Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay, Australian Capital Territory, Australia | National park

Booderee National Park

Locality: Jervis Bay, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Phone: +61 2 4443 0977

Address: Jervis Bay Road 2540 Jervis Bay, Jervis Bay Territory, Australia

Website: https://parksaustralia.gov.au/booderee

Likes: 9468

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Community organisation
• Landmark & historical place
• Government organisation
• National park

25.01.2022 Greenpatch has great facilities and is an excellent place to bring your family for a trip into paradise. Swim, lunch, walk in nature, sit on the beach, learn new skills - like how to snorkel! While it is not the most spectacular area in Booderee to snorkel, it is a fantastic place to learn how to. Rock platforms house squid and octopus, bream, groper, blackfish - all typical species of fish that live in Jervis Bay. It's a great starting point to learn some techniques that you... will be able to use at other snorkelling areas around the park that require a little more skill. To find out more, download our Booderee National Park Bird App and listen to the Green Patch podcast, or read more here https://bit.ly/2TsfnmZ

25.01.2022 Booderee National Park will reopen to most visitors on Thursday 24 December 2020 following a temporary closure from midnight on Monday 21 December 2020. However, in line with visitation restrictions to Jervis Bay Territory, visitors from the Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong Local Government Areas (LGA) will not be permitted to enter the Jervis Bay Territory, including the park. Parks Australia is committed to taking appropriate precautionary meas...ures and will be working closely with the Jervis Bay Territory, traditional owners from the Wreck Bay community and Australian Federal Police to protect the health of all concerned. The park will continue to operate under COVID-safe health and safety protocols. Booderee National Park remains closed for camping. Upon reopening, passes will be available for day use only. Park passes are currently free due to the fee waiver in place until 31 Dec 2020. We regret the disappointment caused to visitors from currently restricted regions and we look forward to welcoming these visitors back to the park once the restrictions have been removed. Visitation restrictions to Jervis Bay Territory align with those of the ACT Government and we encourage visitors to remain informed by visiting the ACT Government’s latest COVID-19 updates: https://bit.ly/3haheIj. We will continue to monitor the advice of medical authorities and the government, and work with traditional owners to ensure we continue to protect the local community, visitors and staff. We thank our visitors and the community for their patience and understanding.

24.01.2022 Booderee really rocks! Booderee covers approximately 85 per cent of the Bherwerre Peninsula, which is underlain with Permian sandstones, siltstone and conglomerates of marine origin. They are part of the southernmost extent of the Sydney basin sedimentary rocks. Dunes and sandy soils overcap the Peninsula. Bedrock is exposed in cliffs, marine platforms and minor exposures in creeks and dune areas. Lake Windemere and Lake McKenzie evolved when streams were blocked by sand. Bo...wen Island is composed of the same sandstone type as the Peninsula and slopes sharply from cliffs on the eastern oceanic side down to sea level rock platforms on the western, Jervis Bay side. The sandstone on the Island is covered by windblown sand, which supports a range of vegetation communities. Other features of geological interest in the park include fossil sites and exposed stone walls of a substantial quarry used to supply stone for the construction of the HMAS Creswell breakwall in 1915.

24.01.2022 This is an important notification of firearm fox shooting activities planned to occur within Booderee National Park on the 28 and 29 October 2020. The western side of the park will be closed from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am on these dates and open during daylight hours. Note: this does not include Ellmoos Road. The map below shows the areas of closure. All gates into these areas will be locked and sign posted.... The park continues to be closed at night and no visitors are supposed to be in the park overnight.

24.01.2022 The Hooded plover chicks at Cave Beach are now a month old and are getting close to their first flight. They remain at high risk from beach traffic so please keep them in mind if you access Caves Beach. They will freeze when scared and can almost disappear with their camouflage making them easy to miss. Hooded plovers are listed under the as EPBC Act as a vulnerable species and we're looking for your support to help look after them when visiting Booderee. ... For more information, see our recent blog post about protecting vulnerable shorebirds in Booderee National Park: https://bit.ly/33EuNKu Mum, dad and the kids at Cave Beach

24.01.2022 We would like to remind recreational fishers visiting Booderee National Park to refrain from walking off track, particularly near cliff edges, and to keep themselves safe when rock fishing off coastal platforms. You can minimise risks to your safety when rock fishing by carrying the appropriate safety equipment including wearing a life jacket, staying alert to weather conditions and never fishing alone. It is illegal to fish in a prohibited or restricted area within the park.... It is also illegal to walk off track to these dangerous places. Financial penalties apply if visitors are found to be off track or in areas clearly signposted to be out of bounds. We recently fined seven people a total of more than $4600 for walking off track to fish where there was a sign restricting them or prohibiting them from doing so. Commercial fishing and spearfishing using hand spears or spearguns, is prohibited in Booderee National Park, as is collecting or using live bait (other than a limited number of fish or squid). All plants and animals within the park and it’s marine areas are protected, including abalone, crayfish, pipis, crabs, oysters and all other shellfish and crustaceans. All life on rock platforms is protected. We ask visitors to stay on marked tracks and to follow these guidelines for their own safety. It’s not worth the risk to you or to others.

