This South Coast Region is Bursting With Fresh Trails to Explore – Here’s How to Get Amongst It

Eurobodalla on the NSW South Coast is taking advantage of its spectacular coastlines and luscious hinterland by creating new trails for locals and visitors alike to lap up. Canberra local and Explorer Mattie frequents this stretch of coast and only has high praise.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Yuin people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

About Eurobodalla

Found on the beautiful NSW South Coast between South Durras and Tilba Tilba, Eurobodalla offers everything an adventurous soul needs to fill their boots, and with new mountain biking and hiking experiences popping up, its appeal is only growing. Living in Canberra, it’s easy to pop down to the coast and spend a day in Eurobodalla, but there’s definitely more than enough on offer to fill a week or two!

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Eurobodalla History

For over 20,000 years, the area we call Eurobodalla has been cared for by the Yuin People, and the newly completed Munjip Trail, a coastal walk that stretches from Batehaven to McKenzies Beach, is a great place to learn about this rich culture.

European settlement began in the 1820s, mostly farming, and there was a gold rush later in the 1850s that boosted the population of the area. You can learn more about Eurobodalla’s vibrant history by visiting the Batemans Bay Heritage Museum, the gold mining village of Mogo, the Moruya Museum, and the National Trust Village of Central Tilba.

Read more: How a Trip to Eurobodalla Taught Me to Slow Down

How to Get to Eurobodalla

By Car

Eurobodalla Shire is around two hours from Canberra and is an easy drive along the Kings Highway. Once you reach Batemans Bay, the gateway to the area, you can turn north or south along the Princes Highway to explore the area.

From Sydney, the journey is about four hours and you can choose between taking the coastal route along the Princes Highway (M1), or journey inland via Goulburn and Braidwood, joining up with the Kings Highway and the Canberra route.

Where to Stay in Eurobodalla

There are more accommodation options in Eurobodalla than you can shake a very large stick at, and you could lose yourself for hours scrolling through Airbnbs, campsites, motels, and hotels.

Two great options close to the action are the NRMA Batemans Bay Holiday Resort and the Clyde View Holiday Park. Both locations offer a range of accommodation styles, from villas to powered camping sites, and are right in the thick of it. They’re close to the northern trailhead of the newly opened Munjip Trail – a 15km coastal walk that explores the coastline between Batehaven and McKenzies Beach. Or if mountain biking tickles your fancy, the closest trailhead for the Mogo trail network is nearby at Curtis Road.

If you like your camping a little more off-grid, there’s a great NSW National Parks campground at Oaky Beach with walk-in camping platforms, basic camping, and minimal facilities. This campground is on the route of the Murramarang South Coast Walk, but is also accessible by car.

Where to Eat in Eurobodalla

With all the outdoor activities on offer in Eurobodalla, you’ll need somewhere to fuel up, and there’s no shortage of delicious options. These are some of my faves:

Three66 Espresso Bar – Based in the cute cove of Mosquito Bay, Three66 is a great stop-off while walking the Munjip Trail, and there’s plenty of parking if you choose to drive in. Amongst excellent coffee and food, I recommend the ‘Avocado Croast’, an indulgent riff on the classic avo on toast that jazzes things up with a croissant base.

Crumb Cafe – With views across Beach Road towards the bay, Crumb Cafe in Batehaven is an excellent option a stone’s throw from the Munjip Trail’s northern trailhead. Opening at 5am, you can get in early for a coffee before hitting the trails and catching the sunrise.

Foxdog Distillery – Close to the historic township of Mogo and the Mogo mountain bike trail network, Foxdog Distillery serves up handcrafted spirits and hot food. The building is beautifully fitted out, with large windows showcasing the distillery and an in-house pizza oven featuring a rotating lazy-Susan style cooking base.

Hot tip! The ‘Sweet Baby Rays bbq’ chicken wings are fantastic!

Grumpy & Sweethearts – Right in the heart of Mogo and just a few pedal strokes from the Mogo Trails, Grumpy & Sweethearts is perfect for pre and post-ride refuelling. There are plenty of options, but I liked the baked beans so much I had them two days in a row on my latest visit.

