Swamp House and Bunkhouse
Bundjalung National Park
Overview
Swamp House and Bunkhouse are perfect for large groups exploring Bundjalung National Park, near Yamba. Surrounded by rainforest and close to the beach, enjoy nearby swimming, walks, fishing and paddling.
| Accommodation type | House |
|---|---|
| Where | 75 Woody Head Road, Woody Head, NSW, 2466 - in Bundjalung National Park |
| Bedrooms | 7 |
| Maximum guests | 20 |
| Facilities | Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, carpark, drinking water, showers, toilets, electric power |
| What to bring | Bed sheets, blankets, towels |
| Entry fees |
Park entry fees are not included in your accommodation fees. |
| Please note |
|
Swamp House and the semi-attached Bunkhouse accommodate groups of up to 20 people, with shared facilities. Smaller groups can book the 8-bed Swamp House to themselves, while larger groups can also book Bunkhouse for extra beds. It's ideal for get-togethers with family or friends, team-building weekends or community workshops on the beautiful NSW North Coast.
The bunkhouse-style accommodation is in a secluded spot, surrounded by coastal rainforest and only 300m from the beach at Woody Head.
There are plenty of activities to keep your group busy, from swimming, kayaking, and fishing, to beach walks and rock-pooling. Stroll along Iluka Rainforest walking track, take in the views and spot whales in winter at Iluka Bluff lookout, or book a school excursion in nearby Iluka Nature Reserve.
Inside Swamp House, the air-conditioned lounge room easily doubles as a space for workshops and presentations. After a full day of group activities or outdoor exploring, cook up dinner in the kitchen or use the barbecue facilities, then spot kangaroos as you relax on the verandah or outdoor picnic tables.
Also see
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Woody Head campground
Woody Head campground is one of the best places for a weekend getaway camping by the beach. Bring your caravan, camper trailer or tent and don’t forget your fishing rod.
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Woody Head cottages and cabins
Woody Head cottages and cabins are retro beach shacks between the rainforest and beach in Bundjalung National Park with swimming, paddling and fishing right nearby.
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Forest House
Forest House is great for families or groups looking for a North Coast getaway. It’s nestled in Bundjalung National Park, near Yamba, surrounded by rainforest, rivers and beaches.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/swamp-house/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Bundjalung National Park in the North Coast region
Bundjalung National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Swamp House and Bunkhouse.
Getting there and parking
Swamp House and Bunkhouse are located near Woody Head campground in Bundjalung National Park. To get there:
- From the north, take Iluka Road turnoff, 72km south of Ballina on Pacific Highway.
- From the south, take Iluka Road turn off, 56km north of Grafton.
- Drive along Iluka Road, through Woombah, over the Esk River Bridge for 13km, then follow the signs to Bundjalung National Park and Woody Head campground.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available for up to 4 vehicles. A daily vehicle entry fee applies.
Facilities
Swamp House is fully furnished and includes: a kitchen and food prep room; lounge room/conference area with television and DVD player; a large dining area in the enclosed verandah; and laundry with washing machine and dryer.
- Swamp House sleeps up to 8 guests in 3 bedrooms.
- Bedding configuration: 1 double bed and 1 king single bunk bed; 1 king single bunk bed and 1 king single bed; 1 king single bed.
- The kitchen has a gas stove and oven, microwave, kettle, dishwasher and basic kitchenware, cutlery, glassware and cooking utensils. The attached food prep room has a large fridge with freezer, barbecue grill, table and benchtops.
- There's 1 shower room and toilet with disabled access, as well as 1 male and 1 female toilet. These facilities are accessed externally.
- Air-conditioning is available in the lounge room. All other rooms have ceiling fans.
- If you're using Swamp House for business meetings or training sessions, please bring your own conference equipment and presentation materials.
- There's an overhead projector, retractable screen, whiteboard, tables and chairs to seat 20 people.
- There's an outdoor fire ring and picnic tables.