23.01.2022 They are neither dragon nor fly, but there are more than 320 species known to live in Australia. Different species of dragonflies also have distinctive markings and colours, so with practice, you'll be able to recognise one type from another, just like birds. Different species emerge at different times of year, so keep a look out no matter what month it is. Watch out for dragonflies wherever there is water such as a pond, stream, river or lake. We have plenty at Booderee.... Dragonflies are happy to hang around your backyard provided you have a permanent water supply, such as a pond that contains food that the dragonfly nymphs can live on. Dragonflies chase and catch other insects in acrobatic displays. When they rest, their wings lie flat just like when they are in flight as they cannot fold them over their bodies. Backyard Buddies Parks Australia

23.01.2022 We love seeing our visitors enjoying the park! Check out these snaps from our fans. Tag us to feature #SeeBooderee #ParksAustralia IG:sunrisepeter, IG:frenchies_wife, IG:mareeclout, rock lichen IG:osmophile

23.01.2022 Kayaking in the crystal turquoise waters at Booderee is a must for those of you who are adventure seekers! There are several areas to launch your kayak, with the wharf at Murrays Beach providing a safe place to enter the water when suitable days provide flat, clear water. Please be aware that this area can be exposed and more difficult to use in strong westerly winds. We recommend you check weather forecasts carefully before launching your vessel for the day.... Look here for more safety information https://bit.ly/3jeZYAM

23.01.2022 Quoll-ity news with two juvenile eastern quolls found in the park recently! The quolls are in good health and have been released back into the wild. Parks Australia and the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, along with the The Australian National University, Rewilding Australia and other key collaborators first reintroduced eastern quolls back into the wild at Booderee in 2018.... We love seeing native Australian animals doing well!

22.01.2022 When you can catch a glimpse of them, seeing Booderee’s little penguin - or fairy penguin - is a great wildlife experience. The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin, growing to just 30 centimetres in height. Its head and upperparts are blue-grey and its underparts are white. They can sometimes be seen from Murrays Beach an hour before dusk, from September to December. Visitors have reported seeing groups of little penguins swimming to Bowen Island and making th...eir ritual march back to their burrows. Booderee’s little penguins generally forage in the bays close to shore, probably because the pickings are so rich there is no need to travel kilometres in search of food. From dawn to an hour before dusk, swimming with their flippers and using their tails for guidance, they feed on small fish, squid and other small sea animals captured and swallowed underwater. After feeding, the little penguins remain offshore in a tight group until dusk, when they come ashore and head to their burrows on Bowen Island. Here they burrow in Lomandra longifolia tussocks or find shelter under overhanging rocks and dense vegetation. Bowen Island is not accessible to the public, so bring your binoculars!

21.01.2022 You need a park pass to enjoy the beaches, landscapes and cultural activities of Booderee National Park. Park passes can be purchased online for quick and easy entry to the park. Visitors can buy two-day, one year and two years passes, depending on how frequently you plan to visit Booderee. Under the Australian Government’s fee waiver initiative, two-day park passes are free to book for dates valid through to 31 December 2020. ... For visits from 1 January 2021, visitors will need to buy a park pass to enter Booderee National Park. Your park pass helps us maintain the park’s facilities, preserve its cultural and natural values and support traditional owners and their community. Pre-purchasing your pass online is the quickest and easiest way to start your holiday in Booderee. If you can’t buy your pass online, you can purchase one from the entry station on your way into the park. Once you’ve purchased your park pass, please display your printed park pass on your dashboard or windscreen with the QR code visible for our rangers to see. It is your responsibility to ensure your park pass is displayed appropriately. To buy your park pass, visit https://bit.ly/3dYgAvM

20.01.2022 Today is the 25th anniversary of the Hand Over of Booderee National Park back to the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community. Booderee is Aboriginal land. On 11 October 1995 the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council was granted freehold title to Booderee National Park, then known as Jervis Bay National Park. The community leased the national park lands and waters to the Director of National Parks that same year. Since then the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council and Parks Australi...a have worked together to jointly manage the national park and conserve its rich cultural and natural values. We are grateful to be on this journey with the Aboriginal people of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community. Together we will continue to work together to protect and conserve this very special place for future generations.

