of pristine beaches, rugged rocks and dense, verdant heathlands, that makes up the area between the towns of Iluka and Evans Head.
Rich in flora and fauna, the national park is a spectacular place to explore. It also features the Black Rocks Campground, which is a great place to base yourself during your time there.
Tucked in behind the sand dunes amongst banksia and tuckeroo trees, the campground enjoys a fabulous location close to Jerusalem Creek and Ten Mile Beach.
This makes it an excellent spot for swimming, surfing, fishing, beach walking, hiking and a range of water-based recreational activities like kayaking, canoeing and SUP. You can also catch a gorgeous sunrise here too if you are able to wake up early enough.
In this review, we will provide you with further details about the campground, as well as highlight what else there is to see and do in the area surrounding it.
About the Black Rocks Campground
For all the outstanding natural beauty of the Bundjalung National Park, the Black Rocks Campground is a very rustic camping facility which is best suited to self-sufficient campers.
The campground itself has no power or water, so you will need to bring plenty of your own supplies. There are however drop toilets, a dump point and BBQs available onsite, while each camping plot has a clothesline and a fire pit.
Overall there are 51 sites available that are suitable for tents, camper trailer sites, caravan sites and camping beside my vehicle sites.
Unfortunately, the campground is not pet-friendly, so you will have to leave your pooch at home. Although, you should get a decent mobile phone reception during your time here.
To stay at the campground, will cost you $24.60 per night for 2 adults, as well as $6 for children aged between 5 and 15 years old.
In addition, you will also need a National Parks vehicle pass, which will cost you $8 per day. Although you can purchase a 12-month pass for $65 if you intend to visit multiple national parks throughout the year.
To book a site you could either phone 1300 072 757, between the hours of 7 am to 7 pm every day, or visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Please be mindful that park entry fees are not part of your camping fees.
How to get to Black Rocks Campground
The Black Rocks Campground is located within the Bundjalung National Park at The Gap Road in Esk, New South Wales.
Situated just 2 km south of the town of Woodburn, to get there, you will need to turn east off the Pacific Highway towards Tuckombil Road.
Once on this road, you will eventually get to a T junction. At this point, you will then need to turn right and follow Tuckombil Rd all the way until it bends left into The Gap Road.
For the first 20 km, The Gap Road is a sealed road. However, after that, the rest of the way (about 15 km) to the camping group is gravel and dirt road.
If you drive sensibly to the conditions, you should have no issues traversing it – even if you are in a 2wd vehicle like a motorhome.
What is there to do at Black Rocks Campground?
The Black Rocks Campground is the perfect oceanside location to chill and relax. However, if you did want to head out and about here are several things you may want to see or do.
This includes the following:
Go Fishing!
If you are big into fishing then head on over to Ten Mile Beach.
Best accessed by 4WD, the point between Black Rock and Shark Bay, is a great spot to cast a line, as there are plenty of long gutters and several holes to take advantage of.
Whilst there, head towards the low rocks and sand spit, which is a pretty safe place for rock fishing.
If you do want to fish here, be sure to get an NSW Recreational Fishing license, otherwise, you could risk a fine if you don’t have one.
Head on over to Jerusalem Creek
Just a short walk from the campground you will find Jerusalem Creek.
This is a lovely spot to spend some time fishing, swimming or sunbathing, while there is also an 8 km coastal walk you can do that showcases the pristine beauty of the area.
Keep an eye out for whales
If you happen to be at the campground during whale watching season be sure to keep an eye out for them.
Some will even come in quite close to the beach, as they play and splash around. So have the camera or iPhone at the ready!
Visit Yamba and Iluka
The Black Rocks Campground is located just over an hour’s drive from the coastal towns of Yamba and Iluka.
Both of these towns have excellent beaches which are well worth visiting for different reasons. Yamba main beach is a great place to swim, both in the ocean and its fabulous ocean pool. Whilst Iluka is a great beach to walk on, as well as surf.
At Yamba, you will find major supermarkets, as well as lots of cafes, bars, bottle-Os, chemists and several other shops in town. While over in Iluka, they have a smaller selection of shops there too.
Things to take with you to the Black Rocks Campground
Given how much there is to see and do in and around the Bundjalung National Park, you might want to bring the following items with you to the Black Rocks Campground,
Some of these items are essential, whilst others will depend on what kind of recreational activities you want to partake in.
But nonetheless here are our suggestions:
– Water Bottle
– First Aid Kit
– Sunscreen
– Insect Repellent
– Hat
– Torch
– Camera
– Hema Maps
– Hiking Shoes
– Swimmers and towels
– Cooling Towel
– Snorkel Gear
– Wetsuit
– Binoculars
– Surfboard
– Kayak, canoe or SUP
– Speargun
Best time to stay at Black Rocks Campground
The Black Rocks Campground is an excellent facility to stay at all year round.
However, it is especially good at the tail end of winter and the beginning of spring, because the period between August and October happens to be the driest months of the year.
At this time of the year, you should also be able to spot whales returning from their annual migration too.
That said, if you come during the summer months you should find the temperatures regularly hit 30 degrees, which will better enable you to enjoy the various water-based recreational activities the area has to offer.
Final Thought
So there you have it! Our review of the Black Rocks Campground in New South Wales.
Should you ever travel to the Bundjalung National Park, we hope this guide has inspired you to stay there for a few days.
If it has, you will be well set up to enjoy a gorgeous, scenic and relaxing camping experience.