Samurai Beach camping: 4WD, $6 booking fee, no facilities — do not treat it like a holiday park
The only NPWS campground in Tomaree National Park: 4WD access, no camping fee, $6 booking fee, clothing-optional zoning, portable toilet required. Official bookings only — never affiliated.
By Ian Piggott · Farming Domains · Unofficial guide · ~9 min read
Updated · re-check NSW National Parks before travel
Best for: Self-sufficient 4WD campers and Coastal Walk overnighters
Unofficial guide — always verify track conditions, closures, fees and safety with NSW National Parks. Place photos are Wikimedia Commons / CC where credited — not official NPWS imagery and not live conditions.
Some stay, tour and gear links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Park fees and NSW National Parks bookings are never affiliated.
Samurai is the only campground in Tomaree National Park. It is not a village holiday park, not a 2WD picnic overflow, and not an affiliate stay on this site. If you cannot meet the official access and self-sufficiency rules, book a bed in One Mile or Anna Bay instead.
Unofficial guide. Not walked. Verify the live campground page and alerts before you pack.
Fees are a split system
Tomaree visitor-info does not list a vehicle day-entry fee (26 Aug 2026). Walking is free. Camping is separate: official Samurai page says no camping fee and a $6 booking fee. Book only via NSW National Parks. We do not take a cut.
How you actually get there
Official: 4WD via Gan Gan Road and the Samurai Beach access trail only. Then designated camping behind the dunes — not on the beach. Do not drive on dunes. Max stay 7 days. Fires not permitted. Book up to 12 people or 2 sites online.
Clothing-optional zoning
Campground and nearby Samurai Beach are clothing-optional. Clothing is required in dunes, surrounding bushland, and on One Mile Beach. Beachfront of Samurai is day-use only. Do not export the zone onto the Coastal Walk.
Coastal Walk overnight
Official Day 1 ends around One Mile. A booked Samurai night is one honest hinge; a commercial holiday park is the other. Arriving without a booking and hoping for a walk-up is how you end up driving to Anna Bay at dusk in a 2WD.
FAQ
Tap a question to expand the answer.
Can I camp without a 4WD?
Official access is 4WD only. Stay in a village and walk day sections if you do not have a suitable vehicle.
Are there toilets?
Not at the campground. Official bring-list includes a portable toilet. Nearest toilets/outdoor showers: One Mile Beach main car park (official notes).
More articles
- Zenith Beach car park full: where to start Tomaree Head without the circus
Plan B when Zenith Beach upper and lower car parks are full — Shoal Bay Road overflow, Fingal start, or skip the summit. Not illegal parking.
- Based in the wrong village: why Nelson Bay vs Anna Bay changes your Coastal Walk day
Nelson Bay / Shoal Bay puts you at the Tomaree Head start. Anna Bay / Birubi puts you at the finish. Pick the base to match the one-way, or you will pay for it in taxis.
- Day-tripping the full 27 km Tomaree Coastal Walk is usually a bad idea — here’s the realistic cut
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- First time at Tomaree Head: Grade 5 is not a lookout stroll
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- Whale watching from Tomaree lookouts (May–November)
Land-based whale watching from Tomaree Head, Fishermans Bay, Iris Moore, Boat Harbour, Birubi and Barry Park — official season window, no guaranteed sightings.
- Skip the Grade 5 summit: Fort Tomaree and lookouts that still count
Fort Tomaree is the official Grade 3 heritage walk on the same precinct. Iris Moore and Fishermans Bay cover whales without 161 m of stairs. Skipping the summit is not a failed Tomaree day.
Free day-trip checklist
Printable packing, order of stops and official NPWS links — free direct download, no email required.
- Before-you-leave packing ticks
- Half-day Tomaree Head / Zenith timeline
- What to skip when time or weather fails
- Official NPWS links to verify conditions
Free direct download — no email required. Also available anytime from Maps & resources · Itineraries · practical planner PDF · Privacy.