19.01.2022 Stunning images captured at the whale frenzy at Booderee on the weekend, from one of our fans @mareeclout Feeding Humpback Whales off Booderee National Park Yesterday’s experience with feeding Humpback Whales was incredible! From the Ruined Lighthouse to almost Steamers Beach, there were hundreds of whales. Most seemed to be in large pods and were constantly on the move. I witnessed both lunge feeding and bucket feeding! It was kinda like all the whales that are heading south, were coming across the krill and/or bait balls and causing a massive traffic jam lol. Here’s a few pics. I still have lots of pics to look through. #jervisbay #seebooderee #visitshoalhaven

18.01.2022 IMPORTANT UPDATE: SUMMER AT BOODEREE Booderee National Park gets very busy over the summer holidays. As part of our COVID-Safe operating plan, the park may close at short notice due to COVID-19 restrictions at Booderee National Park, to deliver a safe experience for visitors, park staff and the local community.... This means that the park may close for periods due to changing COVID-19 restrictions or when we’ve reached capacity. Traffic management arrangements will be in place at the Entry Station precinct on Navel Collage Rd and Variable Message Sign (VMS) located on Pacific Hill will notify visitors when the park is open and closed. Due to the large number of visitors and holidaymakers expected in the Jervis Bay region these holidays, there may be delays travelling into Booderee National Park and we ask everyone to please be patient and allow travel extra time when making plans. We also encourage visitors to pre-book their park passes online and have their pass printed and ready to display before entering Booderee National Park. We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience at Booderee this summer and we ask that you review our safety messaging before visiting the park: https://bit.ly/3jeZYAM To book your park pass click here: https://bit.ly/3dYgAvM. For general enquiries during the holidays, please contact our Visitor Centre staff via [email protected] (please allow 24 hours for confirmation of receipt). You can also give us a call on +61 2 4443 0977, but please note that the Visitor Centre will remain closed during this time.

17.01.2022 Roadworks and tree lopping are currently underway on Ellmoos Rd. While the road remains open to residents and visitors, we ask that you drive with caution and obey all road signs and directions. Visitors are also reminded that some restrictions remain in place due to COVID-19. Booderee is currently open for day use only and camping is not permitted at this time. Parking at the Visitor Centre is limited to 2 hours.

17.01.2022 Keen to spend the whole day exploring Booderee? We can help you make the most of your time here with an action-packed itinerary specifically for adventure seekers! From the Visitors Centre drive to Steamers Beach car park (15 minutes) and start with the Steamers Beach Walking Trail (3 hrs return, 4.6 km, hard). It takes you from a magnificent isolated beach flanked by high cliffs and backed by steep sand dunes that are thought to have been created there by a tsunami! From Ste...amers Beach car park the trail takes you through tall eucalypt forest and tea tree towards the coast. It finishes with a steep flight of stairs. Drive from Steamers Beach to Iluka (15 minutes). Iluka is a great place for a picnic lunch. Take a walk along the beach to Green Patch and discover the varied marine and bird life within Booderee National Park. Then drive from Iluka to Murrays Beach (5 minutes) where you can enjoy a variety of activities: snorkel off the rock platform and discover the large variety of marine life, swim or relax in the pristine water and white sand of Murrays Beach, or take out your kayak. From here you can walk on to Governor's Head lookout for magnificent views and the chance to spot a whale in the migration seasons. Iluka Beach

17.01.2022 Kangaroos need time out at the beach too! The eastern grey kangaroo, seen here at Green Patch Beach, is an iconic marsupial mammal. They live in mobs of 10 or more in a home range of up to 5 km in eastern Australia. Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is a marsupial mammal that belongs to a small group called macropods. They have hind legs that are larger than their forelimbs. Their hind feet are also large and powerful. Their long muscular tail is used for balance whe...n hopping and as a fifth limb when movements are slow. The fur is a light grey woolly colour except the face which is darker. A dark tip of fur is also found on the tail. They are found in habitats ranging from semi-arid mallee scrub through to woodlands, some farmland areas with remnant vegetation and forest. They tend to favour denser scrubs and forests. Australian Museum Parks Australia

17.01.2022 The extensive coastal heathlands of Booderee may appear to be desolate and barren places, but they perform a vital role in supporting many species of native animals. In late winter and spring the heathlands bloom in a rich tapestry of vibrant colour and provide a rich source of nectars and pollens.

