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Drop everything and head to Depot Beach

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.

Say hi to your neighbours, the Eastern Grey roos! Credit: John Yurasek

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.

Stay nestled beneath the trees in a Forest Cabin. Credit: John Yurasek

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.

Read a book, play boardgames and enjoy tech-free family time. Credit: John Yurasek

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.

The stunning rock pools of Depot Beach Credit: John Yurasek

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.

Bring your lunch for a picnic by the beach. Credit: John Yurasek

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.

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