National park · Australia
Deua National Park
Go for a full day from Moruya or Batemans Bay: drive Araluen Road to the Bendethera turn-off, walk to Bendethera Cave (2–3 h return), and camp free at Bendethera Valley ($6 booking fee) rather than trying to see the park in an afternoon.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,220 km²471 sq mi
approximate
Established
1979
Best months
Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 1,220 km²471 sq mi
- About 1,220 km² of forested ranges and river valleys inland from the Eurobodalla coast (check).
- Established
- 1979
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Deua National Park is a 1,220 km² block of forested ranges, limestone karst and river valleys inland from the Eurobodalla coast, about 45–75 minutes from Moruya up Araluen Road. It has no entry fee and no visitor centre: you drive in, follow trail signs, and the park's signature walk is the rough track from Bendethera Valley campground to Bendethera Cave, 2–3 hours return. Camping is free at six designated campgrounds with a small online booking fee, and the last access road into Bendethera is unsealed and best with a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle. The park is quiet because almost everyone on this stretch of coast stays on the beaches; weekdays you may see no one on the trails. The trade-off is remoteness — patchy phone signal, long dirt drives, bushfire risk in summer and cold frosty nights in winter — so treat it as a full day or an overnight from Moruya or Batemans Bay, not an afternoon stop.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1979.
Size and age
1,220 km²471 sq mi · national park since 1979
About 1,220 km² of forested ranges and river valleys inland from the Eurobodalla coast (check).
Why go
- One of the largest forest and rainforest blocks on the NSW south coast, with pinkwood and eucalypt stands of regional importance.
- Bendethera Cave and the limestone valley below it are the park's signature walk, reached by a rough 4WD track.
- Free campgrounds inside the park, with a small booking fee, let you sleep in the forest instead of driving back to the coast.
- Quiet compared with the beaches: most Eurobodalla visitors stay on the coast, so trails are often empty on weekdays.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot; 30 °C+ in the valleys, fire riskHot; 86 °F+ in the valleys, fire risk
- FebHot and humid; storms
- MarWarm days, cooler nights
- AprMild, dry, clear
- MayCool; frost in the valleys at night
- JunCold nights; quiet trails
- JulColdest month; snow rare, frost common
- AugCold, often clear; good walking
- SepWarming, wildflowers starting
- OctMild and dry; best all-round month
- NovWarm; afternoon storms build
- DecHot and busy on the coast; fire risk
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies in the valleysAll year · Most active at dawn and dusk; drive slowly on the access roads. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wombats and echidnasMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Forest birds, including lyrebirds and cockatoosMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| SnakesOct–Mar · Warm months; watch where you put hands and feet on the cave track. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Moruya
Araluen Road west out of town, then follow signs to the park and the Bendethera turn-off; the last section is unsealed.
45–75 min
From Batemans Bay
North on the Princes Highway to Moruya, then Araluen Road into the park.
1.5–2 h
From Canberra
Drive via Braidwood and Araluen, or via Cooma Road to the northern campgrounds.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Sydney
Princes Highway south to Moruya, then inland; a long day trip, better as an overnight.
4.5–5.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Bendethera Valley | Limestone valley with the park's main campground and the walk to Bendethera Cave. | Rough unsealed access road; 4WD or high clearance recommended (check). |
| Deua River valley | The river and its campgrounds along the Araluen Road side of the park. | Open; some campgrounds are walk-in from the road. |
| Berlang and the Shoalhaven headwaters | Northern section with the Berlang campground and river access. | Open; unsealed roads, check conditions after rain. |
| Wyanbene and the southern ranges | Remote forest, karst and the Wyanbene campground. | Open; long dirt drives, no facilities. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entry fee for Deua National Park; NSW parks charge only where a fee is posted at the gate (check). |
| Campground booking fee | AUD 6 | booking | Camping itself is free at the park's campgrounds; a booking fee applies (check). |
| Bendethera Valley campground | Free | night | Free, plus the booking fee; no power, no water. |
| Berlang campground | Free | night | Free, plus the booking fee; about 10 unmarked, unpowered sites by the Shoalhaven River (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Camping booking permit or guide
Park entry no permit
Bendethera Cave access no permit
Park rules
- Fires
- Only in provided fireplaces and only outside total fire bans; check the NSW RFS ban status before you light anything.
- Camping
- Camp only at the six designated campgrounds; book online in advance.
- Water
- Treat or boil river and creek water before drinking.
- Cave and karst
- Do not touch or remove formations; take out everything you bring in.
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the park; leave pets at your coastal accommodation.
Where to stay
In the park
Bendethera Valley campground
The park's main campground, in the valley below the cave; free plus a booking fee, suitable for groups.
In the park
Berlang campground
About 10 unmarked, unpowered sites by the Shoalhaven River in the park's north.
In the park
Deua River, Bakers Flat, Dry Creek and Wyanbene campgrounds
Smaller free campgrounds spread through the park; basic or no facilities (check).
Near the park
Moruya and Batemans Bay
Motels, holiday parks and Airbnbs on the coast, 45–90 min from the park gates.
Safety
Remote roads and no phone signal high
Bushfire high
Slippery cave track medium
Heat in the valleys medium
Wildlife on the road medium
Accessibility
- The Araluen Road drive and some riverside campgrounds are reachable by car with short, flat walks.
- The Bendethera Cave track and most remote trails are rough, unsealed and not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish out; there are no bins at the remote campgrounds.
- Use the online booking system so park staff know how many people are in the valley.
- Keep to tracks in the karst areas to protect formations and vegetation.
- Buy supplies in Moruya or Batemans Bay so the coastal towns keep the benefit of park visitors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Deua National Park?
Nothing. There is no entry fee for day visits. Camping is free at the park's campgrounds, but a booking fee of about A$6 applies when you reserve online (check).
What are the best hikes in Deua National Park?
The Bendethera Cave walk from Bendethera Valley campground is the main one: 2–3 hours return, moderate, with a steep slippery finish. Shorter riverside walks from the Deua River campgrounds suit hot days, and the Wyanbene karst area is for fit, self-reliant walkers with a torch and map.
When is the best time to visit Deua National Park?
March, April, September and October: mild, mostly dry and good for walking. Summer (December–February) is hot in the valleys with high fire risk, and winter nights are cold with frost, though trails stay quiet.
Do I need a 4WD to reach Bendethera?
The final access road to Bendethera Valley is unsealed and rough; a 4WD or high-clearance vehicle is the safe choice, especially after rain (check current conditions with NSW National Parks).
Can I camp for free in Deua National Park?
Camping is free at the designated campgrounds, including Bendethera Valley and Berlang, but you must book online and pay the small booking fee. Facilities are basic: no power, no drinking water, and no bins.
Is Deua National Park worth visiting from Batemans Bay?
Yes, as a full day or an overnight. It is a 1.5–2 hour drive from Batemans Bay to the park, so a day trip works only if you start early; camping in the valley makes the trip much better.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go