16.01.2022 Booderee's conservation work protects threatened species such as the eastern bristlebird and Magenta lilly pilly. We are also securing the future of extremely rare Australian plants (such as Banksia vincentia) and reintroducing several native mammals to the park. For more than a decade, an intensive fox control program has allowed threatened fauna to continue living in the park while creating opportunities for some Australian mammals to return. In recent years three locally e...xtinct species have been reintroduced to the park, including the southern brown bandicoot, the long-nosed potoroo, and the eastern quoll. Helping these native animals establish successful populations is crucial and difficult work, threatened by challenges such as fox and feral cat predation. These are ambitious projects that aim to restore the biodiversity of the park that existed before introduced species. All of these projects have been done with significant partnerships. Long-nosed potoroo, eastern bristlebird and Magenta lilly pilly (Parks Australia), southern brown bandicoot (Christina Zdenek).

16.01.2022 We spotted the first eastern quoll joeys for this season out of the pouch recently. Here's looking back to when they we just the size of a jellybean... https://bit.ly/37JnB2A

16.01.2022 Bherwerre Beach is a long, south-facing ocean beach that is also approached from the Cave Beach car park. More than 100 prehistoric Aboriginal sites have been recorded on the Bherwerre Peninsula, some probably dating back to the stabilisation of the sea level about 6,000 years ago. Most sites are shell middens, but there are also rock shelters, burial sites, ceremonial grounds, stone-flaking sites and axe-sharpening grooves. The distribution of these recorded sites emphasises the importance of the eastern end of Wreck Bay. The high density of midden sites on the Bherwerre Peninsula mirrors the preferred fishing zones of the present community.

16.01.2022 Right now, humpback whales seem to be in abundance here off the coast at Booderee. They were once nearly hunted to extinction. The last whaling station in New South Wales, at Byron Bay, closed in 1962 because so few whales could be found. Today, safe from hunting and protected by environmental law, humpback whale numbers are slowly increasing.... C.Mcgregor

14.01.2022 The theme for NAIDOC Week this year is Always Was, Always Will Be. Parks Australia recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first storytellers, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists. Here's a recap of how we acknowledged NAIDOC Week across Parks Australia. https://bit.ly/3pa2zQW #NAIDOC2020

14.01.2022 Booderee is an aviphile’s paradise, and the perfect location to bring your binoculars for hours of birdwatching. Booderee promotes responsible and minimal impact experiences with wildlife. Please do not use bird call playback to attract wildlife in the park. Why not download our Booderee birds iOS app or Android app to help you find and identify the birds of Booderee? Photo: 0ystercatcher

13.01.2022 CAMPING REMAINS CLOSED AT BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK Planning an extended stay in the Jervis Bay region these school holidays? We remind visitors that you will need to make alternative accommodation arrangements because our campsites are currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. There’s a range of accommodation options just a short drive from the park including at Huskisson, Vincentia and Sussex Inlet.... We are not taking any future camping bookings at this time. We understand that visitors are keen to return to Booderee’s campgrounds and we will let you know when it is safe to do so, with announcements on Facebook and our website news section. We also remind visitors that Wreck Bay Village is private property and there is no public access.

13.01.2022 The New Holland honeyeater is a small, black and white streaked bird with a yellow wing patch that is common in the park all year round. These honeyeaters are the birds you’re most likely to see during spring in the heath areas such as the Heath Trail in the Botanic Gardens where grevilleas and banksias grow. They are quite bold and inquisitive and may even occasionally approach you. You’ll often find them playing with the Brown-headed honey eater.

13.01.2022 The diverse marine environment and clear waters of Jervis Bay offer excellent scuba diving and snorkelling. The best snorkelling locations in Jervis Bay can be found off rock platforms at Scottish Rocks and Murrays Beach. Glide through the crystal-clear waters and marvel at the marine life of Jervis Bay. credit June Anderson

12.01.2022 Want to improve your chances of spotting a whale? The best time to spot a whale is in the late morning or early afternoon on a clear, calm day. The glare from the sun is less at these times allowing for clearer viewing. Whale watching is an activity that often requires patience and a good set of binoculars. However, on some days usually during the southerly migration in spring whales will come very close to shore and may spend time frolicking in sheltered bays with their ...newly born calves. When whales do come close to shore it is important to remain quiet and not disturb them. This is for the benefit of both the whales and the whale watchers, as the whales will be more likely to remain visible if not startled or stressed. There are great opportunities to take a whale watching boat tour near Booderee as well. Matt Cross

