Delicate campground
Goolawah Regional Park
Overview
Delicate campground, in Goolawah Regional Park near Crescent Head, offers beach camping and caravan camping and welcomes those camping with dogs. It’s the ideal Kempsey region camping spot.
| Number of campsites | 40 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Caravan site, Camping beside my vehicle |
| Facilities | Picnic tables, showers, toilets |
| What to bring | Drinking water, cooking water, fuel stove |
| Group bookings | Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry. |
| Please note |
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Create some family memories at Delicate campground. Being located in Goolawah Regional Park, you can even bring your dog along to the campground to join in the the family snaps. A fabulous spot for beach camping, this back-to-basics campground has all the ingredients for a classic beach holiday.
Take your pick of things to do: go surfing near Delicate Nobby; go whale watching or gaze at gulls wheeling in the breeze; go snorkelling or swimming in the clear waters; build a sandcastle or take the kids beachcombing.
Needless to say, this place is popular in summer, so if you’re seeking solitude, try visiting outside peak periods. Spring and autumn offer terrific conditions for beach activities, with the sand dunes keeping the heat and winds at bay.
You can bring your trailer or caravan, and you’re in luck if you want to bring your pooch along as well. Delicate campground is one of the few beach camping areas in northern NSW to allow dogs – though they’re limited to certain areas. Enjoy walking your dog on the off-leash beach or having him or her curl up beside you in your tent at night. Indeed, the things memories are made of.
Also see
-
Melaleuca campground
Melaleuca campground is Limeburners Creek’s best-kept secret. It provides a peaceful sanctuary for walking, surfing, swimming, and relaxing coastal camping.
-
Racecourse campground
Fishing, birdwatching, surfing and whale watching are just some of the things to do at Racecourse campground, a great beach camping site near Crescent Head and Kempsey.
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/campgrounds/delicate-campground/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
Operated by
- Kempsey office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6561 6700
- npws.hastingsmacleay@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 247 Old Station Rd, Verges Creek NSW 2440
Park info
- in Goolawah Regional Park in the North Coast region
Goolawah Regional Park is always open, but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Delicate campground.
Getting there and parking
Delicate campground is located in Goolawah Regional Park. To get there:
- From South Kempsey, take Crescent Head Road.
- Just after entering Crescent Head village, take the prominent right turn to Point Plomer Road.
- Continue along Point Plomer Road until you find Goolawah Regional Park, which commences after Racecourse Headland.
- It’s a 10km drive from Crescent Head Road to Delicate campground
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to this campground can become potholed and boggy when it rains.
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- Dry weather only
Parking
Parking is available at Delicate campground at your campsite and along the unsealed gravel access road.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Goolawah Regional Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
This is a great time to go beachcombing, feel the sand between your toes on a beach walk, and breathe in the salty sea air. The water is still quite warm in autumn, too, so a swim is certainly not out of the question.
Spring
Roam through the park in spring to go birdwatching and see the coastal heathlands bursting with wildflowers. The colourful banksias and bottlebrush will catch your eye instantly.
Summer
Bring your towel and bathers, you'll find Goolawah Beach a great spot for swimming, surfing and snorkeling.
Winter
Winter is the time for whale watching. Plan a winter trip if you prefer a quieter camping experience. Campgrounds are less crowded at this time of year.
Facilities
- Drinking water is not available at this campground.
- Unpotable bore water is available at this campground
- Firewood can be purchased from the campground manager
Toilets
There are accessible flush toilets in the main amenities block at this campground. You'll also find non-flush toilets at the northern end of the campground.
- Flush toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Showers
Cold water beach showers are available but there is no private shower block. The showers are accessible with assistance.
- Cold showers
Step-free access
The campground is mostly flat and step-free, with a paved footpath that leads around the amenities and 2 pathways that lead to the beach.
To get to the other areas of the campground, you'll need to cross over flat grass and hard-packed ground.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Seats and resting points
There's a bench seat at the northern end of the campground.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Delicate campground is mostly flat and step-free, with:
- A paved pathway that leads to the amenities and pathways that lead to the beach
- Accessible toilets in the main amenities block
- A bench seat at the northern end of the campground for resting
You'll need to cross over grass and hard-packed ground to get to the parts of the campground that aren't along pathways. Assistance may be required due to uneven surfaces.
Permitted
Camp fires and solid fuel burners
Fire rings are not provided. Fires are permitted in off the ground braziers only. Campers are encouraged to bring their own portable braziers and fuel stoves but hire is available from the campground manager.
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Pets
- Dogs may be brought into Goolawah Regional Park, including Delicate campground, as long as park restrictions surrounding dogs are observed. Dogs are not permitted in adjacent Goolawah National Park or Limeburners Creek National Park.
- For their safety, dogs should be immunised and protected from ticks.
- Dogs must be supervised and on leash at all times in the campground and along walking tracks.
- Please do not bring un-desexed dogs in season – they may attract dingoes.
Prohibited
On-ground campfires are prohibited. Fines apply.
Gathering firewood
Firewood is not provided for wood barbecues and may not be collected from the park, so please bring your own supply.
Generators
Generators are not permitted in this campground.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.