Western Sydney’s Camp Yarramundi Is Getting A $49 Million Transformation
Ask any Westie parent about school camp and there’s a good chance Camp Yarramundi comes up. The giant swing, the flying fox, the cabin bunk you fought your best friend for. Now the Hawkesbury camp that shaped generations of Western Sydney kids is getting the biggest upgrade in its history.
Work is officially underway on the $49 million redevelopment of Y NSW’s Camp Yarramundi, turning the 90 year old site into a major destination for recreation and outdoor learning.
Camp Yarramundi has been running since 1937, hosting generations of school students, families and community groups at its riverside site in the Hawkesbury. It sits on 35 acres of bushland, on the banks of the World Heritage listed Grose River, and takes its name from Yarramundi, a leader of the Boorooberongal clan of the Dharug people.
More than $44 million of the funding comes from the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program. Construction is set to be completed by late 2027 to welcome visitors from the start of 2028.
Here’s what the new camp will include:
- 84 new cabins sleeping more than 430 guests
- A bigger dining hall with a new commercial kitchen and a second servery
- Upgraded rec facilities, including a climbing wall
- A garden that grows produce and doubles as a learning space
- Outdoor kitchens and an amphitheatre for music events
- A conference and events centre
And for the adventure loving kids: high and low ropes courses, giant single and dual swings, plus rock climbing and abseiling. The Y says there’ll be 11 ropes courses, river activities, archery and team challenge courses.
Capacity will nearly double, making it one of the largest and most inclusive outdoor education centres in the country.
This is the bit we love. Accessibility sits at the heart of the project, with accommodation, amenities and adventure activities designed so people of all ages and abilities can take part. That includes accessible ropes courses and pathways through the ironbark forest – no awkward add ons or separate “special” options, just one experience everyone shares. For families of kids with disability, that’s a big deal. Camp should be something your child does, not something they watch.
Read the full NSW Government announcement here.
