Banksia Bluff Campground

Banksia Bluff Campground

Banksia Bluff Campground

Banksia Bluff Campground

Banksia Bluff Campground

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    Banksia Bluff Campground

    Banksia Bluff is a tranquil wooded campground where the peace is only broken by dawn chorus and waves crashing off Bass Strait. Set up camp among mahogany gum and banksia woodland and explore the unique coastal playground.

    Please read the below visitor and camping information prior to booking your stay.

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    Banksia Bluff Campground is perfect for families wanting to escape the big smoke and get a taste for nature. Set among mahogany and banksia woodland, the beautiful campground backs onto the wild Southern Ocean.

    Relax at camp or explore on foot. Follow the Estuary view trail and take in the rich diversity of flora and fauna found in the lower reaches of the Yeerung River or the Cape Conran Nature Trail highlights white sandy beaches, rock pools, boardwalks, banksia woodlands and Aboriginal history of the coast.

    If you're a keen angler, bring your fishing gear and cast a line off West Cape. Salmon, flathead and gummy sharks are plentiful. For the experienced diver, Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary hides three shipwrecks and a colourful underwater world.

    At Banksia Bluff Campground there is a mixture of unpowered dog friendly and non-dog friendly campsites. Refer to the campground map to see which areas are suitable if you wish to bring your furry canine camping, and select a dog friendly campsite when booking. Please note that your dog must be on a lead at all times. Campfires are permitted on selected sites and must be within a fire ring.

    Flushing toilets and outdoor cold showers are available.

    Things to do in the area

    Mum helps her young son as he jumps off a large piece of drift wood at West Cape Beach.

    Gunnai Beach Campground

    This is a small, remote campground that is best suited to walkers or those hiking the Wilderness Coast Walk. It has easy access via a sandy track over the dunes to the beach.
    A man carrying a surfboard walks through the shallow water at West Cape Beach at Cape Conran Coastal Park

    East Cape Beach

    East Cape is a good spot for a picnic offering gas barbecues and picnic tables. There are also a number of walks from the visitor area.

    How to get there

    Banksia Bluff Campground

    Cape Conran Coastal Park is in East Gippsland approximately 420km east of Melbourne and 530km south of Sydney. When travelling from the west along the Princess Highway, take the Orbost exit and follow the signs through Marlo and on to the park. From the east, turn off the Princess Highway at Cabbage Tree Creek Road and follow the road on towards Banksia Bluff Campground.
    Banksia Bluff Campground

    Sites

    When you're there

    Banksia Bluff Campground is the main camping area within Cape Conran Coastal Park.

    Download the visitor guide and campground map for further information.

    The Banksia Bluff Office is open daily, with a range of retail items including ice, gas and firewood available for purchase. Nearby Marlo (17km) has fuel and basic convenience supplies. Orbost (34kms) has fuel, supermarket, chemist, medical and veterinary services.

    Banksia Bluff Campground

    The unspoilt beaches of Cape Conran married with the warmer weather of summer makes for perfect beachcombing conditions.

    Just off the coast of Cape Conran Coastal Park, Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary hides some over 1000 fish species, three shipwrecks and colourful underwater ecosystems. Experienced divers, head to Beware Reef to see this unique underwater world for yourself.

    Need to know

    Banksia Bluff Campground

    Drinking water and firewood

    Bring your own drinking and cooking. The bore water on tap at Banksia Bluff campground is not suitable for consumption.

    Bring your own firewood as firewood collection and the use of chainsaws within Cape Conran Coastal Park is not permitted, alternatively you can purchase firewood from the Banksia Bluff Office. All campfires must be contained in designated firepits and not left unattended.

    All sites are un-powered, and the use of generators is not permitted.

    Dogs

    Dog friendly campsites are within loops C,D,E,F (sites 68 - 135). Dogs must always be on a leash and not left unattended. Paralysis ticks that are found in coastal areas of East Gippsland and you should search your dog daily for ticks. Ticks range in size from a few millimetres to the size of a small fingernail. If you find a tick, remove it using a pair of tweezers or your fingers.

    Accessibility

    The majority of campsites at Banksia Bluff Campground are on compacted sand and grassed areas, with natural undulation, uneven ground and some slope in areas.

    Amenities are basic with a cold outdoor beach shower and flushing toilets. Accessible toilets are in Loops C and F.

     

    Pathways around the campground, to amenities and the beach are generally unformed, and not graded for accessibility. Access to the beach is down sloped paths including stairs. Loop F does not have stairs.

