The Bamboos was our first night on the Yorke Peninsula, and it set the tone for the whole leg: a bush camp right on the white sand next to the beach, turquoise water just over the dune, and a sunset from the camp chairs. We came down the coast from Moonta Bay in the afternoon, found a patch of sand among the dunes and stayed the night.
What we like
- Camp right on the white sand
- Turquoise beach over the dune
- Sunset over the water from camp
- Only $20 a night per vehicle
- Plenty of space, even at Christmas
- Easy online permit
What we don’t
- No water, bins or showers
- No fires in summer
- Soft sand: 4WD or care needed
About The Bamboos CampgroundAbout
The Bamboos is one of the 19 Yorke Peninsula Council bush campgrounds, on the west coast of the peninsula north of Balgowan. The sites aren’t marked bays, just open patches of white sand between low dunes and coastal scrub, with two green toilet sheds and a bushfire information board at the entrance. A fenced sandy path leads over the dune to a long beach with a rock shelf at one end and clear, shallow water.
You need a council bush camping permit, booked online before you arrive: $20 a night per vehicle when we checked, plus a booking fee, and one permit covers one campground. Don’t chance it: the sign at the turn-off warns of a $312.50 fine if you’re caught without one.
Quick facts
- AddressThe Bamboos Bush Campground, Yorke Peninsula, SA, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionPatchy
- FacilitiesToiletsBeach AccessCamper Trailer AccessNo Drinking WaterNo BinsNo ShowersNo PowerNo Campfires
- Good to knowPermit online, $312.50 fine withoutSoft sand, drop your tyresNo fires in summer
- Fees$20 a night per vehicleplus a booking fee
- 8.7/10Overall rated
- Book your site
Getting There
From the coast road north of Balgowan, a signed gravel road heads west to the coast, and the last stretch into the campground is a sandy track between the dunes with scrub on both sides. We dropped our tyre pressures before the sand and had no trouble in the Prado. The sites themselves are soft white sand, so pick your spot before you commit, and don’t drive onto a patch you can’t get back out of.
The Campsites
There’s no site plan, just white sand. The patches between the dunes are big enough for a vehicle, a tent and chairs, and the scrub between them gives each one a bit of privacy. A handful of others were in when we arrived, with a caravan, a camper van and a gazebo spread along the dunes, and there was still plenty of space. We found a spot with the dune between us and the wind and the sunset straight ahead.
Facilities
Two green corrugated sheds hold the long-drop toilets, and that’s the full list of facilities. There’s no water, no bins, no showers and no power, so bring everything in and take your rubbish out; the sign at the entrance tells you where the nearest council waste disposal area is. The board there also has the fire danger ratings and the bushfire plan, and campfires aren’t allowed in the fire danger season, so we cooked on gas.
Over the Dune to the BeachThe beach
A fenced path of soft sand leads over the dune, and the beach is right there: a long stretch of white sand, a low rock shelf at the southern end and water that goes from clear to turquoise a few steps out. We walked over for the sunset, which goes down over the gulf straight in front of the camp, and again in the morning when the water was glassy.
Things to Do NearbyThings to do
Port Victoria, a short drive south, has the jetty, the old stone hotel and a foreshore kiosk with air refills, and just past it is Second Beach, where you can drive onto the white sand for a swim and lunch. Moonta Bay to the north has the long jetty, the netted swimming area and the town for supplies, and Tiparra Rocks is the next council camp along the coast. The rest of the leg is in our Yorke Peninsula guide.
Summary
A patch of white sand among the dunes, two toilets, a beach over the dune and a sunset from your chair, for $20 a night. Book the permit online before you lose reception, drop your tyres for the sand, bring your water and leave the firewood at home in summer.
The Bamboos is literally on the white sand next to the beach.
You park among the dunes, walk over the sand to turquoise water, and watch the sun go down over the gulf from your chair. Two toilets and nothing else, for $20 a night, and even over Christmas there was plenty of space.
- 4WD tourers
- Couples
- Beach & picnics
Yes. $20 a night per vehicle for a site on the sand with the beach over the dune and a sunset from camp. Bring everything, including water.
Recommended Gear for The Bamboos
Soft sand all the way in means a tyre deflator earns its place before the track. There’s no water, so bring plenty in good water containers, and a camp shower gets the salt and sand off after a swim. Our Kings 270 Tourer awning gave us the only shade on the sand.
