Latest news
Welcome to the latest news page for Booderee National Park. As you can see, there is always lots going on! Feel free to pass these stories around or contact us if you would like more information.
Summercloud Bay temporary closure
Summercloud Bay
15 May 2013
The Wreck Bay Community has closed access to the Summercloud Bay carpark, day use picnic area and walking trails until further notice.
These areas at Summercloud Bay are not in Booderee National Park, but on land owned and managed by the Wreck Bay Community.
We encourage visitors to make use of the many other wonderful spots within the national park and to use other roads and trails to access Booderee's beaches.
If you have further inquiries please contact the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council at admin@wbacc.gov.au
Campfire yarns with Galamban
11 April 2013
Galamban is running the campfire yarns during the autumn school holiday activities! Snuggle up around the campfire with billy tea, milo and damper and listen to local Aboriginal people tell stories of the beginnings and beliefs of Booderee and its inhabitants. Join us at the Bristol Point day use area on 13, 20 and 27 April at 6.00 pm. Cost is $20 per person.
Download the flyer (PDF - 230KB)
Booderee is a wonderful place to stay for the autumn school holidays
10 April 2013
The nights are getting a bit cooler, but the days are still magical and it is the perfect time of year for camping! Bring the kids to Booderee this school holidays where they can join in with all the fun activities we have planned. Learn about nature, Aboriginal culture and the park history while getting your hands dirty and exploring the park with our friendly staff.
Download the autumn program | Camping at Booderee
Booderee - no changes to fishing
14 March 2013
The New South Wales Government changes to line fishing in marine sanctuaries have no impact on anglers at Booderee National Park.
Fishers may already use lines from Booderee's beaches. There is no land access to New South Wales waters between Steamers Headland and St Georges Head as the area is dominated by high and dangerous cliffs.
Booderee is a Commonwealth reserve managed under Australian Government environmental law.
For information on changes to the Jervis Bay Marine Park visit http://www.mpa.nsw.gov.au/jbmp.html
Find more on where you can safely fish at Booderee National Park
Join Galamban to 'Black Out Booderee' for Earth Hour
12 March 2013
Turn your lights out with Galamban for Earth Hour - from 7.30pm on 23 March.
Learn the local Aboriginal stories of the night sky - the seven sisters, the time of the two moons and the Milky Way.
Runs for about two hours, meet at the Bristol Point day-use area | Bookings essential | $20 per person.
Download the flyer (PDF - 276 KB) | Learn more about Earth Hour
Total fire ban today
18 January 2013
There is a total fire ban in place at Booderee National Park from midnight last night. Authorities have advised us to expect warm to hot weather conditions today, with a high to very high fire risk for coastal areas. For visitor safety, we have also closed:
- All walking trails
- The Botanic Gardens
- Stoney Creek Road
- Ellmoos Road
Campers and day visitors are welcome to use Green Patch, Bristol Point, Murrays Beach and Caves Beach which will remain open.
While firefighters are continuing to battle the Deans Gap fire west of Sussex Inlet, it has yet to be completely contained. Our staff are monitoring all our park's campgrounds, roads and trails.
If you have any questions please ring 02 4442 1006. Remember, in an emergency dial 000.
We will continue to provide updates via our website and Facebook.
Cool change but total fire ban remains
12 January 2013
Booderee National Park will be ready to welcome campers on Sunday 13 January, in milder weather.
While the Deans Gap fire is posing no immediate threat to life or property, the fire has increased in size and has not been contained. The fire poses a risk to Booderee National Park if it jumps Sussex Inlet.
Due to the very dry fuel conditions, a total fire ban remains in place for the park until 9.00 am on Monday 14 January.
Our staff are continuing to monitor all our park's campgrounds, roads and trails. All roads in the park are now open but all walking trails remain closed.
If you have any questions please ring our visitor centre on 02 4443 0977.