     

    Beach access

    Many beaches at Cape Conran Coastal Park have strong undertows, rips and a steep ocean floor. Ocean waves can crash along rocky shorelines catching people unawares. Always keep an eye to the sea. Beaches are not supervised by Surf Life Saving patrols.

    Be prepared and stay safe

    Cape Conran Coastal Park is in the East Gippsland fire district. Bushfire safety is a personal responsibility. Anyone entering the park during the bushfire season needs to stay aware of forecast weather conditions. Check the Fire Danger Rating and for days of Total Fire Ban at emergency.vic.gov.au, on the Vic Emergency App or call the Vic Emergency Hotline 1800 226 226.

    No fires may be lit on Total Fire Ban days. On Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating days this park will be closed for public safety. Closure signs will be erected but do not expect an official warning.

    Change of Conditions

    Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.

    • Cape Conran Coastal Park

      Flood damage and ongoing heavy rainfall have closed some vehicle tracks

      Cape Conran Coastal Park was impacted by flooding in early April and ongoing heavy rain over winter has further affected some areas. Some visitor sites and vehicle tracks are currently closed. Monitor this page for updated site closures. 

      Assessments are ongoing and further areas may be closed at short notice or not accessible on arrival. 

    • West Cape (Cape Conran Coastal Park)

      Cape Conran boat ramp upgrade - closure information

      Located 15km east of the township of Marlo and part of Cape Conran Coastal Park, the boat ramp at West Cape is a popular boating and fishing destination. It provides the only direct ocean access between Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota and is a key access point to the nearby Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary.
       
      Better Boating Victoria are funding $2.79 million worth of upgrades to the boat ramp at Cape Conran. While work is undertaken at the site, the boat ramp will be
       
      Closed to all users from Monday 12 September until Saturday 10 December 2022
       
      During this period, commercial, recreational, and emergency service boat users are advised that the closest ocean access ramps are at either Mallacoota to the east or Lakes Entrance to the west.

      The Victorian Government investment at Cape Conran boat ramp will make it cheaper, easier, and more accessible for all Victorians to enjoy time on the water. Key features of the upgrade include:

      ·      Increasing the jetty by 21m to provide additional berthing space
      ·      Steepening the gradient of the single-lane ramp to bring it in-line with current standards and to minimise accumulation of sand and kelp
      ·      Marking areas of hazardous rock to improve navigation and safety
      ·      Construction of a new concreate apron at the top of the ramp
      ·      Installation of a convex mirror to provide a view of the ramp before vehicles towing trailers commit to turning onto the ramp apron
      ·      Construction of a retaining wall to protect vehicles and Aboriginal cultural heritage from collision
       
      The Boating Victoria ramp finder web cam allows those interested in the site to follow the progress of the ramp upgrade. Once completed, the ramp will have increased berthing capacity, easier launch and retrieval capability, and protection of cultural heritage.
       
       

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Sites

      Pearl Point Road and camp grounds closed due to flooding

      Heavy rainfall in late September is causing flooding along Pearl Point Road. This road is closed from Pearl Point to Bemm River, along with the following areas:

      • Pearl Point camp ground 
      • Binn Beach camp ground
      • Gunnai Beach camp ground
      • Py Yoot visitor area

      Banksia Bluff Accommodation Bookings

      Banksia Bluff Accommodation is currently closed, with new accommodation under planning and construction.
      Information on future bookings for the new accommodation and Olive-Berry Lodge is yet to be released.
      Banksia Bluff Campground remains open for bookings.

    • Notices Affecting Multiple Parks

      Planned deer control operations - Eastern Region

      Planned deer control operations - Eastern Region
       
      Deer control operations (ground and aerial) will be carried out across the following parks and reserves between October 2022 and June 2023. 
       
      • Alpine National Park
        • Mount Bogong & Bogong High Plains
        • Dinner Plain/Dargo High Plains
        • Feathertop
        • Foothills and Southern Alps
        • Ingeegoodbee/Tingaringy
      • Buchan Caves Reserve
      • Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve
      • Cape Conran Coastal Park
      • Coopracambra NP
      • Croajingolong NP
      • Errinundra NP
      • Lake Tyers State Park
      • Baw Baw NP
      • Mount Buffalo NP
      • Snowy River NP
      • Upper Murray - Wabba Wilderness, Burrowa Pine NP, Mt Mittamitite
      • Wilsons Prom NP
       
      More information on temporary park closures for aerial shooting operations will be provided in the coming weeks
       
       For more information on deer control to protect native species visit parks.vic.gov.au.

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