12.01.2022 The beautiful firetail is named for its stunning crimson rump peaking from beneath its grey-brown plumage. A small stocky finch, it is about 13 centimetres long, with a black mask and white eye ring, a red beak, and exquisite, fine barring on the feathers. The beautiful firetail has been seen around Booderee’s swamp and heath areas, such as Blacks Waterhole and Ryans Swamp, and on the Telegraph Creek Nature Trail (currently closed). However, it is one of our rarer birds so p...lease do let a ranger know if you see one! Beautiful firetails love moist vegetation and make their homes in heath and scrub - never far from water. Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, they mainly eat seeds of the casuarinas and tea trees but will also eat small insects and snails. The nest of the firetail is shaped like a bottle lying on its side, with a long tunnel leading to a round egg chamber. Both parents build the nest in dense foliage near the ground, lining thin grass stems with feathers and the parents share incubation of the eggs and care of the young fledglings. Listen for their calls - an undulating whee-ee-ee and a soft chrrt. David Cook Wildlife Photography

12.01.2022 The elegant Australian wood duck is a goose-like grey duck with brown speckles on its chest, a dark brown head, two black stripes along the back and a short bill. These wood ducks have become more common with land-clearing along the coast as they prefer open pastures to graze on. At Booderee they are found only around the campgrounds, picnic areas and open areas of the Botanic Gardens where they can find short grass. Ducks will frolic with their families in the Telegraph Cree...k and Green Patch lagoon. Wood ducks eat grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. To breed, they line a tree hollow with down and produce seven to 10 eggs. Hatchlings are born with a covering of waterproof down that enables the young to enter the water almost immediately. Their most common call is a loud, rising "gnow" sound. The male call is shorter and higher than the female. Listen also for staccato chattering when the wood ducks gather in flocks.

11.01.2022 We love seeing our visitors enjoying the park! Check out these snaps from our fans... Tag us to feature #SeeBooderee #ParksAustralia IG:sarahkearns, IG:brandon_troy_gifford, IG:birdloser, IG:through_my_eyes

11.01.2022 CAMPING REMAINS CLOSED AT BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK Planning an extended stay in the Jervis Bay region these school holidays? We remind visitors that you will need to make alternative accommodation arrangements because our campsites are currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. There’s a range of accommodation options just a short drive from the park including at Huskisson, Vincentia and Sussex Inlet. We are not taking any future camping bookings at this time. We understand that visitors are keen to return to Booderee’s campgrounds and we will let you know when it is safe to do so, with announcements on Facebook and our news section. We also remind visitors that Wreck Bay Village is private property and there is no public access.

11.01.2022 Thinking of bringing your dog to the park? Please don't, dogs and other pets are not permitted in our Commonwealth national parks because they threaten the native wildlife and flora and may diminish the enjoyment of other visitors. There are plenty of other activities to do while visiting, including walking, swimming, whale watching, fishing, boating, snorkelling and birdwatching. https://bit.ly/349Vpng

11.01.2022 STONEY CREEK ROAD REOPENS Stoney Creek Road has now reopened to visitors to Booderee National Park, giving visitors access to a number of additional sites in the park including Cape St George Lighthouse, Moes Rock, Stoney Creek and Steamers Beach. Visitors are reminded that some restrictions remain in place due to COVID-19. Booderee is currently open for day use only and camping is not permitted at this time.... The following areas are open for day use: Open: Booderee Botanic Gardens Bristol Point Cape St George Lighthouse Cave Beach Ellmoos Road Green Patch Iluka Moes Rock Murrays Beach and boat ramp Stoney Creek Steamers Beach Closed: Camping Areas All camping areas remain closed. Booderee Visitors Centre Car park is open for Wi-Fi access if required for park information and Visitor Centre staff will be available by phone and email. Please maintain social distancing while visiting Booderee and observe directional signs and guidance for your safety, and the safety of our community and staff.

11.01.2022 Camping at Booderee National Park will resume in 2021. To receive news and alerts about Booderee National Park including when camping bookings will be open, please subscribe to our mailing list: https://bit.ly/2Ln1Uw1 PLEASE NOTE - existing COVID-19 visitor restrictions are in place. Review the restrictions on our website before you visit to avoid disappointment: https://bit.ly/34TwKDr ... We ask that you subscribe to the mailing list for news rather than calling the park or contacting the Visitor Centre. Our friendly park staff will be out managing Booderee during our busiest time of the year. Thanks for your understanding.

