Summary
At Batemans Bay on NSW’s South Coast, the gleaming waters of the Clyde River converge with the Pacific Ocean.
For seafood enthusiasts, the river estuary is regarded as one of Australia’s prime destinations for shellfish, offering incredibly fresh oysters harvested directly from the waters.
Batemans Bay epitomizes the ecotourism experience, providing opportunities for hiking in mangroves and coastal forests, kayaking alongside migrating whales, rays, and dolphins, as well as exploring some of the continent’s most ancient rock formations.
Alternatively, you may simply enjoy the bliss of a pristine sandy beach, shielded from the ocean surf by this inviting coastal alcove.
1. Oyster Tasting
For connoisseurs of oysters, Batemans Bay is exceptional.
The Clyde River estuary features extensive beds yielding world-class oysters, including Angasi and Sydney Rock varieties.
There are several farm gates, such as Pearly Oyster Bar and Farm and Wray Street Oyster Shed, where visitors can sample oysters right from the source.
At both establishments, you can enjoy freshly shucked oysters or acquire unopened ones to take away.
For a truly unique experience, consider kayaking to the oyster beds in Clyde River National Park for an oyster tasting adventure.
This experience is available through the tour website GetYourGuide.com.
2. Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens
This cherished attraction showcasing the botanical wonders of the Eurobodalla Region faced bushfires in early 2020; however, by August 2020, significant recovery was evident.
The gardens’ recent facilities, including a herbarium, visitor center, and café, were constructed to the highest fire safety standards and remained intact.
Spanning 42 hectares, the gardens feature approximately 2,000 species of plants, trees, and shrubs, all displayed in expertly designed gardens and an arboretum along well-maintained walking tracks.
The gardens also host a vibrant array of wildlife, including kangaroos, bandicoots, wallabies, snakes, echidnas, and a rich variety of birds.
A delightful play area for children, a plant sales section, and a café that would justify a visit on its own further enhance the appeal of these gardens.
3. Corrigans Beach
The first beach encountered after the marina features a lovely arc of soft sand and numerous appealing attributes.
The bay view is spectacular, with Snapper Island situated a few hundred meters offshore, coupled with the expansive Square Head across the bay to the north.
This scene can be appreciated from the lookout at Observation Point, which delineates the beach’s southern boundary.
If visiting with young children, the Corrigans Beach Reserve boasts a playground considered to be the best in the area, accompanied by barbecue and picnic shelters.
A cycleway initiates at the beach, closely following the waterfront around much of the bay, while the popular Birdland Animal Park is located at the northern end of the beach.
4. Batemans Bay Heritage Museum
For those wishing to learn about the city and its history, there is an excellent volunteer-run museum located at the edge of the CBD.
This museum occupies an impressive space, housed in Batemans Bay’s former courthouse (established in 1905), with an adjacent police station and residence.
The permanent exhibit reflects on the local timber industry, which boasts a rich history spanning over 200 years, while also examining the intriguing geology of the South Coast, renowned for its ancient rock formations.
Visitors can delve into the area’s extensive Aboriginal heritage and explore subjects such as domestic life, education, crime and punishment, medicine, entertainment, and military history.
Additionally, there is an entertaining dress-up area, a dedicated space for children, and a reading nook.
5. Mogo Wildlife Park
The region offers one of Australia’s most extensive collections of exotic animals, located less than 10 minutes from the Princes Highway.
Like much of the surrounding area, Mogo Wildlife Park was impacted by bushfires and later by the pandemic in 2020; nevertheless, it successfully reopened its doors to showcase its remarkable collection.
The park is commended for the high quality of its enclosures, which integrate seamlessly with the surrounding bushland.
Among the 250+ animals on display are giraffes, meerkats, rhinoceroses, zebras, Sumatran tigers, snow leopards, gorillas, and silvery gibbons.
For an additional fee, visitors can partake in special animal encounters, ranging from hand-feeding an emperor tamarin or squirrel monkey to getting up close and personal with a lion or tiger.
6. Batemans Bay Snorkelling Trail
The waters along the NSW South Coast are renowned for their abundant marine life, making Batemans Bay an ideal location to don a snorkel and explore the underwater world.
At the Batemans Bay Visitor Information Centre, you can learn more about the local snorkelling trail, featuring three primary stops, extending from Maloneys Beach in the north to the ancient rocks of Guerilla Bay in the south.
Underwater, amidst the reefs and seaweed beds, you may encounter lobsters, groupers, and endemic species such as luderick, red morwong, and bream.
