Online Booking Comes to Booderee National Park

When you’re booking a campervan vacation, one of the little frustrations can be having to wait to find out whether or not the site you want is actually available. Camping sites are known for being bastions of the old way, with bookings made over the phone and payment often given directly to park rangers or left in ‘honesty boxes’. But Booderee National Park is changing all that up with a new system that makes it as easy to book a campsite as it is to reserve a hotel room. 

Following the burgeoning online booking trend, campers making the three hour trip from Sydney or Canberra will now be able to choose which campsite they want and have their choice confirmed within minutes as opposed to days. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment Bob Baldwin said, “Booderee's a unique place where you can camp close to magnificent white sandy beaches in a natural bush setting, but still have access to the same kind of amenities you would find in a caravan park.” Mr Baldwin praised the new online booking tool and mentioned that booking for the Christmas season starts on August 18th, “...so you have a few months to get used to the new system before the summer rush starts.”

The park attracts around 72,500 visitors a year, with Booderee’s world renowned white sand beaches and superb whale watching opportunities a major drawcard. In fact, Greenpatch beach in Jervis Bay is said to have the whitest sand of any beach in the world. Obviously Booderee’s sand and surf are best enjoyed once the weather starts to heat up a little, but if you can’t wait that long get amongst the beauty of Booderee National Park, then you should know that there are other highlights to take in. Mr Baldwin says, “This time of year is perfect for whale watching. Come and spot humpback and southern right whales as they make their annual northerly migration to warmer waters and their breeding grounds.”

If seeing some of earth’s most majestic creatures in their natural habitat appeals, there’s one or two tricks to ensure that you get the best experience possible. Obviously a decent set of binoculars are extremely helpful, but also important is the time (and type) of day. A calm, clear day is preferable, unsurprisingly, but make sure you do your whale watching in late morning or early afternoon to counter the sun’s glare. Also, you may not always need your binoculars - sometimes, especially during their southern migration in spring, whales may come in very close to shore and frolic with their newborn calves. For the benefit of both the whales and those watching, it’s best to remain quiet while they are nearby - if startled or stressed, the whales are far less likely to remain visible.

While whale watching can be a breathtaking experience, you can only stare out to sea for so long before you begin to get a bit funny in the head - fortunately, there’s far more to do in Booderee National Park than you’ll ever be able to get through in one trip. Take a peaceful picnic or learn about bush tucker and the medicinal use of plants at Booderee Botanic Gardens, Australia’s only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens. Pack your lunch and strike out for a day hike around Steamers Head, taking a break to swim at Kittys or Whiting Beach along the way - just beware of swimming at Steamers Beach as there are severe tows and large sharks around. Alternatively, get a taste of indigenous culture with a guided Aboriginal Tour. 

However you want to spend your holiday, Booderee can accommodate you. So why not get in early, book your campervan rental then pop online to the Booderee National Park website to quickly and easily book a campsite online.