Half a day
Water and food in Bermagui, Scenic Drive, a table by the lagoon, then back to town.
Bermagui State Forest Guide
Black Lagoon picnic — tables, barbecues and toilets on Scenic Drive.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS · Content reviewed 26 Sep 2026
Don’t sleep on the picnic lawn. The listed stop is Bermagui Picnic Area on Black Lagoon: tables, barbecues and toilets, free entry, for the day. Camping in NSW State forests is free and first-come, and it is generally not allowed in picnic areas. This page is not “open today”. Forestry Corporation owns the closures. Confirm on the official Bermagui page and the notices map.
Bermagui State Forest is a Forestry Corporation of NSW working forest on the South Coast. Stop at Bermagui Picnic Area, on the banks of Black Lagoon, along Scenic Drive off the Bermagui–Cobargo Road. This is not Gulaga National Park, not a Wallaga Lake camp, and not Mogo Trails. Unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Check Forestry Corporation closures before you drive.
- Black Lagoon
- Free entry
- BBQs and tables
- Working forest
- Dogs under control
- Not Gulaga
What kind of forest day?
The place they list
Picnic on Black Lagoon
Tables, barbecues and toilets beside the water. Free entry. Leave before dark.
Off the Bermagui–Cobargo Road
Scenic Drive
Follow the signs. The government listing also mentions Wallaga Lake Road. They don’t give a drive time.
You can’t book it here
First-come, not the lawn
Camping in NSW State forests is free and first-come. It is generally not allowed in picnic areas.
Wrong map, often
You typed camping
Gulaga, Wallaga Lake, Reflections and Mogo Trails are different places.
Start here
On the bank
Bermagui Picnic Area sits on Black Lagoon. Forestry Corporation lists BBQs, picnic tables and toilets. The NSW Government listing adds a car park, free entry and views over the water. It also says the picnic does not cater for people with access needs.
Bring drinking water. A tap is not listed. Take your rubbish with you. You cannot reserve a table. If the lawn is already full, eat in Bermagui.
Getting there
Follow the signs along Scenic Drive off the Bermagui–Cobargo Road. Forestry Corporation spells that road “Bermagui-Cabargo Road”. The government listing says Scenic Forest Drive, Bermagui NSW 2546, also off Wallaga Lake Road. The pin on that listing is −36.396426, 150.040141. If the pin and the sign disagree, follow the sign.
Fill the car and the water bottles in Bermagui. Nothing on the forest page says there is fuel inside the forest. They don’t give a drive time from the highway, Sydney or Canberra. After rain the gravel can be slippery. Give way to trucks. This is a working forest.
How long
Times below are ours. Not independently walked. Forestry Corporation does not list visit hours.
A full day
The same picnic, with more time on the bank. If the tables are taken, have lunch in Bermagui. Still a day visit.
Overnight
A booked room in Bermagui, Cobargo, Narooma or Bega. Come back in the morning if the road is open. Not the lawn.
Dogs and fires
Dogs under control in this State forest. The government listing says pet friendly — enquire, so read the sign on the day. That does not let the dog into Gulaga National Park.
Use the barbecue that is there, and only when bans allow it. On a total fire ban, solid fuel is off, including that plate. Bring gas if you are unsure. A fire at the table does not make the night legal. Check RFS and the Forestry Corporation notices the morning you leave. This page is not “open today”.
Forestry Corporation marks the picnic as high public use for pesticide notices. Read their forest page before you assume nothing has been sprayed.
Not this forest
- Gulaga National Park and Wallaga Lake camps are NSW National Parks, not this picnic.
- Reflections Bermagui and Horseshoe Bay are a holiday park in town.
- Mogo Trails, the gardens and Round Hill are a different forest. Mogo State Forest Guide.
- There is no camp called Bermagui Flat, and no signed walk with a distance on the forest page.
Bermagui State Forest Guide
Bermagui State Forest Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries with the site name on them. Packing, Friday Plan B, half day / full day / overnight. Official Forestry Corp / RFS links on every file.
- Planner — packing, last towns, dogs, fires, Friday Plan B
- Itineraries — half day at the picnic, a longer day, overnight in town
- Lagoon mark + www.bermaguistateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
FAQ
Is Bermagui State Forest a national park?
No. It is a Forestry Corporation of NSW working forest. Gulaga National Park is NPWS, next door in people’s searches, and a different manager.
Where is the picnic?
Bermagui Picnic Area is on the banks of Black Lagoon. Follow Scenic Drive off the Bermagui–Cobargo Road. The NSW Government listing says Scenic Forest Drive, Bermagui NSW 2546, also off Wallaga Lake Road.
Can I camp on the lawn?
No. Camping is generally not permitted in picnic areas. The forest page does not name a camp. Do not sleep on the picnic lawn.
Can I bring a dog?
Dogs under control in this State forest. The government listing says pet friendly — enquire. Dogs are generally not allowed in Gulaga National Park.
Is there a toilet and drinking water?
Public toilets are listed. A drinking tap is not. Fill bottles in Bermagui before Scenic Drive. What is at the picnic
Can I have a fire?
Barbecues and fireplaces are there for the day, and only when bans allow them. On a total fire ban the wood barbecue is off. This page cannot tell you if today is a ban day. Fire rules
Is there a bushwalk with a distance?
No. Forestry Corporation lists the picnic, not a track with a length, grade or time. Not independently walked. On foot
Is this site official?
No. Independent unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. Not Forestry Corporation. Not NPWS.
Different manager: Gulaga National Park (NPWS). Dogs generally stay out of that park.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Bermagui State Forest guide is in that network. Not government. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Sister state forests
Only live guides are links.
Picnic details come from Forestry Corporation’s Bermagui page and the NSW Government listing for Bermagui Picnic Area, checked 26 Sep 2026. Camping, dogs and fires follow Forestry Corporation’s statewide pages. Closures are on their notices map. Fires: RFS, plus Forestry Corporation solid-fuel notices. This guide is the picnic on Black Lagoon. It is not Gulaga National Park, not a Wallaga Lake camp, and not Mogo Trails.
Not independently walked. Conditions, roads and fire rules change. Verify with Forestry Corporation of NSW before you leave town.