The name 'Booderee' comes from the Dhurga language and means 'bay of plenty'.
It is the only national park in Australia jointly managed by its traditional owners.
The park contains the ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse, built in 1860 and abandoned in 1899 due to its poor placement.
The Booderee Botanic Gardens are the only Aboriginal-owned botanic gardens in Australia.
The park is home to a specific population of small, ground-dwelling marsupials, including the long-nosed potoroo.
The park's waters provide a critical refuge for migrating humpback whales during their seasonal journeys.
The local Aboriginal community, the Wreck Bay people, have lived on this peninsula for thousands of years.
Booderee National Park is a Commonwealth-managed park located on the Bherwerre Peninsula in the Jervis Bay Territory, unique for its joint management by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and the Director of National Parks. The park features white sand beaches, significant botanical gardens, and diverse coastal ecosystems including cliffs, mangroves, and woodlands. It serves as a vital habitat for native flora and fauna, including endangered species like the long-nosed potoroo. Visitors access coastal camping grounds and a network of bushwalking tracks that explore both the coastline and the inland forest. The park area has historical significance tied to both Indigenous heritage and early European maritime infrastructure. Its waters form part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, supporting diverse marine life including fur seals and migrating whales. There are no private land holdings within the park, preserving its natural landscape from development.
The ruins of the Cape St George Lighthouse overlooking the Tasman Sea.
Bring your own drinking water as facilities are limited in some remote areas of the park.
Check the daily surf and weather conditions before heading to ocean beaches, as currents can be strong.
Use the provided dedicated fire pits for any campfires; wood collection from the bush is strictly prohibited.
Attempting to swim at unpatrolled beaches during high-surf conditions; collecting firewood or shells.
Park access may be restricted during periods of extreme fire danger or severe weather events.
Respect sacred sites by staying on marked paths; strictly no pets allowed; do not feed wildlife.