10.01.2022 Black-shouldered kites (Elanus axillaris) are medium to small raptors (birds of prey), and are mostly pale grey above, with a pure white head, body and tail and black shoulders. The wings are white underneath, with black wing tips and the wing span is 80 cm to 100 cm. Females are larger than males. The red eye is marked by a black comma that extends behind it. The nostrils are yellow and the legs and feet are also yellow. The black-shouldered kite has a direct flight with q...uick shallow wing beats interspersed with glides on upswept wings (like a seagull), and is often seen hovering, with feet dangling. Common throughout much of mainland Australia, they usually inhabit grasslands and other open habitats, and with the expansion and establishment of agriculture in many regions, forested areas have been cleared, providing additional habitat, as well as extra food, in the form of house mice, which forms a major part of the species’ diet. Occasionally large numbers of black-shouldered kites descend on a region, usually coinciding with plagues of mice or, occasionally, grasshoppers. BirdLife Australia Parks Australia

09.01.2022 With its long, graceful neck, and large, ruffle-feathered body, the black swan is often a favourite. The adult black swan has broad white wing tips which are visible in flight while the juvenile is much greyer in colour. The bill is a deep orange-red, paler at the tip, with a narrow white band towards the end. The black swan is a nomadic bird and not common in Booderee but you will see it occasionally, nesting at Ryans Swamp. For a chance to observe these birds foraging in S...t. Gorges Basin, take a drive along Ellmoos Road. The black swan is vegetarian and feeds on algae and water weeds by plunging its long neck underwater, although it can also be seen up-ending to reach food in deeper water. Male swans (known as cobs) and female swans (known as pens) both help in raising the young. They build a large pile of water plant material then line it with down to nest in, laying anywhere between four and 10 eggs. Cygnets start out fluffy and grey, slowly darkening as they mature. The black swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, calling either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting. Marg Kibby

08.01.2022 A Total Fire Ban at Booderee National Park has been declared for Sunday, 29 November 2020. During the period of Total Fire Ban, lighting, maintaining or using a fire is strictly prohibited anywhere within Booderee National Park. We thank you for your understanding of the current extreme weather conditions, and your help in keeping our national park safe.

08.01.2022 The Eastern snake-necked turtle, as the name suggests, has a long neck which is usually about half the length of its round shell. It lives in freshwater environments where it feeds on invertebrates, tadpoles and small fishes. Most of the turtle’s time is spent in the water, but it can make overland movements in search of new waterholes and nesting areas. In Booderee these movement happen from September to March. The best place look for this turtle is at the rainforest boardwalk, in the Booderee Botanic Gardens.

07.01.2022 How many birds will you see today? #AussieBirdCount

06.01.2022 Booderee National Park would like to extend warm wishes for a happy and safe holiday season! We will be taking a short break from social media. We will be back in the new year. For trip advice, please visit our website https://bit.ly/34eQSje. For general enquiries, please contact our Visitor Centre staff via [email protected] (please allow 24 hours for confirmation of receipt). You can also give us a call on +61 2 4443 0977.... For all enquiries about park passes, please contact [email protected] or visit our passes and permits webpage https://bit.ly/3dYgAvM. Enjoy your festive season!

06.01.2022 At Cave Beach, dunes slope down to waves that are excellent for surfing. Its turquoise waters are a huge drawcard, and dolphins are regularly spotted in the bay. Please note that none of our beaches are supervised by lifeguards - please exercise caution when recreating in the water, and ensure that children are supervised at all times.

06.01.2022 This plant is endemic to New South Wales, and is generally located in open forest with sandstone-based soil. It’s scientific name is Lambertia formosa, Formosa being the Latin adjective for ‘handsome’ we can see why! Many of our birds, including honeyeaters, love this shrub because its flowers are full of nectar. The plant recovers naturally after bushfire, re-growing from its woody base. New growth is often coasted with a dusting of fine, brown hairs. New flowers typically emerge between September and January, but you may see them flower year-round on the Telegraph Creek Nature Trail.

05.01.2022 Camping is back at Booderee and proving to be just as popular as ever! So much so that our team has been overwhelmed with booking enquiries. Camping is now fully booked for the next two weekends (18-26 January and 29-31 January). Please continue to send your booking requests via email to [email protected] for all other dates. ... The team at the park are working to respond to emails as quickly as possible, and the current expected response time is approximately 48 hours. We appreciate your patience while park staff work through the huge number of emails we have received. Read more about camping on our website: https://bit.ly/3nWhiNE

05.01.2022 The brush bronzewing is a small and colourful pigeon, around 30 centimetres long. It has a blue-grey underside, a rich red-brown back and glistening, metallic feathers on the wing. The brush bronzewing is a shy bird, often well hidden in dense shrubbery. However you may be lucky enough to spot this bird alone or in a pair on the Telegraph Creek Nature Trail.

