Bendethera, Deura NP

First, No dogs as it is National Park. I was there about 3 weeks ago and there is still plenty of water in the river. Fires are always a risk. Has a couple of Pit toilets and has excellent grassy camping areas. No problems with a Camper Trailer and no problems with space, can accommodate heaps of campers......

NSW is in total fire ban, so far that area is not a risk but ya never know and as above, no dogs.

Yadbora is an option it's closer to Sydney and it's state forest, so dogs are allowd, and there's water in the Clyde river.

Baz.

Hi

I went there about 12 months ago. Nice place.

No pets are allowed in NSW National Parks

Access via the south western end near Snowball is a rough steep descent around hairpin bends. I wouldn't recommend attempting to tow down or up via this entrance.

Access via dry creek east from Araluen is OK but check creek crossing depth at dry creek prior to crossing. There are some steep climbs and descents on the track in but no steep hairpin bends like the climb to Snowball. Track condition was OK 1 year ago. It does take 2 hours or so from dry creek depending on speed travelled.

Don't go if it looks like rain, very unlikely I'm sad to say.

Access from the south coast should be OK.

Phone South Coast Eden district National Parks for very helpful information.

Flys may be thick, friendly and very annoying at this time of year.

A couple of 4wding yahoos messed the place up a few years ago and gave us 4wders a bad name. The NSW Parks Rangers were very P***ed off for good reasons and they are taking some time to accept us 4wders again. Please don't mess about or leave rubbish.

cheers
Phil R

Hi Ingo, we were there 6 weeks ago, see our report in the trek notes, cheers unc.

Recommended AAA+
There is a quick way in from the coast about 20kms from Meruya (spelling)

Ingo,

There are two or three trip reports including track files at www.lcool.org - go to Trips section.

River will have water in it. If keen to take your dog, go for Shallow Crossing - a couple of trip reports at above link with two x day trips from SC listed

Thanks guys for all your imput, much appreciated.

Just hope the weather and bushfires are kind this weekend.

Cheers

G'day ingo57

I was out at Bendethera last weekend and there was plenty of water in
the Duea River & it is an area where often hundreds of people camp as there is heaps of grassy campsites adjacent to the river. Plenty of fallen timber for firewood as well.
There was a fire at Bodalla (40km east) yesterday & last weekend was rated Very High fire danger. Check the RFS website for updates.
Forget the dog as it is Nat Park. I woke up under the stars on Sunday morning to 30 roos etc grazing nearby our campsite at Racecourse flat.

It is a truely beautiful place & a interesting 4wd trip from any direction you come.

Allow some time for the 4 km each way walk to the caves.

Keep in mind that there are 4 river crossings & the low range section of the ascent to get out is clay the colour of a ripe banana so plan based on weather & leave immediately if things turn bad. On the way out you climb to over 1000m elevation so this true mountain country.

Make sure you go there!

Lindsay & the Polar Bear