Sandon River Camping Ground
10-Sep-2010
Last Friday we set up camp for folk at Sandon River Camping Ground in the Yuraygir National Park which is 9km down a dirt road from Brooms Head which is 23km South East of Maclean on the Clarence River, northern NSW. Havn''t been down here for a couple of years and it was great to see how well it has recovered since the '09 bush fires that devastated the area.
Isn't camping a great equalizer, on the oposite bank of Sandon River we see fibro shacks which have been sold for over a million dollars and on our side $10 a night camping fees with a flush toilet but bring your own shower. The camp sites either overlook the ocean or the river with a boat ramp giving access for fishing up the river or out to sea.
If you land over at the township, a nice walk can be had on the forestry roads which take a loop around back to the town. It follows the river for a little way then up to a lookout for broader views. Never know what you will see on these walks between the beautiful wildflowers which are prolific at this time of year, echidna, wallabies, lizards, emus and birds of many varieties.
On a walk near the campsite when the tide was out, we saw a Beach Stone Curlew of which there are only 7 breeding pairs left in NSW and both Pied and Sooty Oyster Catchers both on the protected list on the sand flats and amongst the mangrove roots. We had Whistling Kite's whistling overhead preparing their nest for the season and catching fish. Speaking of which we saw two large Rock Black Fish caught from the rocks near the boat ramp and a small shovel nose shark which was released back into the water. I heard Bream, Whiting, and Flathead were also on the menu. Nobody went outside as the ocean and bar was pretty rough.
When the tide is out you can walk out to Plover Island and fish off the rocks that surround it or climb up to the top and look out to sea or up and down the coastline. Occasionally Whales can be spied swimming by, or dolphins playing and turtles feeding on the weed in the mouth of the river.
It is also great to snorkel around the island or in the river when the water is clear. Never know what you might see!
Surfers paddle over to the township and walk south to the surf beach when the surf is quiet at Sandon River Camping Ground. Did I mention that the residents at Sandon Village have to travel up the beach in 4x4's from Minnie Waters at low tide as there is no main road there. They do have a very rough track the National Parks maintain but too rough for regular use. I believe in the old days there was a track skirting around Sandon River from near the camping ground but is impassable now.
Happy Camping from Anne & Ed
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Happy Camping from Anne & Ed
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