The Sapphire Coast of NSW has been called an unspoilt Coastal Wilderness for good reason. There are miles of unspoilt beaches and thousands of acres of national park along the coastline. This makes for an unforgettable encounter with nature. This is a short guide to whale watching based in Merimbula and the Sapphire Coast.

Merimbula is at the heart of Australia’s Oyster Coast: With the pristine waters in our many local estuaries, you can enjoy international quality oysters directly from the many oyster farms, or better still join one of the local oyster tours to learn more about how they are grown; meet the local growers and sample their award-winning produce nurtured for local and international markets.

There are numerous walks and hikes in the region suited to all fitness levels, ranging from leisurely strolls along the beach to more challenging bush and coastal hikes in the area including the local National Parks. Our location adjacent to natural bush reserve, as well as Back Lake and the adjacent beaches allow for some spectacular scenery and birdlife on several walks directly from our Cabins.

The Sapphire Coast is famous for its fishing, as it is one of very few regions offering superb game fishing, bottom bouncing, rock or freshwater fishing. Apart from the charter fishing options available in Merimbula; take a stroll from the Beach Cabins down to Back Lake for estuary species, Short Point headland for rock fishing, or Short Point Beach for beach fishing options. Click below for helpful tips and hints for fishing in the Merimbula area.

The protected waters of Merimbula Lake are home to a whole range of watersports activities to suit all skill levels: Learn to master a Stand-up Paddle Board or hire a Kayak for some family fun. You can also hire paddle boats and tinnies at Merimbula’s Top Lake Boat Hire.

The many beaches and prominent headlands in the Merimbula area offer a range of surfing options through the year; there is always an option for good surfing, body boarding, or kitesurfing no matter the wind direction on the day! Beginners can also sign up for surfing lessons at nearby Pambula Beach. Don’t miss the Merimbula Classic surfing and Kitesurfing competition in November!

Merimbula has a total of 5 golf courses within a 30min drive and we are only 10 minutes from either Tura Beach Country Club or Merimbula / Pambula Golf Club. Click here for more information on our Stay and Play golf packages

Bring your bikes to Merimbula for a range of rides to suit the whole family; from leisurely local rides through to more challenging mountain trails, we have many riding options for you. The Sapphire Coast has around 90 Kms of mountain biking tracks taking you from clifftops to beaches through natural bushland.

We have 2 local bowling clubs offering top quality bowling greens and both social and competition level bowling opportunities. Both Tura Beach (10 mins) and our local Club Sapphire (new undercover facility) are top options in the region for you to enjoy daytime, twilight, night competitions or barefoot bowls with your friends.

Every weekend there is at least one market held in the local region, offering a wide variety of quality local produce and handcrafts:

First Sunday of the month: Candelo Market

Second Sunday of the month: Pambula Rotary Market

Third Sunday of the month: Merimbula Seaside Market

Fourth Sunday of the month: Wyndham Market

Last Sunday of the month: Bermagui Hand and Homemade Market

Have a great day out with the kids at Magic Mountain, only 10 mins from the Cabins. Heaps of rides, slides and thrills for kiddies of all ages and mum and dad can enjoy a coffee or meal from the old Melbourne tram. Alternatively take a picnic or BBQ along while the kids enjoy the water slides, toboggans, racing cars and the zip-lines on the more adventurous Tree Climb Challenge.

Just 10 minutes away is a real treat for the family: An award-winning native animal sanctuary where the whole family can get up close and personal with a range of native animals in a relaxed, informative, hands-on environment. Come face to face with koalas, kangaroos, emus, snakes and cuddly wombats. There is also a café and restaurant on site. Visit the Potoroo Palace website here.

The kids will love Merimbula’s own aquarium at Merimbula Wharf; only a minute from the Cabins. The aquarium is set below the fabulous Wharf Restaurant and specializes in local Sapphire Coast species across 27 tanks. Mum and dad can relax over a coffee or a delicious meal upstairs while the kids are enthralled with the show below. Regular fish-feeding sessions are worth seeing!

Lots of fun for the kids for an indoor day in Merimbula: Heaps of arcade games; ten pin bowling, laser-tag and an 18-hole mini-golf course will keep the kids entertained on those non-beach days. There is also a kiosk on site for snacks, coffees and lollies. Visit the Top Fun website here.

Get a bird’s eye view of the stunning unspoilt Sapphire coast with Merimbula Air Services. They offer scenic flights up and down the coast which is an awesome way to get an aerial perspective of the endless beaches and rugged headlands of our beautiful Sapphire Coast

Fancy yourself as a commando? Get your mask on, load up the paintball gun and head out for a skirmish with your mates! Just 10 Km north of Merimbula, lots of fun for families or groups! Visit the Wolumla Paintball website here.

Merimbula and the surrounding area is a very popular choice for wedding venues. Short Point, just a stroll down our lawn is a very popular choice for wedding photographs and there are excellent wedding venues nearby including the Wharf restaurant and Oaklands event centre. For more information on venues, celebrants, photographers, caterers etc, see here.

Visitors to Merimbula are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining out. We have a range of many fine restaurants, cafes and takeaways. See below for a selection of our favourites and why we like them. Don’t forget the Eat Merimbula food festival in March, with local restaurants and food producers’ gourmet offerings on display for you to sample!