New $1.9 million Belmont Wetlands campground opens for eco-tourists

5 December 2025

newy.com.au – A new $1.9 million eco-tourism campground has opened at Belmont Wetlands giving visitors the option to stay overnight at the popular coastal reserve.

The State Government says the investment will boost nature-based tourism in the Hunter, support local jobs and small businesses, and provide a new affordable camping option within easy driving distance of both Sydney and Newcastle.

The upgraded Belmont Wetlands Campground offers 100 campsites nestled near the sand dunes, where visitors can pitch a tent or pull up a camper trailer under the stars. New facilities include two barbecues, covered seating areas, hot and cold showers and an accessible bathroom.

A new underground water system has also been installed to supply the campground and provide additional support for emergency services in the event of a bushfire.

Minister for Lands and Property and Tourism Steve Kamper said the revamped site would be a major attraction for the region.

“The new and upgraded Belmont Wetlands Campground is set to become one of the Hunter region’s standout eco-tourism drawcards,” Mr Kamper said. “A place that celebrates the natural beauty of NSW and actively boosts local jobs, small businesses, and the visitor economy.”

“With more travellers seeking nature-based experiences, this revitalised campground will encourage longer stays, greater local spending, and stronger support for cafés, shops, tour operators, and accommodation providers right across the region,” he said.

Belmont Wetlands was acquired by the NSW Government from BHP in 2002 after sand mining operations ended. The Crown reserve now stretches across 554 hectares of bushland, sand dunes and wetlands, and is used for walking, bird watching, cycling, surfing, fishing, camping, horse riding and four-wheel driving.

The wetlands sit less than a two-hour drive from Sydney and just over half an hour from Newcastle, which the government says positions the campground as an accessible weekend escape for families and travellers.

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said the new campground would open up the reserve to more visitors.

“Belmont Wetlands is one of our region’s natural treasures, and these new campgrounds will make it even more accessible for locals and visitors who want to experience it up close,” Ms Catley said.

“These new facilities mean families, school groups and travellers can stay overnight at a really affordable price, surrounded by some of the most spectacular coastline and bushland in the state,” she said. “The campground will also help create a sustainable future for the park, supporting the incredible volunteers who work so hard to protect this beautiful piece of coastal paradise.”

Belmont Wetlands Administrator Nicole Dunn said the campground would provide a relaxed, family-friendly base for outdoor experiences.

“The campground offers families a safe, welcoming place to reconnect with nature and each other,” Ms Dunn said. “Revenue from the campground will be reinvested to maintain and improve park infrastructure, support conservation efforts, and protect the park’s unique natural environment.”

Alongside the new campground, an additional $910,000 from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund will be used to upgrade the entrance road and carpark, with work planned to start in early 2026. The government says the upgrades will increase parking capacity, ease congestion and encourage more people to visit the reserve.