Brou Lake campground

Brou Lake campground sits between a calm freshwater lake and the wild surf of Brou Beach in Eurobodalla National Park near Bodalla. Set among tall spotted gums on a grassy clearing, the campground offers genuine bush-camping atmosphere with dual water access that is hard to find elsewhere on the NSW south coast. Paddle a kayak across the lake in the morning, then walk ten minutes through the bush and bodysurf the afternoon away.

Wildlife completes the picture. Dolphins are regularly spotted from the beach. Wallabies and kangaroos move through the scrub at dawn, potoroos forage around camp at dusk, and the birdwatching across both lake and coastal habitats is excellent.

Getting there#

Address: Brou Lake Road, Bodalla, NSW, 2545

From the Princes Highway, take the turn onto Brou Lake Road near Bodalla. The road is about 5 km of unsealed gravel, 2WD accessible in dry conditions but can be corrugated and narrow. Drive slowly and a sedan will handle it fine. After rain, check with NPWS before heading in.

At the fork in Brou Lake Road, take the left branch for the campground. The right fork leads to Brou Beach.

Driving distances:

• From Sydney: About 4.5 hours via the Princes Highway (roughly 340 km)
• From Canberra: About 2.5 hours via the Kings Highway to Batemans Bay, then south
• From Melbourne: About 7-8 hours via the Princes Highway through Eden

Nearest towns: Bodalla (10 minutes) has a general store and the Bodalla Dairy Shed. Narooma (20 minutes) has supermarkets, fuel, and a hospital. Arrive at the campground fully provisioned.

Facilities#

What you will find:

• Composting toilets (basic, not flushing)
• Picnic tables
• Unpowered sites suitable for tents, small caravans, and camper trailers
• Shade from the spotted gum canopy

What is not here:

• No drinking water — BYO all water for drinking and cooking
• No showers
• No powered sites
• No rubbish bins — carry everything out
• No campfires — gas stoves only
• No pets permitted (certified assistance animals only)
• No WiFi or reliable mobile reception

Generators are permitted between 10 am and 2 pm only, limited to one per site. The thick tree canopy can block solar panels; portable panels you can position in a clearing work better than fixed roof panels.

Check the official page for current facility status.

Booking and fees#

Brou Lake campground requires online booking through NPWS. Camping is free with a $6 booking fee per reservation. Maximum eight people or two sites per booking. Book ahead for weekends and school holidays — summer fills regularly.

Best time to visit#

Summer (Dec-Feb): Peak season. Lake is warm for swimming, surf at its best, long days. Book well in advance. Ticks are most active — check yourself thoroughly each evening.

Autumn (Mar-May): Arguably the sweet spot. Crowds drop sharply after Easter, still warm enough for swimming, golden afternoon light. Whale migration begins around May, visible from Brou Beach.

Winter (Jun-Aug): Quiet and cold (overnight 3-5 degrees). Near-total solitude, dramatic coastal weather, reliable whale watching. Bring warm layers and a rated sleeping bag.

Spring (Sep-Nov): Wildflowers through the coastal heath and spotted gum forest. Weather warms, lake fills after winter rains, bird activity picks up.

Things to do#

Kayaking and paddling#

The lake is calm, shallow in places, and perfect for paddling. BYO kayak or canoe. Early morning paddles when the lake is glassy are the highlight of camping here.

Brou Beach and Jemisons Beach#

A short bush walk takes you to a long sandy stretch for bodyboarding, sunrise walks, and rock pool exploring. The surf can be powerful and unpatrolled.

Fishing#

Both the lake and ocean offer fishing. The lake is popular for flathead and bream. Parts of this coastline fall within the Batemans Marine Park — some areas are sanctuary zones where fishing is prohibited with fines up to $500. Check current zoning maps on the DPI website.

Bushwalking#

• Brou Lake to Channon Point Beach: Short return walk through the bush to the coast
• Dalmeny to Brou Lake beach walk: 8 km return (or 14 km to Potato Point) along wild, empty coastline. Allow 4-5 hours
• Bingi Dreaming track: 13.5 km coastal walk tracing the ancient Song Lines of the Yuin Aboriginal people. Multiple access points. You can book a guided walk with a Yuin elder

Wildlife and stargazing#

Dolphins offshore, wallabies at dawn, potoroos at dusk, and whales from May to November. With minimal light pollution, Brou Lake is excellent for night-sky viewing on clear nights.

Day trips#

• Narooma (20 min): Glasshouse Rocks, Montague Island tours for penguins and seal snorkelling
• Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba (30 min south): Heritage villages, Tilba Dairy, Gulaga Mountain walk
• Mystery Bay (20 min south): Dramatic rock formations, whale watching, and another campground to scout

What to pack#

Critical (no alternatives at the campground):

• All drinking and cooking water (5+ litres per person per day)
• Gas stove and fuel (no campfires permitted)
• Rubbish bags (carry everything out)
• Toilet paper

Strongly recommended:

• Tick repellent with DEET or Permethrin. Ticks are a genuine problem here, especially in warmer months. Check yourself, kids, and gear daily
• Tick removal tool (fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-specific remover)
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Headlamp or torch (no lighting after dark)
• Power bank. With no reception, your phone becomes your camera and emergency device. Download the Emergency Plus app before you lose signal — it provides GPS coordinates for emergency services
• Kayak or canoe if you have one
• Portable solar panel. Fixed roof panels struggle under the tree canopy

Can't get a booking?#

Brou Lake campground fills up during peak periods like school holidays and long weekends.

Set up a free CampWatch alert and we'll text you the moment a spot opens up. No app, no account - just your phone number.