Barunguba Montague Island
Barunguba / Montague Island
A nature reserve island 9 km off Narooma, where boat trips offer sightings of Australian fur seal colonies, little penguins and migrating humpback whales.
Montague Island, known to the Indigenous people as Barunguba, is an important seabird and seal habitat in New South Wales. It is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and visitors can land only with licensed boat tours. A typical tour takes 3–4 hours. Boats leave from Narooma wharf, and dolphins are often seen along the way. Humpback whales can appear in spring. Circling the island brings you close to thousands of Australian and New Zealand fur seals. After landing, a ranger leads you to the granite lighthouse built in 1881. In the evening, tours watch little penguins returning to their burrows. You can also snorkel beside the seal colonies from the boat. Book ahead, as trips are cancelled in rough seas. Anyone prone to seasickness should take medication in advance.
Opening hours
Departs with boat tours; reservation required
Nearby sights
- Glasshouse Rocks
- Australia Rock
- Mill Bay Boardwalk
- Mystery Bay
- Wagonga Inlet
- Central Tilba
- Tilba Tilba
- Camel Rock