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DESCRIPTION
Ben Boyd National Park is named after Benjamin Boyd - a 19th century entrepreneur who played an important role in the early development of the local area.
One of Boyd's initiatives around Eden was to erect a lighthouse tower at the southern entrance to Twofold Bay.
Whilst this tower was never actually used as a lighthouse, it did provide a handy lookout point for many years from which Eden's shore based whalers could watch for whales migrating along the coastline.
In addition to this and other historical features of interest, the park is renowned for its colourful and rugged coastline, produced as a result of extensive folding in the area.
In all some 30 km of coastline is protected within the park and this asset provides the major attraction for the tens of thousands of visitors to the area each year.
TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS
The CMA 1:25 000 maps which cover the park are (from north to south):
- Pambula 8824-II-S
- Eden 8823-I-N
- Kiah 8823-I-S
CAMPING INFORMATION
Camping facilities are located in the south of the park at Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee.
CAMPING FEES
Adults $5.00 per night
Children (5-15 years) $3.00
Under 5 years FREE
PLUS a Park Use Fee of $7 per vehicle, per day is payable on top of the camping fees.
To book a site please write to the NPWS Merimbula Office, PO Box 656, MERIMBULA 2548 or drop into shop on the corner of Sapphire Coast and Merimbula Drives or phone (02) 64955001.
Your letter should include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and detail:
- the particular campground of interest
- the number of adults and children (please indicate age) in your group
- your preferred dates (maximum camping period 14 days with bookings over Christmas taken on a weekly basis only from Saturday to Saturday and for a minimum of 7 nights over Easter).
NPWS staff will then contact you regarding the availability or otherwise of campground sites for your requested dates and the amount owing. You will need to forward the appropriate sum to the NPWS Merimbula office in order to confirm your booking.
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FACILITIES
Camping facilities are located in the south of the park at Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee Bay. Picnic facilities are provided at Haycock Point in the north of the park and Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee in the south.
Popular lookout spots include the Pinnacles in the northern section and Boyds Tower and Disaster Bay lookouts in the south. Whilst there is no access to the top of Boyds Tower, lookout platforms are in place at the cliff edge to provide you with striking coastal views.
The Light to Light walktrack runs from Boyds Tower to Green Cape Lighthouse. It is the park's most popular walk. Camping is available at Saltwater Creek and Bittangabee Bay in the southern section of Ben Boyd.
Backpack camping is available at Hegartys Bay. Other popular visitor areas include Severs Beach and Barmouth Beach in the north of the park. These provide sheltered beachside locations in a riverside environment.
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RECREATION
Striking coastal scenery and a range of both sheltered and surfing beaches are a feature of Ben Boyd National Park. Accordingly the park provides for a range of activities revolving around the enjoyment of these resources. Picnicking, swimming and generally exploring the coastal environment for example are very popular activities within the park. Whilst some camping facilities are provided (see details above) most visitors tend to be daytrippers relying on accommodation in neighbouring towns.
The park has two important historical features which help to link it to the early European settlement of the local area. These are Boyds Tower located on the southern headland of Twofold Bay and Bittangabee Ruins in the south of the park at Bittangabee. When visiting Boyds Tower, it is worthwhile to drop into the Davidson Whaling Station Historic Site located just off from the road leading into the tower (Edrom Rd). Taken together with a visit to the Eden Killer Whale Museum, a visit to these two locations provides a good opportunity to appreciate the way in which shore based whaling operations were undertaken at Eden in the 19th century. A lookout at Boyds Tower also provides an excellent vantage point from which to look for whales migrating along the NSW coastline.
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LOCATION & ACCESS
Access to the northern section of the park is via Haycock Rd which leaves the Princes Hwy 8 km north of Eden. Access to the southern section is via Edrom Rd which leads off from the Princes Hwy 18km south of Eden.
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