As others have noted there is a friendly atmosphere and I for one enjoyed my time in Moruya.
John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Saturday 30th of March 2013 07:15:46 PM
Happy Daze said
11:06 PM Mar 30, 2013
I'm sure lots of Grey Nomads would be familiar with this spot near the airport. We recently took the van down to the North Head camping ground (about a 20 minute drive from home), originally planning to spend 3 or 4 days there, but it's such a great spot, surf beach one side, river on the other side, we finished up staying 9 days instead. While we were there we were made aware that the camping ground could be under threat, due to the local Eurobodalla Shire Council having applied for a Regional Development Grant to develop the area and should they be successful, the Mayor wrote a letter to the Canberra Times in which he outlined his plans, which included extending the runway to accommodate jet planes, developing accommodation nearby and extending leases on Crown Land to make it more attractive to financiers to fund business expansion. He went on to say that the future of the camping ground would be reviewed, as although some people liked to congregate there, the site could have better uses.
I sent an email to the Mayor with the concerns of myself and many others (petitions are currently being circulated) and his reply was that there would be community consultation before anything was done. Maybe I'm cynical, but I don't think it bodes well at all for the many people who camp there. Such a lot of people love this spot and hundreds and hundreds camp here over the year. One chap I spoke to said he'd been camping there regularly for just on 50 years.
Thought I'd let others know what might be ahead, the demise of another very affordable and well used camp ground. Hopefully people power will prevail if enough voices are raised against development of the site. Sorry if I've been a bit long winded with this post, but I feel very strongly about this. Thanks for bearing with me. Annie
jules47 said
12:07 AM Mar 31, 2013
Thanks for that information Annie - shame when good spots get gobbled up, sounds like a good spot - I take it is in souther NSW, on the coast? Heading to Eden ourselves next week - should be good.
Happy Daze said
12:28 AM Mar 31, 2013
Sorry Jules, I should have been more specific with the location. It's about half an hour's drive down the coast from Batemans Bay, heading south. If you follow the coast road keep going until you're almost at the river then turn left at the Airport sign. If you're on the highway heading south then turn left immediately before the bridge over the Moruya river and it's only a 5 minute (if that) drive from the turn. Of course if you're heading north, then turn right immediately after crossing the bridge. There are both drop toilets, quite new, and flushing ones as well. Water is available, cold showers, pets are allowed as are fires, with wood available at the camp for a smallish fee. Very reasonable fees. Cheers, Annie
jules47 said
12:35 AM Mar 31, 2013
Thanks Annie - will check it out while we are in the area.
GaryKelly said
01:21 AM Mar 31, 2013
Ah yes, Moruya. I camped there with a mate on a 5-week tour of the south coast back in '64. He got brown and I got sunburnt. But I beat his sox off at pool. It was a most memorable holiday - two young blokes in a Wolseley 1500 (pink and grey) with one surfboard on top and a tent in the boot. Should I post a pic of my mate? Yeah, why not? I haven't seen him in donkey's years and I seriously doubt he still looks like this.
We checked out how many were camping there over Easter and they were 'everywhere' - in places we have never seen them. You couldn't just camp whereever - you had to check in with the caretaker. We have heard the rumours about the airport extension - for quite a few years now.
Jules, also be aware that if you are in the area, Eurobodalla council runs another very nice camping ground at Mystery Bay (south of Narooma) with drop toilets and drinking water.
At least council is already working on extensions to the free camp on the Princes Hwy between Batemans Bay and Moruya at Waldron's Swamp. That wasn't just a rumour.
Happy Daze said
04:21 AM Mar 31, 2013
Hi Neilnruth, you're quite right, Council are working on improving Waldron's Swamp and it is a good stopover camp, but it could never compete with the North Head camping ground where you can fish, swim, surf or just take lovely walks along the beach, and right away from the highway. As the saying goes, position, position, position, and North Head comes up trumps every time. It would be such a shame if it was no nonger available, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Cheers, Annie
http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/moruya.html
As others have noted there is a friendly atmosphere and I for one enjoyed my time in Moruya.
John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Saturday 30th of March 2013 07:15:46 PM
I'm sure lots of Grey Nomads would be familiar with this spot near the airport. We recently took the van down to the North Head camping ground (about a 20 minute drive from home), originally planning to spend 3 or 4 days there, but it's such a great spot, surf beach one side, river on the other side, we finished up staying 9 days instead. While we were there we were made aware that the camping ground could be under threat, due to the local Eurobodalla Shire Council having applied for a Regional Development Grant to develop the area and should they be successful, the Mayor wrote a letter to the Canberra Times in which he outlined his plans, which included extending the runway to accommodate jet planes, developing accommodation nearby and extending leases on Crown Land to make it more attractive to financiers to fund business expansion. He went on to say that the future of the camping ground would be reviewed, as although some people liked to congregate there, the site could have better uses.
I sent an email to the Mayor with the concerns of myself and many others (petitions are currently being circulated) and his reply was that there would be community consultation before anything was done. Maybe I'm cynical, but I don't think it bodes well at all for the many people who camp there. Such a lot of people love this spot and hundreds and hundreds camp here over the year. One chap I spoke to said he'd been camping there regularly for just on 50 years.
Thought I'd let others know what might be ahead, the demise of another very affordable and well used camp ground. Hopefully people power will prevail if enough voices are raised against development of the site. Sorry if I've been a bit long winded with this post, but I feel very strongly about this. Thanks for bearing with me. Annie
Sorry Jules, I should have been more specific with the location. It's about half an hour's drive down the coast from Batemans Bay, heading south. If you follow the coast road keep going until you're almost at the river then turn left at the Airport sign. If you're on the highway heading south then turn left immediately before the bridge over the Moruya river and it's only a 5 minute (if that) drive from the turn. Of course if you're heading north, then turn right immediately after crossing the bridge. There are both drop toilets, quite new, and flushing ones as well. Water is available, cold showers, pets are allowed as are fires, with wood available at the camp for a smallish fee. Very reasonable fees. Cheers, Annie
Ah yes, Moruya. I camped there with a mate on a 5-week tour of the south coast back in '64. He got brown and I got sunburnt. But I beat his sox off at pool. It was a most memorable holiday - two young blokes in a Wolseley 1500 (pink and grey) with one surfboard on top and a tent in the boot. Should I post a pic of my mate? Yeah, why not? I haven't seen him in donkey's years and I seriously doubt he still looks like this.
We checked out how many were camping there over Easter and they were 'everywhere' - in places we have never seen them. You couldn't just camp whereever - you had to check in with the caretaker.
We have heard the rumours about the airport extension - for quite a few years now.
Jules, also be aware that if you are in the area, Eurobodalla council runs another very nice camping ground at Mystery Bay (south of Narooma) with drop toilets and drinking water.
At least council is already working on extensions to the free camp on the Princes Hwy between Batemans Bay and Moruya at Waldron's Swamp. That wasn't just a rumour.
Hi Neilnruth, you're quite right, Council are working on improving Waldron's Swamp and it is a good stopover camp, but it could never compete with the North Head camping ground where you can fish, swim, surf or just take lovely walks along the beach, and right away from the highway. As the saying goes, position, position, position, and North Head comes up trumps every time. It would be such a shame if it was no nonger available, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Cheers, Annie