Plan your trip to Booderee with our new look school holiday calendar
18 December 2012
There's plenty to do this summer holidays for the kids - take a walk in the Koori gardens, join us on the Booderee Bug Hunt, learn about Aboriginal tools and technology, bush tucker and medicines, try some birdwatching for beginners, or enjoy some yarns around the campfire at night.
We've got a brand new look for our school holiday program, so check it out and start planning your visit to Booderee now!
Find out more about the school holiday program for summer 2012-2013
Healthy Learning Program - helping kids learn about Booderee
16 November 2012
Booderee National Park's Healthy Learning Program is a fun educational resource aimed at students from year five to year eight. It covers a range of school curriculum subjects including Human Society and Its Environment, English, Maths, Science and Technology, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Drama and Visual Arts. A Teacher's Guide is also included to provide an introduction and overview of the program.
Download the Healthy Learning Program material
Update on Murray's new wharf
2 November 2012
Booderee is constructing a new wharf at Murray’s Beach, to provide simpler and safer boating for park users. The wharf will replace the old timber jetty known as Murray’s Wharf that had to be removed for public safety following major structural damage last summer. We’ve completed the design of the new wharf and have put the construction work out to tender. We expect construction of the wharf to commence in early February 2013. Murray’s boat ramp will remain open throughout the Christmas holiday period, until the end of January 2013. Construction in February 2013 may require us to close the boat ramp for a period of time.
More about boating in Booderee National Park
Spring is in the air for the school holidays at Booderee
14 September 2012
It's finally starting to warm up after the long winter. Plants are blossoming and animals busily preparing for the warmer weather - and so are the Booderee staff! We have a fantastic school holiday program planned for spring, so check out the program and plan to spend some time at Booderee this holidays.
Download the spring program | Camping at Booderee
New walk - Munyunga waraga dhugan - 'White-bellied sea eagle's home camp'
27 July 2012
Our new 2.5 hour Munyunga waraga dhugan loop walk is a great starting point to experience Booderee’s natural and cultural features. Meaning ‘white-bellied sea eagle's home camp’ in the Dhurga language of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal people, the walk is a self-guided tour giving you the chance to learn all about the plants, animals, culture and history of the park.
Find out about this walk | Other walks at Booderee
Our blog has moved
19 July 2012
Our blog has moved! Don't worry, you will automatically be redirected to the new blog site, but you may wish to update your bookmarks to:
Get all the latest exciting news from Parks Australia!
Update on Murray's Beach boat ramp
12 July 2012
Booderee National Park is in the process of designing and constructing a replacement access jetty, to provide simpler and safer boating for park users. Booderee is investing around $200,000 to build a replacement jetty within the sheltered waters of the Murray's Beach break wall. The original timber jetty had to be removed for public safety reasons following major structural damage last summer. Murray's boat ramp remains open, so people can continue to launch vessels in Booderee. We're pleased to announce structural engineers have now been engaged to develop the detailed drawings and specifications for the construction of the new jetty. We apologise for any inconvenience to our visitors in the meantime.
Humpback whale | Matt Cross
NAIDOC Week celebrations and winter school holiday fun at Booderee
29 June 2012
This winter we are inviting you to Booderee to celebrate NAIDOC Week with us - and enjoy our first ever winter school holiday program. The first activity is our 'campfire yarns', this Saturday evening (30 June). There will also be whale watching and an Aboriginal tools and technology activity. Bookings are required for some activities, so check out the program for all the details.
Download the winter school holiday program
Learn an ancient tradition
10 June 2012
Learn natural weaving techniques with Booderee's traditional owners.
Galamban Extraordinary Aboriginal Experiences is hosting a full day weaving workshop at Booderee Botanic Gardens from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on 10 June 2012.
Share billy tea and stories while learning this ancient craft. Bookings are essential. $100 per person.
Download the flyer (PDF - 2 MB)
Humpback whale
It's whale watching time!
