Eden & Sapphire Coast

A harbour town on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, on Twofold Bay. The Killer Whale Museum and the whaling station ruins tell the story of humans and killer whales working together. Spring is the best season for whale watching, and the surrounding national parks have stunning coastline.

Eden lies on the southernmost Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, in Bega Valley Shire, about 480 km from Sydney and 260 km from Canberra. The town overlooks Twofold Bay, one of Australia's deepest natural harbours. It is famous for its legend of humans and killer whales hunting together: in the early 20th century, pods of orcas helped the Davidson family round up humpback whales. The Killer Whale Museum and the site of the whaling station tell this story. Today Eden is one of the best whale-watching destinations in New South Wales. Between September and November each year, humpback whales migrating south with their calves often enter the bay, and the Whale Festival is held from late October to early November. Ben Boyd National Park (Beowa) lies to the north and south of the town. The northern section has the red-and-white Pinnacle Rock, while the southern section has Boyd Tower, Green Cape Lighthouse and the 30 km Light to Light Walk linking the two. About 25 km north are Merimbula and Pambula, with lakeside boardwalks, snorkelling beaches, oyster farms and kangaroos on the beach as highlights. Further north, Tathra Wharf, Mimosa Rocks National Park and the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre suit day trips. The climate is mild. Summer (December–February) is for beach holidays, spring is for whale watching, and winter is not very cold but can be windy. Merimbula Airport has flights to Sydney and Melbourne. By car, take the Princes Highway; it is about 6 hours from Sydney. Allow two to three days: one for Eden town and a whale-watching boat trip, one for the southern section of Ben Boyd National Park (Boyd Tower and Green Cape), and one for the Merimbula and Pambula area. National parks require a vehicle entry pass. The southern section is mostly unsealed gravel roads, and when driving at dusk, watch for kangaroos.

Top sights

• Eden Killer Whale Museum – A small-town museum telling the legendary story of killer whales and whalers working together. Its star exhibit is the skeleton of the orca…
• Twofold Bay Whale Watching – In spring, boats leave Eden harbour for Twofold Bay and the open sea, offering close-up views of humpback whales migrating south with their…
• Green Cape Lighthouse – An octagonal concrete lighthouse at the southern tip of New South Wales, ideal for whale watching, spotting kangaroos and watching the suns…
• Davidson Whaling Station Historic Site – The remains of a shore-based whaling station at Kiah Inlet on the south side of Twofold Bay, where the Davidson family worked with killer w…
• Boyds Tower – A sandstone headland tower built in 1847, standing on the red cliffs above the beach. It marks the northern start of the 30 km Light to Lig…
• Bittangabee Bay – A secluded small bay in the southern section of Beowa National Park, with clear water, a campground and the ruins of a 19th-century stone h…
• The Pinnacles – An eroded gorge in the northern section of Beowa National Park, where red clay sits on white sand to form two-coloured rock pillars.
• Eden Wharf & Snug Cove – Eden's fishing harbour, where fishing boats, whale-watching boats and seafood restaurants gather. Local oysters, scallops and fish and chip…
• Eden Lookout – A free viewpoint on the headland at Eden, with a whaling-era warning bell and whale sightings from shore in spring.
• Aslings Beach – A long sandy beach on the north side of Eden, good for surfing and walking, with a rock pool at the northern end that works as a natural sa…
• Seahorse Inn, Boydtown – A sandstone inn built by Ben Boyd in 1843 on the west shore of Twofold Bay. It still operates today.
• Mount Imlay (Balawan) – A sacred mountain of the Aboriginal people of the Sapphire Coast. The steep track to the summit offers views over Twofold Bay and the whole…
• Pambula Beach – A beach famous for its herd of eastern grey kangaroos on the grass, where you can photograph kangaroos with the sea behind them in the earl…
• Haycock Point – A headland south of the Pambula River mouth, with clifftop walks for ocean views and whale watching, and Bathurst Beach below.
• Pambula Lake – A tidal lake and renowned oyster-growing area on the Sapphire Coast, where guided oyster farm tours and tastings are available.
• Panboola Wetlands – A community wetland reserve on the edge of Pambula, with flat boardwalks and paths good for walking, cycling and birdwatching.
• Merimbula Boardwalk – A boardwalk of about 3.5 km along the shore of Merimbula Lake, with mangroves, oyster beds and waterbirds along the way.
• Bar Beach, Merimbula – A calm small beach at the mouth of Merimbula Lake, good for snorkelling to see starfish and sea hares, with a seaside restaurant alongside.
• Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf – A small aquarium built on Merimbula's old wharf, displaying local marine life, with shark feeding sessions.
• Potoroo Palace – A non-profit wildlife park on the outskirts of Merimbula, where you can see wombats, koalas and potoroos up close.
• Tathra Wharf – An 1860s timber deep-water wharf, the only surviving combination of wharf and warehouse from its era on Australia's east coast.
• Bournda National Park & Wallagoot Lake – A coastal national park between Merimbula and Tathra, with calm lakes, long beaches and coastal walking tracks.
• Mimosa Rocks National Park – An ancient volcanic rock coastline north of Tathra, with the Camel Rock formation, Aragunnu Beach with its Aboriginal shell middens and cam…
• Bega Cheese Heritage Centre – The birthplace of a well-known Australian cheese brand, where a former factory now houses a museum offering free cheese tastings.

Where to eat

• Wheeler's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar – Seafood restaurant run by an oyster-farming family since 1927 on Merimbula Lake. Its oysters come straight from the fam…
• Umi-Ko Izakaya – Japanese izakaya in central Merimbula with a high OpenTable rating, serving sake, sashimi, ramen and a range of small d…
• Dulcie's Cottage – Popular bar in a 1925 timber cottage, with garden seating and a 1950s-style food truck serving award-winning burgers an…
• Merimbula Aquarium Wharf Restaurant – Seafood restaurant built on the wharf, with views of boats heading through the Merimbula Lake entrance. A small aquariu…
• Kitty's Bar & Restaurant – Stylish cocktail bar and restaurant inside Club Sapphire, known for pan-Asian sharing plates and signature cocktails.