04.01.2022 Bioluminescence at Scottish Rocks, photographed superbly by Maree Clout Jervis Bay Through My Eyes

03.01.2022 The ruin of Cape St George Lighthouse is perhaps the most significant European site in the park. Nowadays, the lighthouse is the best place to watch the whale migration and return. Designed by the colonial architect, Alexander Dawson and built in 1860, the 3 storey lighthouse was built of sandstone blocks quarried near the present day Jervis Bay village. The tower was 61 feet high (18.5m) with 8 rooms at ground level. The floor was timber and cast iron girders held up a roof of stone flagging covered with asphalt. It also has a grisly history of death and disaster! You can read about the lighthouse and its history on our website: https://bit.ly/2EOzgRF

03.01.2022 If you’re up for a surf, Cave Beach is a really good surf beach, it faces south, and so it’s got all the elements that good surf beaches need to have. Booderee's turquoise waters are a huge drawcard, and dolphins are regularly spotted in the #bay. Cave Beach is a great place for surfing in the Jervis Bay area. Learn more about surfing by tuning in to our #podcast series https://bit.ly/2HDriMh. Please note that none of our beaches are supervised by lifeguards - please exercise... caution when recreating in the water, and ensure that children are supervised at all times. Dee Kramer

03.01.2022 Steamers Beach walking trail is a 3-hour return walk covering 4.6 km and is classified as hard. Steamers Beach is a magnificent, isolated beach flanked by high cliffs and backed by steep sand dunes. The trail takes you through tall eucalypt forest and tea tree towards the coast. It finishes with a steep flight of stairs. Start at Steamers Beach car park.

03.01.2022 The ACT government has extended the current Public Health Direction restricting travel from COVID-19 affected areas of NSW for another week, until Wednesday 13 January 2021. As Booderee National Park is located in Jervis Bay Territory, which is subject to the hotspot declarations by the ACT, the entry restrictions for the park will remain in place. As a reminder, this means anyone who has recently been in Greater Sydney (including the Northern Beaches), Central Coast and Woll...ongong local government areas, will not permitted to enter the Jervis Bay Territory. Find the most up to date list of hotspots on the ACT Government COVID-19 website: https://bit.ly/392DMHf

03.01.2022 If you are wandering through Booderee and hear a distinctive clear whistle, that will be the call of the Whistling kite (Haliastur sphenurus)! It begins by descending down the scale, followed by an up-scale staccato chatter, given by birds as they fly overhead or when perched. During the non-breeding season, they mainly eat carrion, but during the breeding season they take live prey, especially rabbits and hares, as well as fish, reptiles, birds, small mammals and invertebra...tes. They sometimes attend fires to catch fleeing prey, and they may steal food from other birds of prey. It is a medium-sized raptor (bird of prey) with a shaggy appearance. It has a light brown head and underparts, with pale streaks, and dark sandy-brown wings with paler undersides. The underwings have a characteristic pale 'M' shape when open. The head and body are relatively narrow and the tail is rounded. The wings are long and well-rounded, with a wingspan of 120 cm to 145 cm. The sexes are similar, but the females are larger. Young birds are slightly darker above, with paler streaking on head and underbody. They are often seen near water or around farms, soaring in a lazy circling flight pattern. BirdLife Australia Parks Australia

02.01.2022 The diamond python is found all along the New South Wales coastline down into the north-eastern corner of Victoria. You may come across them while walking through Booderee National Park . Like all pythons, these snakes are non-venomous. They become most active in November, looking for mates and laying eggs. The male diamond python will travel up to 500m a day, following a scent trail left by a female when she is ready to find a mate. Numerous males can sometimes follow the t...rail of the same female. Roof cavities can make the perfect place for a female to wait for potential mates to find her but there is no reason to remove these pythons. As well as being non-poisonous, the diamond python is one of the most placid snakes in Australia, rarely hissing or threatening people. Two of the diamond python's favourite meals are rats and mice, which makes them great pest controllers. They are known as an ambush predator and will often wait for days until a small animal gets close enough for it to strike out and grab its prey. It then squeezes the animal until it suffocates and then swallows it whole. Diamond pythons breed during spring. From November to December the female will lay her eggs in a nest. She will usually lay around 10 to 30 eggs which she curls around to protect them from predators and will also create heat for the incubating eggs by shivering and shaking while coiled around them. Backyard Buddies Parks Australia

02.01.2022 The pinnate boronia has aromatic leaves and waxy flowers that range in colour from white to purple. It is quite common throughout New South Wales. Flowering in spring, you may be lucky enough to see this beautiful flower on the Telegraph Creek nature trail.