30 May 2012
Join us and the ORRCA team on Whale Census Day, Sunday 24 June, at the Cape St George Lighthouse. Enjoy damper, billy tea and learn about the cultural significance of the sea from one of Booderee's traditional owners - Julie Freeman of Galamban Aboriginal Experiences.
Booderee National Park is one of the best places on the South Coast to view the whale migration north during late June and early July - the peak time to see these majestic creatures.
Download the flyer (PDF - 1.07 MB) | Listen to the whale watching podcast | More on whale watching
Click to download PDF (202 KB)
Join Galamban to 'Black Out Booderee' for Earth Hour
15 March 2012
Turn your lights out with Galamban for Earth Hour - 7.30pm on 31 March.
Learn the local Aboriginal stories of the night sky - the seven sisters, the time of the two moons and the Milky Way.
Runs for about two hours, meet at the Bristol Point day-use area | Bookings essential | $20 per person.
Download the flyer (PDF - 202 KB) | Learn more about Earth Hour
Eastern spinebill
Hop on down to Booderee National Park for the Easter holidays
15 March 2012
Keep the kids thoroughly entertained this Easter with a visit to Booderee! From campfire yarns, bush tucker tours to bird watching for beginners - there's something for everyone. Our autumn school holiday program starts on Easter Saturday this year - check it out online.
Download the Autumn program | Camping at Booderee
Congratulations Wreck Bay community - 25 years since handback
Dancing at Booderee
8 March 2012
Today the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community celebrates 25 years since the historic handback of their community lands at Jervis Bay.
The celebrations mark the significant moment in March 1987 when the Australian Government handed 403 hectares of Wreck Bay community lands back to their traditional owners.
See the media release | Booderee culture and history
Safer boating at Booderee
Boating at Booderee | Image June Andersen
23 February 2012
Booderee National Park is building a new short-term tie-up and loading jetty, to make boating safer and simpler for everyone who loves the park.
The park is investing around $200,000 to build the specially-designed mooring system at Murrays Beach.
Park manager Scott Suridge said the new jetty would replace the existing old wooden jetty structure, known as Murrays wharf. Murrays boat ramp, next to the old wharf, will remain open to the public, and people can load and unload passengers and equipment from there.
More on boating | Walks at Murrays Beach
Booderee birds - free iPhone app now available on iTunes
12 January 2012
Parks Australia has just released its first iPhone app!
It's a bit of a guide on what birds you can expect to see while at Booderee National Park. It contains images, bird calls and descriptions of what the birds look like, how they nest and breed and also what they eat. You can also find out where you are most likely to see them in the park.
The app contains some other helpful information, such as different walks to take and suggested itineraries for when you visit the park.
There are several podcasts included and information on the Botanic Gardens too.
The best part is it's free!
Learn more about Booderee's birds
Myrtle rust at Booderee - how you can help
Myrtle rust | CSIRO
7 December 2011
Myrtle rust is a fungal plant disease now widespread across New South Wales and Queensland. It's already known to occur in the Shoalhaven region but we've recently discovered the fungus in Booderee National Park.
There are lots of things people can do to help prevent the further spread of myrtle rust - click on the link below to see how you can help.
Spot a king parrot on the birdwatching activity | Andy Mc
Plan a summer holiday at Booderee with our school holiay activities program
5 December 2011
Summer is a fabulous time at Booderee. Our summer school holiday program runs for six weeks, so there is plenty to keep the kids entertained. Our friendly and informative park staff will take the kids on guided walks, show them traditional tools, bush tucker and medicine, go birdwatching and tell some yarns around the campfire, as well as many more fun and educational activities.
Download the Summer program | Camping at Booderee
Booderee spring news | eNewsletter
October 2011
Find out all about what has been happening in the park over the last couple of months.
See the newsletter | Subscribe
New bush medicine and tools video
23 September 2011
Bernie McLeod, traditional owner and Booderee Botanic Gardens curator, discusses traditional bush medicine techniques and tools used by the Wreck Bay people.
