17 November 2024
10 mins Read
From the waves that draw surfers to the oyster farm tours for foodies and wildlife attractions for families, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding things to do in Batemans Bay. We’ve broken it down into categories for fun, couples, families and things to do a bit further afield, if you have the time. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to dive into the best things to do in Batemans Bay.
Looking for fun things to do in Batemans Bay? You can lose track of time at one of the local beaches, walk through the wilderness, enjoy some retail therapy, explore the botanic gardens or kayak along the Clyde River, known as Bhundoo to the local Yuin people.
Join fourth-generation oyster farmers and local tour operator Region X for a taste of Australia’s Oyster Coast.
Witness the sunset over Batemans Bay while paddling on a canoe. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Paddle under the Batemans Bay Bridge to visit working oyster farms, explore the Clyde River, and spot crabs, fish, eagle rays and waterbirds. If you’d prefer to go it alone, you can choose to hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for an hour or an entire day.
Join the Clyde River Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour to taste the freshest oysters in Australia. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
A cruise up the Clyde River onboard the MV Merinda in Batemans Bay is an exercise in nostalgia. Take a twilight dinner cruise or three-hour lunch cruise all the way to Nelligen on the cruise, which is one of the highlights on the self-drive Gourmet Coast Trail. Expect expert commentary and ocean-to-plate seafood from the Innes Boatshed, one of the best places for fish and chips in Batemans Bay.
Dine with your friends at The Innes Boatshed. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Immerse yourself in the local arts scene by floating along the 1.5-kilometre-long Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk. The walk carves through Batemans Bay CBD and along the breezy foreshore to the marina and rockwall, with lots of public art dotted along the pathway.
Walk past incredible sculptures along the seaside path in Batemans Bay. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Want to step it up? Bounce along the Broulee Island Nature Reserve Walk which is known for its birdlife, including the fairy wren and white-bellied sea eagle.
Be part of the annual Sculpture for Clyde event along Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
The Eurobodalla is known as ‘the land of many waters’. Heads are known to swivel when snorkelling or diving with fur seals on a tour with Montague Island Tours, which takes visitors to witness the largest seal colony in NSW, located just a 20 minute boat ride from Narooma on the mainland. Advanced divers will find a lot of fish and enjoy fascinating encounters with seals.
Swim in the company of the largest colony of seals in NSW. (Image: Destination NSW)
There are plenty of wildlife encounters to be had in Batemans Bay. Other than diving with seals, you can enter Montague Island Nature Reserve with Montague Island Tours to visit a Little penguin colony. In the evening, you can watch the adorable creatures waddle onto shore as they return home. When it’s whale migration season, you can head out with an experienced guide to watch the the mighty marine creatures. A pod of dolphins will likely make a cameo, too. If you’re interested in whale watching, we’ve rounded up the best places in Australia to spot whales.
Spot whales off Montague Island. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism; @eurobodalla)
Access locally grown or harvested food at SAGE Farmers’ Market, a legendary local farmers’ market held every Tuesday afternoon in Moruya Riverside Park.
Shop around SAGE Farmers’ Market in Moruya Riverside Park. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
The Batemans Bay Sunday Market, held on the third Sunday of each month, is also worth a visit, selling everything from fresh briny oysters to bric-a-brac, second-hand clothing and wood-fired sourdough. Moruya Country Markets is held every Saturday morning at Riverside Park and features bespoke art and craft, music and food stalls.
Fill your baskets with local produce at Sage Farmers’ Market. (Image: J Griffiths Photography)
The Mogo Collective stands out for its dedication to supporting local artists. The colourful collective is packed with everything from Indigenous artworks to paintings and property, knitwear, delicate jewellery, antique suitcases, furniture and food. Visit local artist Grace Paleg at her studio gallery in Batemans Bay where you can also purchase one of her pretty pastel artworks.
Find new and old treasures at Mogo Collective. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Service is sparkly-eyed and charming at The Mossy Cafe, which you will find at Mossy Point along the coast road south from Batemans Bay to Broulee.
Order a smoothie at Mossy Point.
The menu options can be overwhelming here so, to aid in your planning, we’ve done the research: order beans and cheese jaffles and Grinch smoothies for the kids and a Middle Eastern brunch bowl for the grown-ups. Check out some of Batemans Bay’s top restaurants while you’re here.
Grab a bite of burger and fries at Mossy Point.
Want to impress your Bumble date while in Batemans Bay? Sidestep around the obvious and lean into less-hyped experiences designed to surprise and delight.
