Xmas Camping at Bendethera

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 11:25

ThreadID: 74467 Views:4236 Replies:2 FollowUps:6

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Bendethera Valley

This cleared yet picturesque valley, right in the heart of the Deua National Park provides excellent camping grounds right beside the crystal clear waters of the Deua River.

Bendethera Valley

Section: Treks

Bendethera Valley is in the Deua National Park, 320km south west of Sydney and 100km south east of Canberra. Min. requirement is a 4WD with low range and adequate clearance

Bruce n Sal

Hi All,

A kind member had recommended this spot for my xmas camping trip. Doing a bit of research on the area I just remembered one of the friends possibly coming with us has an Xtrail.

I have an 08 Pathfinder with no recovery gear to speak of. We are not going to be doing any 4wding seeing the Xtrail has no low range and SWMBO wont let me :).... yet.!!!

Do i need to take anything with me, and will the Xtrail make it to the camp spots.? I was hoping to get a UHF installed before the trip for safety reasons but I assume there will be quit a few people there if we need anything, just like to know we can contact people should one of the kids get bitten by snake etc.

Thanks

Bruce & Salli

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Reply By: steve21 - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 11:39

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 11:39

Hi Bruce & Sali
i have been through there a few times, i always go via Braidwood to bendethera then out via Mouyra. there are some very steep climbs and descents, really slippery when it rains. also pretty sure there is no mob coverage ... and the UHF won't be much help ... if its dry take it easy and can't see any problems if its wet forget it... I'm planning to go through just after Xmas 27th if i see a x-tral and p'finder i pop over n say g'day
cheers Steve

AnswerID: 395406

Follow Up By: Bruce n Sal - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 11:47

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 11:47

Thanks Steve,

Yeah do that. What would be the easiest way in seeing we will have an xtrail and I will be towing a tandem trailer. Not sure how the xtrail will tackle the erosion mounds, the Pathy did very stock standard in Dargo over the Melb Cup weekend, so i assume it will be able to tackle them up there.!!

We are hoping to be there early boxing day, hopefully i will get a spot.

Thanks

Bruce

FollowupID: 663905

Reply By: Member - Timbo - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 13:10

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 13:10

I'd expect the X-Trail should be fine going in from the eastern/Moruya side, and you should have no problems in the valley itself - there are a few river crossings but not usually more than about 0.3m deep (may be even lower if it hasn't rained a while).

There'll be heaps of people down there at that time of year. UHF won't work from the valley (except to talk to other people in the valley) since it's dependant on line of sight and there's no mobile coverage there either. If you go up to the Bendethera mountain, you can reach Moruya on UHF, and may even have mobile coverage from there too.

If you don't have time to get a UHF installed, you could consider a decent hand-held unit which can be an advantage because you can take it with you if you go for a walk, etc.

Just don't expect it to be peaceful camping down there after Christmas though - I was down there once on a long weekend and vowed never to go back on a long weekend... I didn't mind the place being busy - there are lots of little nooks so you can almost always get a spot away from others - it was the people tearing around like there was no tomorrow but worst was the kids on trail-bikes tearing up and down the valley. The valley was filled with the echoes of trail-bikes from sunrise until sunset (not exactly peaceful or relaxing), they wouldn't slow down when passing pedestrians (and often looked like the bike had more control of them than the other way around!), most of the bikes were unregistered and I have just a suspicion they may not have even held licences. I hope the rangers are doing something about it since then.

Having said all that, if you want peaceful camping, you're going to stay at home after Christmas and take your time off when everyone else is back at work...

AnswerID: 395420

Follow Up By: Bruce n Sal - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 14:12

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 14:12

Hi Timbo,

I thought it would be like that, the trail bike don't concern me too much as long as they stick away from the camps, my kids are only young.!!! I would have thought the rangers would stop them, on the Melb cup weekend i took my son's little quad with us for him to ride around our camp in Dargo and we were told he couldn't ride it, and that was a 5 yr old riding at walking pace around our spot, (his bike is so quiet, generators in the area drowned out the sound of it. so i don't know why they can get away with in on those larger intrusive bikes.

If it was me riding i would have been fined and the bike confiscated for sure.!!

I am hoping we can get a spot out of the way a bit, but have accepted it prob wont be easy.

Thanks for the comment and have a good Xmas I assume you mean going in on the Dampier Mountain Fire Trail.!

Bruce & Salli

FollowupID: 663934

Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 15:54

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 15:54

Ok, as long as you're prepared for it, you won't mind so much.

Yes, I'd expect the Rangers would/should put a stop to the unregistered/unlicenced trail-bikes but it really depends on them being there at the time and I don't know how much authority they have, and they still wouldn't be able to stop the registered/licenced ones (although they tend to spend most of the day on the trails out of the valley so the nuisance/noise isn't really an issue).

Thanks, you have a great Christmas too. You should be able to find a spot away from most people - we managed to even on the long weekend even though there were stacks of people in the valley - just be prepared to drive up the valley a bit until you find something suitable but there are lots of options.

Ah, no! I was actually recommending the eastern approach (ie. going in FROM the east/coast/Moruya). I think that is Little Sugarloaf Rd or something from memory - I'd be hesitant to recommend Dampier Mtn FT (west side of valley) for non-lo-range vehicle, just to be on the safe side...

FollowupID: 663958

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 17:18

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 17:18

Hi Timbo

We only have one chance to get down in around Bendethera to Nerriga or somewhere south of Sydney with our son and thats going to tbe Christam Day night.

He is a baker an Christmas is out for holidays.

What do you think its going to be lke there? Too crowded?

Phil

FollowupID: 663974

Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 20:14

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 20:14

Hi Phil,

That will all depend on your defintion of "Too crowded"! :-)

I'd expect most of the crowd would be heading there on the afternoon of Christmas Day, or the following day (Boxing Day). It might be too crowded to really feel that you're "getting away from it all" but I'm sure it won't be so crowded that you can't find a space for a tent. As I said earlier, I avoid going there myself on long-weekends but the last time I was there, there were still many little pockets you could camp in away from most of the crowds - it might depend how ambitious the ranger has been with his NPWS-trademark bollards since I was there last...

FollowupID: 664003

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 21:44

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009 at 21:44

Sounds like we need to get there as early as we can. Its a shame our timings do not coincide. He and his wife own the shop and they do quite well. Its just the hours that make it hard to get away together. This is their busy time.

We shall see.

Thanks

Merry Christma

Phil

PS. The fires at Michelago are very close to the 4WD clubs property. Lets hope any members are not there.

FollowupID: 664033