- Please remove all your items from the fridge and freezer, and leave the house clean and tidy with all kitchen items washed and put away. Additional cleaning fees may apply if unreasonable cleaning is required, and for missing or broken items.
Bunkhouse is semi-attached to Swamp House via a verandah. It can be booked if you need additional accommodation.
- Bunkhouse sleeps up to 12 guests in 4 bedrooms, each with a ceiling fan. There's 1 king single bunk bed and 1 king single bed in each room.
- Bunkhouse has a wash-house with 4 showers and 3 toilet cubicles.
You can also use the facilities at Woody Head campground.
- There's intermittent mobile phone service at Woody Head, however no Wi-Fi is available. There's a pay phone near the Woody Head campground office.
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
You can buy firewood at Woody Head campground kiosk.
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
- Fire rings
Carpark
Drinking water
Town drinking water is available.
Showers
- Hot showers
Electric power
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- Swamp House: The ramp from the external toilets to the verandah is wheelchair accessible. Assistance may be required to access the house, as the sliding door frame is not flat. The width of the sliding door may not accommodate all types of wheelchair.
- Bunkhouse: Not wheelchair accessible.
Prohibited
- Please be considerate of others and keep noise to a reasonable level at all times. Minimum noise levels apply between 10pm and 7am.
- Amplified music is not permitted.
Camping
Camping beside Swamp House and Bunkhouse is not permitted.
Gathering firewood
You can buy firewood at Woody Head campground kiosk.
Generators
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Swamp House and Bunkhouse is in Bundjalung National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
An ancient landscape
At Bundjalung National Park you can visit Gummigurrah, an area that was used as a winter camping ground by the Bandjalung People. This park is one of a group where the Bandjalang People's native title rights have been recognised and is only the third determination of native title rights in New South Wales. Native title rights come from the Bandjalang People's traditional laws and customs and legally recognise the Bandjalang People's connection to Country. This means that these lands will continue to be places of ceremony, learning and inspiration for generations to come.
Meet the locals
The varied habitat of Bundjalung National Park is home to over 140 species of fauna. Wake to the morning melodies of eastern whip-birds, bower birds and the rare barred cuckoo-shrike. At dawn and dusk, you might find eastern grey kangaroos, red-necked wallabies and swamp wallabies congregating around your campsites. Scour the tops of nearby trees and you might also catch a glimpse of a sleeping koala or two.
- Iluka Bluff lookout Stay as long as you like to enjoy the views at Iluka Bluff lookout, near Yamba. Not only is it an excellent whale watching spot, it’s also a great place to picnic.
- Jerusalem Creek walk Keep your eyes peeled for birds nesting along the creek along the Jerusalem Creek walk. Enjoy the hike as a day walk or shorter walk and finish up with a picnic lunch.
Water world
Bundjalung protects a variety of environments that feature water, including beaches, rivers, wetlands and lagoons. You'll find different types of plants, animals and birds in each one; look for coast banksia, coast she-oak and coastal wattle on the dunes that back onto the beach. Immerse yourself in this world by canoeing the waterways, rambling in the rock pools and swimming in the ocean.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied sea eagles can be easily identified by their white tail and dark grey wings. These raptors are often spotted cruising the coastal breezes throughout Australia, and make for some scenic bird watching. Powerful Australian birds of prey, they are known to mate for life, and return each year to the same nest to breed.
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Eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus)
The eastern ground parrot is a beautiful, ground-dwelling native bird that lives in low heathland habitat along the NSW North and South coasts and escarpments. It’s listed as a vulnerable species in NSW.
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Peron's tree frog (Litoria peroni)
Peron’s tree frog is found right across NSW. These tree-climbing and ground-dwelling Australian animals can quickly change colour, ranging from pale green-grey by day, to a reddish brown with emerald green flecks at night. The male frog has a drill-like call, which has been described as a 'maniacal cackle’.
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Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The largest of Australian birds, the emu stands up to 2m high and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. Emus live in pairs or family groups. The male emu incubates and rears the young, which will stay with the adult emus for up to 2 years.
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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.
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Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
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Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.
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Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.