7. Clyde River National Park
Where the tidal Clyde River meanders toward Batemans Bay lies a national park dedicated to the conservation of nine kilometers of picturesque riverfront.
The park is inviting for exploration, particularly on the water, where one can take a boat, canoe or kayak to navigate along the river’s course and the many smaller waterways branching off.
The red river gums lining the banks support an astonishing variety of birdlife, with significant inhabitants including the critically endangered swift parrot.
This region has played a vital role for the Walbunja Aboriginal people over thousands of years, with historical middens visible at the water’s edge, made up of shells accumulated over generations.
8. Holmes Lookout
A popular destination within the Clyde River National Park, this elevated viewpoint has attracted visitors for centuries.
The Walbunja people historically utilized what is now known as Holmes Lookout as a meeting and communication hub due to its strategic vantage point from the ridgeline, which is also incorporated into a local dreaming narrative.
Accessible within a few minutes from Batemans Bay, this site allows visitors to enjoy the sounds of kookaburras and parrots while witnessing the Clyde River winding into the Pacific Ocean to the southeast.
Looking northwest provides a view of the stunning Budawang Range, and those arriving in the late afternoon will be treated to a picturesque sunset.
9. Surf Beach
Situated in front of the suburb of the same name and just 10 minutes south of the CBD, this appealing stretch of sandy coastline is nestled between two headlands, with rocky outcrops at its northern end.
Boasting a substantial tidal range, Surf Beach is broad and shallow, gently sloping into the Pacific.
The beach is monitored throughout the peak season, providing ample safe, shallow waters suitable for young children.
Additionally, there is a small playground nearby, and children will undoubtedly enjoy exploring the tidal pools in search of marine life.
10. Birdland Animal Park
This perennial favorite among tourists also experienced the impact of bushfires but has remained operational.
Situated in a picturesque waterfront setting amidst bushland and gardens, Birdland Animal Park is home to over 100 species of native birds, as well as Australian marsupials including kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats.
Visitors will navigate winding trails past aviaries and animal enclosures, with options for a miniature train ride and expansive picnic and play areas tailored for families.
Additionally, two times a day at 11:30 and 14:30, visitors can interact with harmless snakes and even hold a gentle wombat in their lap.
11. Batemans Bay Cycleway
There are a couple of local establishments (Batemans Bay Cycles, Region X) where visitors can rent a bike to enjoy an easy ride around the bay.
The bayfront on the south side of the estuary is bordered by a continuous paved cycleway separate from Beach Road.
The terrain is level and ideal for cyclists of all ages, offering stunning views of yachts in the marina and the scenic hills across the bay.
A diverse range of cafes and eateries is available along Beach Road, providing perfect spots to pause for refreshments.
12. Cullendulla Creek Nature Reserve
Located just east of Surfside Beach, across the Clyde River Bridge, is a beautiful area of protected nature.
The reserve encompasses a series of rare dune formations known as cheniers, characterized by long, low ridges not exceeding six meters that trace the shoreline.
There are two primary walking routes that thread through the reserve.
The Beach Track leads to a lovely stretch of sand on Batemans Bay, perfect for swimming or launching a kayak or canoe to paddle along the creek.
For a deeper understanding of these dune formations, the Mangrove Walk features elevated boardwalks sprinkled with informative displays about this delicate ecosystem.
As you proceed, you may catch glimpses of Australian white ibises foraging along the shore.
13. Broulee Beach
Traveling south from Batemans Bay, you will find another charming beach located approximately 15 minutes away.
Broulee Beach is a long crescent of pristine sand, bordered to the south by Broulee Island and Mossy Point to the north.
The beach remains immaculate, and its foreshore has been largely protected from extensive development, creating a natural setting even though shops, surf schools, and residences are situated behind the tree line.
The gentle surf at Broulee Beach and its very gradual gradient provide ample shallow water for children to enjoy.
Accessible on foot, the island at the southern end is connected to the mainland by a sandbar, serving as a habitat for various bird species, including the white-bellied sea eagle and the superb fairy wren.
14. Region X
Further information on the local company Region X reveals the various half-, single-, and multi-day nature experiences it organizes across the unspoiled South Coast.
Many of these experiences occur on water via kayaking, encompassing activities ranging from glass-bottom kayak excursions, oyster tastings, whale watching (from May to November), and wildlife encounters with dolphins and seabirds.
Adventurers may also venture into national parks for guided hikes or bike rides, and combine paddling and hiking for extensive three- or five-day adventures, which predominantly depart and return to Batemans Bay.
