Sandon River Campground in Yuraygir NP: how to book, when the 29 sites sell out, and how to get an alert when a cancellation opens up near Brooms Head.
About
Sandon River Campground sits on a sandy peninsula at the mouth of the Sandon River in Yuraygir National Park, with the river on one side and the ocean on the other. It fronts the beach on the Clarence Coast, south of Brooms Head, and it's a stopover on the multi-day Yuraygir coastal walk.
It's a fishing and paddling spot more than anything. There's a boat ramp onto the river, the beach is right there, and the interpretive panels around the campground cover the area's Aboriginal and European history. Across the river, Sandon village can only be reached by boat or by driving up the beach from Minnie Water.
It's also properly remote. NPWS notes that basic supplies are in Brooms Head village, 12.5km away, so come stocked up.
The sites
There are 29 marked campsites, all unpowered, suited to tents, camper trailers, caravans and camping beside your vehicle. NPWS says they aren't suitable for very large caravans or motorhomes over 7.5m.
Facilities are basic:
- Non-flush toilets (chemical toilets aren't permitted)
- Barbecue facilities and picnic tables
- A boat ramp
- A coin-operated public phone at the main toilet building
There's no drinking water and no showers, so bring your own drinking and cooking water. Bring firewood too. You can buy it from roadside sellers along Brooms Head Road.
Other things to know:
- One vehicle per site, parked in front of it. Parking for extra cars and boats is limited.
- Check-in is 2pm and check-out is 10am. Late check-out fees may apply.
- Quiet time starts at 10pm, and amplified music isn't allowed.
- No pets, apart from certified assistance animals.
- Park entry fees apply on top of camping fees.
The campground page doesn't list a minimum stay, but peak periods can have one, so check the booking screen for your dates.
How booking works
Bookings are made online through the NSW National Parks website. You can book up to 12 people or 2 sites online. School groups and Park Eco Pass holders can lodge a group booking enquiry. Availability shows night by night, by site type.
Cancellation terms for camping, per the NPWS booking conditions:
- Cancel 31 or more days before arrival: 75% refund.
- Cancel 30 days or less before arrival: 50% refund.
- The booking fee is non-refundable.
You can move a camping booking to other dates at the same campground and site type if the booking window allows, but only as a whole booking.
The National Parks Contact Centre is on 1300 072 757, 7am to 7pm daily.
When it sells out
With only 29 sites, Sandon River doesn't take long to fill. When we checked in October 2026, the Christmas to Australia Day period was already booked out, just like every other NSW coastal campground we sampled. Easter, the school holidays and long weekends are the other pressure points.
The upside of a small, no-frills campground is that outside those peaks you've got a fair shot at a site, especially midweek.
How to get a cancellation
Small campgrounds turn over fewer sites, so when one comes free it matters to see it quickly.
Cancellations aren't spread evenly. The refund drops from 75% to 50% once arrival is less than 31 days away, so people who aren't sure tend to cancel just before that point. For late December and January stays, that means roughly 20 November to 26 December is when sites are most likely to reappear. Then there's another trickle in the final days, when weather or plans change.
The easiest way to catch one is to watch Sandon River on Aussie Camp Alerts. We keep checking availability and alert you as soon as a booked-out night opens. Free accounts get one live watch with email alerts, sent 15 minutes after paid alerts go out. The Summer pass bumps that to 10 watches with instant alerts, plus Telegram and web push if email's too slow for you.
Getting there
From Gulmarrad, near Maclean, follow Brooms Head Road south-east for about 17km. Turn right onto Sandon River Road, about 100m north of Brooms Head village, and keep going for about 12.5km to the campground.
Sandon River Road is gravel and its condition varies. It's 2WD accessible, but it can get boggy after rain and at times won't suit some caravans or vehicles, so check road conditions before you go. 4WDs are allowed on North Sandon Beach.
Mobile reception is limited. NPWS suggests downloading the Emergency Plus app before you head out.
Nearby alternatives
If Sandon River is full, these North Coast campgrounds are worth a look:
- Woody Head, north in Bundjalung National Park, with showers, drinking water and a kiosk.
- Trial Bay Gaol, further south near South West Rocks, with powered sites.
- Point Plomer, in Limeburners Creek National Park near Crescent Head.