The recommendations dotted along the Eurobodalla Food Trail have been mapped out with foodies in mind. Inspired highlights on the self-drive itinerary include farmers’ markets, ocean-to-plate experiences and visits to coffee roasters that will please connoisseurs.
Learn sustainable bee farming practices during the Eurobodalla Food Trail. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Pack a hamper so you can source local produce and curate your own feast. The Gourmet Coast Trail also makes food the focus of its bespoke Batemans Bay itinerary.
Sign up for a gastronomic escapade at Eurobodalla Food Trail.
Discover the Eurobodalla by looping around an extensive range of paths, trails and signposted routes. There are almost 400 kilometres of pathways and trails that snake along the coast. Take a guided tour or hire an e-bike from Bateman’s Bay Cycles for an easier ride. Cruise Bateman’s Bay’s foreshore, cycle to a manicured park to find a place to picnic, or spot whales during the migration season.
Join a cycling tour with Batemans Bay Cycles.
The Clyde River is surrounded by national parks and is itself part of the area’s marine park. This translates to fabulous farm-fresh oysters; go shuck yourself at The Oyster Shed on Wray Street or order a freshly opened dozen to slurp down on the deck outside the rustic blue shed overlooking the oyster leases.
Farmers harvest fresh oysters at Batemans Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)
Seeing the stingrays being fed near the oyster shed is also an in-the-know attraction.
Slurp down newly harvested shellfish at The Oyster Shed. (Image: Destination NSW)
Batemans Bay for families is all about getting out and about amid the national parks and marine reserves, kayaking, walking, wildlife and camping. Here are a few more ideas for families.
Gorillas, rhinos, gibbons, Bolivian squirrel monkeys, giraffe, zebra, meerkats, cotton-top tamarins, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, red pandas, ring-tailed lemurs, otters, siamangs and white lions are just a few of the 250 animals housed at Mogo Wildlife Park, which is committed to the conservation of endangered species. Mogo Zoo is located just outside Batemans Bay.
Get a chance to see local wildlife up close at Mogo Wildlife Park. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Sign up for a surf lesson at Broulee Surf School near Batemans Bay to learn the basics or perfect more intermediate moves.
Get your surfboards ready. (Image: Destination NSW)
Founded in the 1990s by local surfing legend Kel Wehner, who pioneered the local surf scene, the accredited instructors at the family-run surf school know all the best breaks, regardless of whether you are new to surfing or want to level up to intermediate.
Learn how to stand-up paddle and surf at Broulee Surf School. (Image: Destination NSW)
Incentivise your children to get off their screens and do something oarsome with local tour operator Region X. As well as providing opportunities to drop in a few dad jokes, you will enjoy some quality time together on your float and feast tour through the Clyde River National Park. Float like a leaf in the river while you enjoy fresh pizza delivered to your kayak while watching the setting sun paint the sky.
Some of the best things to do in and Batemans Bay are free. Basically, the top things to do in Batemans Bay revolve around nature. From visiting the botanical garden to hiking the Mt Budawang Trail or spending a day at the beach, here’s how to have fun without spending a penny.
Thinking about rewilding your garden? Becoming a guerrilla gardener? Or simply indulging in some wilderness therapy? The Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens are a great place to start.
Discover the flora and fauna of the Eurobodalla region. (Image: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism)
Being outdoors is something that everyone in the family will enjoy as there are lots of plants and flowers here to appreciate. Regardless of the time of year, there will be surging displays of wildflowers and plants that hold their colour year-round. Kids will love exploring the feature gardens.
Lace up your boots and get a wriggle on. Mt Budawang Trail is only four kilometres long. But it punches up 430 metres to the summit along a route that can be rocky and rather hectic. Switch your photo format to panoramic so you can best capture the 360-degree view. Pack plenty of water as the trail, which threads through a diverse range of environments – from grassy woodland to wet gullies – will take a full day.
There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Batemans Bay. But staking your claim to a patch of sand will depend on whether you’ve come to Batemans Bay to swim, soak up the sun, or surf.
Hear the sound of the gentle waves crashing on Denhams Beach.
You can check out every crescent of sand while on a road trip along the NSW South Coast. Or be a bit more strategic. Surfers will want to rise before the sun to get to South Broulee Beach when its breaking, while families might opt for Denhams Beach, where the bush abuts the sand. These are a few of the best beaches in and around Batemans Bay.
Denhams Beach lies on the Tasman Sea coast, southeast of Batemans Bay.
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