Myall reconnaissance

There are 22 camp grounds within Myall Lakes National Park of which seven allow open fires and have car access. I checked out the following seven sites:

• Stewart and Lloyds

• Banksia Green

• Dee’s Corner

• The Wells

• Korsmans Landing

• Bungarie Bay

• Violet Hill

All have a shitter but no drinking water. All cost seven bucks per night with an additional charge of seven bucks per vehicle per day. 

Turning off the Pacific Highway near that hideous undersized Uluru replica (at Tea Gardens Rd), I checked out Stewart & Lloyds camp ground first via Mungo Brush Road. I did stop in at Hawks Nest and I can report that the bakery does a good meat pie. This little township is relatively close to Stewart & Lloyds and the meat pie did leave a good first impression.

 Stewart & Lloyds

About 10km along Mungo Brush Road there is a right-hand turn-off into Stewart & Lloyds. This place has 12 camp sites (which would probably fit a few tents on each site) that are well spaced out and beneath an Angophora canopy. This is a special place tucked right behind the dunes. There is easy access to beach (OK for surf although this stretch isn’t noted for it). It probably offers good beach fishing. Open fires are allowed anywhere (within reason) at the camp site. This place was awesome but it would be a bit of a trek over to the river (for fishing) and a short drive to Myall Lakes at Mungo Brush. Great place to pitch a tent, protected from the wind, good beach fishing but there are better options if we want access to the lake.

Stewart and Lloyds camp area and my new car

Camp area tucked behind dune

 Banksia Green

Next up was along Mungo Brush Road was Banksia Green (15 sites). This place was very close to the beach, an easy stroll over a small dune. Probably good beach fishing, OK surf at times and open fires weren’t restricted to fireplaces. The place was quite busy when I visited which in part may have been due to there being better campervan access compared to Stewart & Lloyds and it is closer to the lake. The camp area is very open as can be seen in the picture. It is just down the road from Mungo Brush and lake access. My thought was it wasn’t as impressive as Stewart & Lloyds and campers were in closer proximity to each other.

Banksia Green

Just over the dune (Banksia Green)

 Dee’s Corner

Next was Dee’s Corner which was just past Mungo Brush camping area. Fantastic positioning - right on the lake.  However, it was packed and frequently is (spoke to the NPWS people). I think this is because it is on the lake in a popular part of the park (close to Mungo Brush) and has caravan/campervan access.  The place was filled mainly with campervans. Next.

Dee's Corner - very popular.

 The Wells

Around the corner is The Wells which is more camping oriented (12 sites). Also right on the lake and similar to Dees Corner but probably more of a chance to get a spot. This place also seemed to have a bit more space between sites. Fires restricted to fireplaces as is the case for four of the seven camp grounds, however, they are right next to camp sites and are not flame inhibiting. This place is a bit of a winner although may need an early bird to nab a spot. It is difficult for me to comment on fishing in the lake, as it’s not my scene, although I will point out that it appears quite shallow.

The Wells

View from The Wells

Overview of sites along Mungo Brush road

 Korsmans Landing

OK, next up was Korsmans Landing which involved a trip on the punt (five bucks). The punt operates til 6pm otherwise access Korsmans via Bulahdelah. The next three sites had blue-green algae alerts so this would have to be checked before we went. Korsmans was a nice place with both positives and negatives in my opinion. The camping are felt like a picnic ground in one part and a carpark in another.  I think this would be a great spot to drop a line and it has a little wharf. It also has a boat ramp and is the access point for water hoons. Can’t say this spot did it for me. For such a nice spot I thought the camp area lacked the essential qualities and it felt very picnic area-like, which isn’t really my scene. 

Punt details

Korsmans campsite in foreground

A wharf!

 Bungarie Bay

Onwards to the last two spots. Drove back up to Buhladelah and had a hamburger, chips and coke. Good but next time I’ll go to the pub. Go up the highway to The Lakes Way as though going to Seal Rocks but turn down Violet Hill Road. This goes down to Bungarie Bay and Violet Hill campgrounds. Certainly no surfing here. First up was Bungarie Bay which was a neat little place with just seven sites. Place was virtually empty and was right on the lake. The sites were well spaced out. Very nice.

Bungarie Bay

B-Bay

Violet Hill

Violet Hill campground was much larger (40 sites) with a picnic area. Camp sites had the picnic ground feel and like Korsmans was slightly distanced from the lake edge which was reserved for day-use. Had nice pontoon and wharf which would probably be good for throwing in a line and had a good amount of space for kicking or hitting a ball around.

Violet Hill

Violet Hill

Why is this sideways?