Guide to the Sapphire Coast
Escape to the sparkling beaches, rolling green hills, lakes, caves and national parks of the Sapphire Coast, about a six-hour drive from Sydney or Melbourne and three hours from Canberra.
By Stephanie Williams
The Sapphire Coast in New South Wales is all about soaking up nature, taking it easy and enjoying the beaches, hills, lakes, produce, seaside villages and national parks. The area is home to some of Australia's most pristine oyster estuaries, which you can explore on the Oyster Trail, from Bermagui in the north to Wonboyn in the south. Eden is known as a paradise for whale watching. And then there's the area's cheese. Bega is a hotspot for quality dairy products, and home to Bega Cheese, a much-loved national cheese brand
Don't miss
- Try some oysters on the Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail
- Conquer the mountain bike tracks of Tathra
- Learn about whaling history and watch whales in Eden
How to get there
The Sapphire Coast is a three-hour drive from Canberra via Cooma, or a six-hour drive from Melbourne or Sydney. You can fly into the regional airport of Merimbula with Regional Express, which connects daily to Melbourne and Sydney. You can catch a bus from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne with CountryLink, VLine and Premier Motor Service.
Things to do and top attractions on the Sapphire Coast
Whale watching, humpback whale, Eden New South Wales © Faunographic
Explore Eden
Eden is one of Australia's best whale watching locations and boasts the third deepest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere. The port of Snug Cove is a great place to see fishermen return with their fresh catch. Or pop in to Sprout Eden for local produce for breakfast and lunch. Visit the Killer Whale Museum and learn about Australia's early whaling history, then head out on a whale watching tour (between September and November). Divers will love a shipwreck scuba dive; you can even stay at the Merimbula Divers Lodge. Follow the Light to Light Walk between Boyds Tower in the south of Ben Boyd National Park to Green Cape Lightstation at the northern end of the park.
Bega Valley, South Coast, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Get a taste for Bega
Bega is known for its award-winning cheeses, made from milk produced in this area. The town is the business centre of the Sapphire Coast, but feels anything but urban. Start at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, which is home to the Bega Visitor Information Centre. Taste local cheeses, or try a milkshake, coffee or ploughman's lunch in the cafe. Take a walk around town and enjoy the work of local artists in the Bega Valley Regional Gallery or the artist-run Spiral Gallery. Have a picnic alongside the Bega River, or visit Biamanga National Park and enjoy a walk to the tranquil Mumbulla Creek Falls or along the Biamanga Aboriginal Culture Walk. Just north of Bega is the stunning Brogo Dam – hire a canoe here and explore.
The Wharf Local, Tathra, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Experience the waters and wine of Tathra
Follow the Tathra-Bermagui Road along the sea-sculpted coastline of Mimosa Rocks National Park to Tathra. Along the road you'll see Mimosa Wines & Drystone Restaurant, as well as galleries and cafes, so leave enough time to explore. You can spot penguins and seals from the historic Tathra Wharf. Pop in to The Wharf Locavore for coffee, lunch and local art, or try Fat Tony’s Bar and Grill for a taste of the local seafood. Snorkel around Mimosa Rocks before enjoying the serene sanctuary of Bournda National Park. Camp next to grazing kangaroos and wallabies at Wallagoot Lake. Mountain bike riders will love to explore the rolling bush tracks of Tathra Mountain Bike Trails, a network of more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) of track.
Snorkelling at Tathra, Sapphire Coast, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Get out, on and under the water
There are so many ways you can get out, on and under the water on the Sapphire Coast. In summer, you can hire a kayak or try stand-up paddleboarding with Merimbula Stand-up Paddle in the calm waters near Merimbula and Bermagui. Coastlife also offers stand-up paddleboarding, as well as surfing lessons, on the beaches of Merimbula, Tathra and Pambula.
Captain Sponges Magical Oyster Tours, Pambula, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Try watersports and oysters at Merimbula
Picturesque Merimbula has long been a popular holiday town. You can fly here from Melbourne or Sydney. Have a surf at the sweeping stretch of Main Beach or picnic beneath tea-trees and banksias at Short Point and Tura Beach. Cruise, sailboard or canoe on Lake Merimbula on your way to the river village of Pambula, where many of the buildings date back to the 1850s. Walk around the freshwater lagoon at Pambula Beach and taste the town's famous fresh oysters at Broadwater Oysters on the Pambula River. The Bar Beach Kiosk in Merimbula serves up simple food and coffee overlooking pretty Bar Beach.
Bermagui Fishermens Co-Op Ltd., Bermagui, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Fish and feast in Bermagui
Bermagui is a pretty harbour town on the northern tip of the Sapphire Coast. Hop on a boat charter and throw in a line for big game or reef fish. Take a dip or snorkel in the Blue Pool, an idyllic natural rock pool, before heading to Wallaga Lake for swimming, boating, bushwalking and camping. It has special significance for the local Yuin Aboriginal people. In the middle of the lake lies Merriman Island, named after Yuin elder King Merriman, and many Aboriginal middens and artefacts have been found around the lake. The island isn't accessible to the public but you can admire it from afar. Head to the Fishermans Wharf right on the harbour for modern Italian at Il Passaggio.
Popular itineraries
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