Destination overview

You’ll find everything from beautiful beaches to majestic national parks in popular Batemans Bay. On the banks of the Clyde River's broad sweeping estuary, the seaside resort of Batemans Bay offers magnificent views both upriver to the mountains, and seaward to the horizon dotted with islands. Chains of beautiful beaches and National Parks lie to the north and south. This stunning coastline of beaches, river estuaries and craggy headlands makes Batemans Bay an ideal holiday destination.

Boasting some of the most spectacular and unspoiled coastline in New South Wales, you will find long sandy strips with rolling surf, while only minutes away are rock pools, coves and quiet waters ideal for family outings.

Batemans Bay is the largest bay situated on the coast south of Nowra, and maintains its small town atmosphere and welcomes visitors with its fabulous estuary location, country hospitality and charm. It’s an unspoilt natural environment with attractions and facilities for tourists of all ages and preferences.

Many dining and entertainment facilities in the town are sited to take advantage of the magnificent views across the Clyde estuary, the ocean and the mountains in the west. Others are situated close to the beautiful beaches that adorn the coastal centres. The special thing about Batemans Bay is that every aspect of the area is different and beautiful in its own right.
In addition to its own attractions, 'the Bay' is well located for driving, trekking and leisurely, undemanding walks in the Clyde Valley and the spectacular mountainous national parks that protect its sources. Pigeon House Mountain is well worth a visit and is less than an hour's drive north.

Batemans Bay is a bustling coastal town with majestic seascapes that attract everyone from watercolour artists and rock fishermen, to kids building sandcastles, keen surfers and fishing enthusiasts. The coastline around Batemans Bay is simply stunning, with a string of golden beaches, mangroves, oyster flats and sheltered coves. In the Batemans Bay Marine Park you can go fishing, diving, snorkelling and boating. Enjoy the Clyde River on a lunchtime cruise; and, if oysters are one of your pleasures, you’ll have to try the succulent local Clyde River oysters – those who do always come back for more! In fact, many oyster connoisseurs have hailed the Clyde River oysters as the best in the world.

Things to do

There are plenty of things to do around Batemans Bay. Drive south along Beach Road, stopping at a string of picturesque coves and beaches, or drop a line off any number of good spots that might hook a bream, flathead or mulloway. Enjoy a game of golf on the 27-hole Catalina Country Club, rated one of the finest courses on the South Coast.

Also a must-see is Murramarang National Park, with its friendly eastern grey kangaroos, as well as Birdland Animal Park which has a diverse collection of Australian native birds, an animal nursery, duck ponds and train rides through three hectares of parkland.

There are dozens of pristine beaches, some with gentle shallow waters that are perfect for young children, while the most discerning of surfers will find plenty of beaches with waves to challenge their skills.

Known for its fresh and mouth-watering seafood, caught locally in some of the cleanest waters in the world, Batemans Bay has seen several world and Australian records for game fishing. Local charter boat operators can take you out for a great day's reef fishing or to chase a ‘big one'. Boating, diving, windsurfing and both body and board surfing all find their respective paradises in the region.

Wildlife
The beautiful lakes and other waterways offer peaceful bush walks, the company of many species of coastal- frequenting birds, fishing and other leisurely pursuits.Native wildlife that you can encounter in the region include kangaroos, wallabies, possums, bandicoots, sea eagles and brilliantly-coloured parrots among many others. If you are lucky or persistent you may even encounter some of themore rare and shy creatures such as a lyrebird, wombat or even a platypus.

During your visit to Batemans Bay, take a drive out to the pretty town of Nelligen, which is about 10 kilometres upstream. This quiet village is located on a calm and attractive reach of the river, and on the way, you can geta magnificent view of the town and its beautiful river from the Holmes Lookout.

You should also take a trip to historic Mogo, only 5 minutes south of the Bay, where the rustic atmosphere has been preserved in the newer buildings in the town, resulting in a quaint village in which you can find a wide variety of unusual and attractive craft and antique items. Step back in history when you visit the pioneer village or dinosaur museum; visit the famous Mogo Zoo or even pan for gold in the pioneer tradition.

Easy proximity to major cities
Located on the Princes Highway, Batemans Bay is approximately 280 kilometres (170 miles) from Sydney.  It is the closest seaside town to Canberra, making it a popular holiday destination for residents of Australia’s national capital. With a population of 12,000, made up of young families and retirees, some of the local industries include oyster farming, forestry, eco-tourism, sawmilling and retail.

Broulee Island

Situated 20 kilometres south of Batemans Bay, Broulee is a long sweeping beach protected by Broulee Island. This is a favourite beach with tourists, and is ideal for families to enjoy.

The fishing is great at Broulee; there’s good diving and snorkelling in the area and the surfing is some of the best on the South Coast. Broulee Beach is well-protected and the sand dips gradually, which makes it a family favourite. Explore Broulee Island, a nature reserve with outstanding views along the coast.

Murramarang National Park
Murramarang National Park protects over 11,977 hectares of coastal land between Kiola and Batemans Bay on the state's South Coast. Four offshore islands are also included in the Park - Wasp Island, Grasshopper Island, Dawsons Island and O'Hara Island.

Murramarang offers a wide range of activities including swimming, surfing, fishing, picnicking, bushwalking, photography and nature study.

The Park's largely undisturbed coastline with its sandy and shingle beaches, rugged headlands, tombolas, rock stacks and fossil-bearing rocks provide visitors with a rich environment to explore.

Eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies and common birdlife such as parrots, finches, honeyeaters and sea birds inhabit the park.

So, if it’s beaches or parks, adventure or leisurely activities, you’ll find that Batemans Bay is a beautiful, natural haven that won’t fail to disappoint even the most discerning of nature-loving travellers. xxx