Diamond Head is a small campground in Crowdy Bay National Park that punches well above its weight. Twenty-two sites, pit toilets, a rainwater tank that you cannot depend on, and a surf beach right out the front door. For people who want something more than a car park in the bush but don’t need to be in a resort, this place is close to ideal.
The beach at Diamond Head is a long, exposed stretch of coast with a decent right-hand break that works best in a south to southeast swell. Surfers have known about this spot for years, but it still doesn’t get overcrowded — the distance from Sydney and the modest facilities keep the numbers manageable. If you’re not a surfer, the beach is still excellent for a walk and a swim when conditions allow; check the surf report before wading in, as it can be deceptively powerful.
The sites themselves sit in scrubby banksia forest just back from the dunes. There’s not a lot of shade in the middle of the day but the position near the coast means you usually get a sea breeze. Sites are spread out enough to feel relatively private for a campground of this size.
Fire rings are provided and fires are generally permitted, but check current conditions — bans apply in fire danger season. This is one of the better campgrounds in the region for an actual campfire atmosphere, so it’s worth timing your visit for when fires are allowed.
On the practical side: treat the rainwater tank as a bonus, not a given. Bring all the water you need. Cold showers are available at some sites. Laurieton and Dunbogan are 15 minutes away — pub, IGA, bakery, servo.
Book through NPWS. This is small enough that it fills up on long weekends; mid-week in shoulder season is when you’ll have it nearly to yourself.