DEUA National Park is one of NSW’s most
popular national parks for good reason. The
park is nestled in a rugged, mountainous
part of the Great Dividing Range that’s
crisscrossed by beautiful mountain rivers,
creeks and a network of caves, and it
sits midway between the coastal town
of Moruya and Canberra. For Canberra
residents, the park is a couple of hours’
drive (it’s even closer for those living on the
coast). From Sydney, it’s roughly four hours’
drive to the park’s northern boundary via
the historic town of Braidwood.
The popularity of the park is due in part
to great off-roading, especially the drive
to the most popular camping area of the
Bendethera Valley. Whether you come in
from the coast or the north-western route,
the tracks wind up, down and over seriously
rugged mountain terrain, with immense
trees (and huge tree ferns) towering above.
The trees are sparingly interspersed with
clearings that provide views of even more
rugged mountains in the distance and –occasionally – glimpses of the valleys below.
Then there are the creek crossings, but be
aware of impending bad weather as these
waterways rise very quickly after rainfall.
The spacious camping area at ‘Benny’ (as
it’s colloquially known) offers a mix of open
sites, those closer to the trees, or spots next
to a tranquil tributary of the Deua River.
For a three-day adventure driving from
Sydney, the quickest way into Deua NP
is via a blast down the Hume, then via
Goulburn on to the Kings Highway to the
village of Braidwood. The park’s north-west
boundary is around 30 minutes’ drive south
of here, via Cooma Road.
Entering the park here means you
can spend the first night at Berlang
Campground, which has 10 sites, barbecue
facilities and toilets positioned alongside
Shoalhaven River. From here, one of the
park’s famous attractions, the aptly named
Big Hole, can be reached via a left turn
(sign-posted Berlang/Big Hole) off Cooma
Road. Big Hole is a massive, rooflesslimestone cave
measuring
more than 50
metres wide and
an estimated
95-100 metres
deep. The
roughly 3.5km (return) bushwalk from
Berlang Campground to Big Hole entails
a crossing of the Shoalhaven River (there
are stepping stones if the water level is low,
but you’ll have to wade through if the water
level is high).
Marble Arch, a nearby rock formation
accessed via a loosely defined track, is
different but just as spectacular as the Big
Hole, with an open cavern to explore and a
slot canyon nearby. Allow four to five hours
(return) for these two attractions, before
kicking back on your return to camp by
enjoying a few coldies around the campfire
as you plan the next day’s drive to the
Bendethera Valley campground.
The descent into Bendethera ValleyDEUA NATIONAL PARK
WILDLIFE
Nearby kangaroos will keep
the kids amused at camp, and
more than 100 species of birds
makes the park ideal for avid
birdwatchers. Keep an eye out for
snakes and goannas, especially
in the warmer months.1166 http://www.4X4australia.com.au
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