Location
Depot Beach is on the NSW South Coast, about 25 minutes’ drive from Batemans Bay, 3.5 hours from Sydney and two hours from Canberra. The NSW National Parks-managed cabins are about a 10-minute drive into Murramarang National Park along a sealed road and co-located with the campground. There are two rows of cabins to choose from, each featuring either water or bush views.
Why we stayed
We were road-tripping from Sydney along the NSW South Coast and wanted to have a couple of days of digital detox. We’d heard Depot Beach was a great spot to see kangaroos on the beach. The cabins provided the perfect opportunity for a technology break – there is no phone reception and there was no TV in our cabin – and there were kangaroos everywhere! For those wondering about phoning home, there is a payphone at the campground.
Accommodation
We fell asleep to the sound of the ocean in a two-bedroom cabin. One room had a queen bed and the other was a bunk room. The beds were super comfy (we all loved the pillows), and the living room and kitchen were a good size. While the cabin could easily accommodate a family of five, it was also perfect for our group of two adults and a teenager, as there was enough room for us to each find our own space at the end of the day. There was one bathroom in the cabin and you have to BYO linen and towels, but the kitchen is really well equipped with a microwave, full-size fridge, stove top and – my most happy finds – a coffee plunger and bottle opener. Some cabins are wheelchair-accessible with ramps and lowered kitchens.
Activities
This is a great getaway spot for nature-lovers and those wanting a camping-esque experience without having to pitch a tent, carry all the gear and share a bathroom with strangers. At sunrise and sunset there are kangaroos aplenty to watch (but please don’t feed them), and we had king parrots land on our verandah to watch us have breakfast. In the middle of the day, we kept ourselves busy following the bushwalking tracks and exploring the rockpools. In summer it would be a great spot to just relax on the beach – but be careful swimming, as it’s a surf beach that isn’t patrolled.
Food & beverage
We stopped in Batemans Bay for supermarket supplies and cooked in our cabin – and, yes, the water in the cabins is safe for drinking. Had we known in advance that there is a woodfired pizza oven in the campground’s communal kitchen, we would definitely have picked up homemade pizza supplies. There is nowhere to buy food or drinks at the cabins, so make sure you bring enough with you, however ice and firewood are available at the office at the campground if you’re keen to have a picnic out or create a small fire and toast marshmallows.
Explore
There is the whole Murramarang National Park to explore – the beach, the rockpools and a number of bushwalks to suit all sorts of abilities. The office staff on the campground can provide more information about walks throughout the park, but the rainforest walk right on the cabin doorstep is perfect for families wanting to try a first bushwalk with the kids.
READ MORE:
Why we love Shoalhaven and the South Coast
Affordable and accessible – great National Park stays
Where to camp with kids in winter
This story first appeared in Family Travel magazine. To subscribe or read back issues of the magazine, click here.
Janeece Keller is the founder and editor of Family Travel. She mostly travels with her husband and two young kids. She has a large blended family that lives in Australia and Europe. She has visited 52 countries and lived on 3 continents. From camping to luxury resorts Janeece tries to make sure her family has diverse holiday experiences each year. She is an avid hiker and ocean swimmer who loves good food, margaritas and heading off the beaten path.