02.01.2022 Booderee can be explored by car, by foot, or by bicycle or boat. You can easily get a feel for the park in one day, but we recommend taking your time. By car You don’t need a 4WD to explore the park by car, but take extra care on Stony Creek Road and Ellmoos Road as they are unsealed. Please stick to the speed limits and drive carefully around dawn and dusk to avoid hitting wildlife.... By boat Boating gives easy access to some great little beaches past St Georges Head, as well as some stunning views of the sea cliffs as you pass Cape St George Lighthouse. Boats can be put in at the sheltered Murrays boat ramp. By bicycle Feeling energetic? Jump on your bike and pedal around the park! Cycling is a great way to stay healthy and keep the environment clean. Pushbike riders also get free entry into the park. Please stick to fire trails and formed roads only. Staying safe Learn how to keep your holiday a safe and happy one.

02.01.2022 Eye spy, with my little eye... The first quoll joey for the season has been sighted by residents and captured on camera! We can expect in the coming weeks these joeys will stick close to their mother until their natural instincts kick in (at about five months-old) and they learn to feed and live independently. Staff won't start trapping and monitoring these young until they are weaned, but we are already ramping up our fox controls to give the newcomers the best chance at s...urvival. Booderee is part of a joint project to re-introduce eastern quolls to the wild of mainland Australia. The species was wiped out here by disease and feral pests about 50 years ago. These juveniles are offspring from quolls that were captive bred in 2017 in Tasmania, at Devils at Cradle and Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary. They’ve been living life in the wild at Booderee now, since March 2018 which is exactly 956 days ago (or 2 years and 7 months). Rewilding Australia says this is really an achievement in itself, and despite ongoing threats to eastern quolls on mainland Australia (foxes, domestic dogs and cars), this information provides us with an indication that reversing the mainland extinction of the species might just be possible where these threats are effectively managed. If you see any quolls in Booderee National Park, please respect their fragility and enjoy them from a distance!

02.01.2022 Did you know the Australian pelican has the longest bill in the world? This one is basking in the sun at Murrays Boat Ramp. They are often seen around the coasts, roosting on sandbanks, rock platforms and reefs, or swimming in lagoons, bays and estuarine waters, dipping their oversized bills into the water to catch fish. Males are larger than females. The most characteristic feature of pelicans is the elongated bill with its massive throat pouch. The Australian pelican's bil...l is 40 cm - 50 cm long and is larger in males than females. They have large wings and a wingspan of 2.3 metres - 2.5 metres. The bill and pouch of pelicans play an important role in feeding. The bill is sensitive and this helps locate fish in murky water. It also has a hook at the end of the upper mandible, probably for gripping slippery food items. When food is caught, the pelican manipulates it in its bill until the prey typically has its head pointing down the pelican's throat. Then with a jerk of the head the pelican swallows the prey. Parks Australia

02.01.2022 Welcome to summer! We want you to enjoy the outdoors at Booderee this season, so please take some time to learn how to stay safe while visiting the park. https://bit.ly/3jeZYAM

01.01.2022 Named after its distinctive black eyebrows, the nationally vulnerable black-browed albatross has a white body, black wings and an orange-yellow bill. Despite an impressive wingspan of 240 centimetres, it is one of the smaller albatrosses. You’ll be able to see the black-browed albatross on the Munyunga waraga Dhugan trail gliding over the ocean in search of squid and fish. In winter they are known to hang out at Devil’s Elbow. This fascinating bird lives up to 70 years and sp...ends much of its life at sea. In spite of its size it’s an incredibly skillful bird in the air and will seize prey from the surface or dive several metres to catch fish. You may also see it following fishing boats in the hope of collecting discarded fish. Its large wingspan allows it to follow air currents for long periods of time, soaring on strong winds and resting on the ocean, often in colonies, migrating great distances every year. The black-browed albatross breeds each year on the cliffs or steep slopes of Antarctic or sub-Antarctic islands such as Macquarie and Heard Islands. You'll hear it when you notice a series of guttural grunting sounds. Marg Kibby