We loved exploring Cape Conran National Park in Victoria’s East Gippsland region.
Banksia Bluff is one of those rare PARKS campgrounds where dogs are allowed. In fact, there is a mixture of unpowered dog friendly and non-dog friendly campsites. Dogs must be on a lead.
The popular campground has 135 sites spread out over a kilometre, set amongst mahogany gum and banksia woodland.
Campfires are permitted on selected sites and must be within a fire ring. Flushing toilets and an outdoor cold shower is available. All sites have some shade and are generally large. Toilets are flushing, tables, fireplaces, cold showers and bore water on tap. BYO drinking water, surf board, fishing gear and dogs!
You might spot New Holland Honeyeaters and Lace Monitor goannas. From May to October, look out for whales on their annual migration. Wombats, Southern Brown Bandicoots, Long-nosed Potoroos and birds such as the New White-bellied Sea Eagle are also locals!
We hiked along the Southern Ocean and the Bass Strait. Our boys loved the rockhopping and we are pleased to hear a new boardwalk has been built. It is made from locally-sourced hardwood, spans forty metres to connect West Cape and the Salmon Rocks beach.
Bushfires swept through the park in 2020, destroying many of the park’s facilities, including cabins which are now rebuilt.
Activities:
- A great park for water activities – enjoy swimming, diving, boating, fishing or rock pooling.
- See seals at Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary.
- Dive or snorkel at Joiner’s Channel or West Cape.
- East Cape Boardwalk with interpretive signs explain the Aboriginal history of the Cape.
- Experience the park by foot on the self-guided Cape Conran Nature Trail or a day walk.
As well as the bookable sites at Banksia Bluff, Cape Conran Coastal Park is home to many non bookable campsites, too. This includes four sites at Pearl Point and two at Gunnai Beach. They are unpowered with no facilities.
Cape Conran Coastal Park is approximately 5-hours drive east of Melbourne. To access Banksia Bluff Campground, follow the Princes Highway East before turning onto Marlo Road at Orbost. At Marlo, turn onto Marlo-Conran Road which leads directly to Banksia Bluff Campground.
Find this site and more nearby in the CAMPS guide books, CAMPS Pendium boxed set and CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App.
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