Watch the video | Learn more about Aboriginal culture and history
Booderee podcasts now online
23 September 2011
Five podcasts from our new Booderee series are now online. Hear an introduction to the Wreck Bay Community and some information on the Botanic Gardens from traditional owner Bernie McLeod. Long-term park staff member Martin Fortescue talks about Green Patch, Telegraph Creek Nature Trail and Cape St George lighthouse.
Guided walks with the rangers
The school holidays are approaching...
15 September 2011
Keep the kids entertained these school holidays while you relax by the campfire at Booderee. Our friendly and informative park staff will take the kids on guided walks, show them traditional tools, bush tucker and medicine and tell some yarns around the campfire.
Download the Spring program | Camping at Booderee
Southern migration has started for humpback whales
Humpback whale | Matt Cross
5 September 2011
August is traditionally a quiet month for sighting humpback whales off the Jervis Bay coast, as the majority of whales have passed during June and July, heading north to Queensland to their winter breeding grounds. However, the number of sightings in August has increased from past years with some whales already beginning their long migration south. Marine Mammal Research (MMR) and the University of Sydney is currently looking at the abundance of whales that congregate in Jervis Bay.
MMR field assistants have sighted a total of 131 whales around the Jervis Bay area, which included 129 humpback whales and 2 southern rights whales. Of these, there was a total of 108 adults, 15 sub adults and four cow/calf pairs. Most of these sightings were of whales heading north, while 28 had already commenced their long southern migration by the end of the 2nd week of August. MMR team members have photographed a number of the tail flukes - which are individually distinctive, very similar to the fingerprints of humans, which will be added to the MMR photo identification catalogue which assists with re-sightings of these whales.
Find out more about whale watching at Booderee | Find out more about Marine Mammal Research
Christmas camping ballot forms for Green Patch and Bristol Point available now
13 July 2011
Camping over the Christmas period at Booderee is so popular that we use a ballot system to ensure everyone has a fair chance to stay. The form is available now, submissions are from August 1 to August 21.
Download the ballot form | Find out more about camping at Booderee
Annual ORRCA national whale Census day!
26 June 2011
Its that time again! Each year ORRCA members, Booderee National Park staff and the public count the Humpback and Southern Right whales as they begin their annual northern migration. Cape St George Historic Lighthouse in the Booderee National Park provides a great platform to watch and count these whales.
With over 1,000 whales sighted on last years National Whale Census Day form all over Australia. You can get involved, It is free to take part and a great way for the whole family to be involved in whale research.
Booderee National Park will have activities for the kids, Billy tea and damper available on the day. Find out more on our whale page.
Booderee National Park management plan (DRAFT)
4 May 2011
The draft Booderee National Park management plan has been released and is open to comment. When finalised, this plan will guide management of the park for 10 years from 2011.
Comments must be submitted by Tuesday 2 August 2011. | N.B. The period for comments has now closed - 2 August 2011
Download the management plan | View the media release
Easter school holiday program
Join us for an exciting range of activities for all ages and interests. Take a stroll with a traditional owner and learn about edible plants, medicines, and tools or join us for some bird watching, some Koori games or even some campfire yarns!
Find out more and how to book - contact the Booderee Visitor centre on (02) 4443 0977.
Caring for country - Indigenous Protected Areas land managers meet at Booderee
22 March 2011
More than 200 Indigenous land managers and rangers from across Australia are gathering at Booderee this week to explore how Indigenous Protected Areas protect our environment and help Close the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.
See the media release for more information
Booderee autumn news | eNewsletter
March 2011
Find out all about what has been happening in the park over the last couple of months. See the edition | Subscribe
King parrot | Andy Mc
Plenty to see at Booderee in 2011
Don't let the recent rain put you off - Booderee's birds are loving it! There are more than 200 species of birds for you to see at this award-winning national park. If you've been to Booderee recently we'd love to know which birds you have seen! Comments are welcome on our Parks Australia blog.
Visit our blog | Learn more about Booderee's birds