Broulee Brewhouse – Serving up local beers and wines, including their in-house brewed offerings, the Broulee Brewhouse is a great place to unwind after a day’s riding, surfing, or hiking. Sat behind Broulee Beach, there’s space to sit inside and out and take your pick from the food or drinks menu.

Essential Gear for Eurobodalla

With so many activities to choose from, you’ll need to load up the adventure wagon (or hire your gear when you get to Eurobodalla):

• Mountain bike, helmet, spares, and repairs
• Walking shoes
• Backpack
• Swimmers
• Snorkel
• Surfboard
• Camera

Things to do in Eurobodalla

There are plenty of spectacular beaches to choose from along the Eurobodalla coastline, with family-friendly options, snorkelling hot spots, and surf beaches galore.

Read more: How to Stay Safe at the Beach

However, if you fancy getting away from the beach or adding a side quest, these are some of my hot picks for getting adventurous on the NSW South Coast:

Mountain Biking on the Mogo Trails

The Mogo Trails network is the mountain biking gift that keeps on giving, and there’s now a whopping 125km of singletrack to experience. There are several trailheads dotted around, but if it’s your first time at Mogo, I recommend entering from the Mogo Town or Botanic Gardens trailheads.

With 72 different trails to choose from, there are plenty of options for all levels of riders, and each trail is clearly labelled with its name and difficulty rating. Some of my favourite trails at Mogo are Half Baked, Alice in Wanderland, and Seamstress, but I’ve still got so much more to explore.

Read more: Top 5 Mogo Trails (According to a Keen Mountain Biker)

If you’re looking for something really meaty, then it’s definitely worth checking out the newly opened Burnaaga Adventure Trail! At a whopping 28km in length and starting at the summit of Mt Wandera, this is one very special trail. Keep an eye out for technical sections, whopping views, and some massive boulders that’ll challenge your skills and keep you hooting and hollering all the way back to Mogo.

Hiking the Newly Opened Munjip Trail

If you want to really get to know a place, then walking through it is by far the best way. The brand new Munjip Trail follows the coastline from Batehaven to McKenzies Beach and is a fantastic way to truly immerse yourself in the area.

Not only will you visit every beach and bay along the way, you’ll learn about the history and traditions of the region through a series of artworks, information boards, listening posts, and timber message poles.

The trail is 15km long, 18km if you include all the side quests and headland detours. This makes it a great day out, or perfect for tackling in pieces over several days or visits. There are many cafes and amenities along the route, but there are sections of trail that feel truly remote.

Hot tip! Pack your swimmers and snorkelling gear to cool off along the way and experience some of the best diving on the South Coast.

Read more: The Munjip Trail is NSW South Coast’s Freshest Hike & I Was One of the First to Walk It

Kayaking Through Mangroves

For a truly multi-sport visit to Eurobodalla, hop into a kayak and go for a paddle. There are many options to choose from up and down the South Coast, including guided sea kayaking tours out to the Tollgate Islands and oyster tasting in Batemans Bay.

Perfect for a short outing, you can hire kayaks from the Mossy Point Boat Shed and paddle towards the mangroves on the Tomaga River. Here you can spend a relaxing hour or two exploring the waterways; if you’re lucky, you’ll also spot huge Eagle rays in the shallows near the boat shed.

Another option is with the good folks at Bay and Beyond Sea Kayak Tours. They operate out of Murramarang National Park and give paddlers the chance to explore the coastal lakes and estuaries at their own pace.

Read more: 8 Reasons to Visit Eurobodalla

Tips For Visiting Eurobodalla

• Download the Mogo Trails trail maps from Trailforks to help you plan your ride (and find your way out of the forest)
• If you’re cycling the Burnaaga Adventure Trail, you might also want to pack a PLB or other emergency communication device, as it’s fairly remote
• The Munjip Trail has an excellent map that provides key information about the route, and supports the information boards and artwork along the way. You can do your own car shuttle or catch a local bus along the route
• When swimming, surfing, or snorkelling, follow local warnings and respect the conditions

FAQs Eurobodalla

Where is Eurobodalla?

Eurobodalla is on the NSW South Coast between South Durras and Tilba Tilba. It incorporates the major towns of Batemans Bay, Moruya, and Narooma.

What is there to do in Eurobodalla?

With 83 gorgeous beaches to choose from, plus plenty of forest, mountains, and rivers, there’s plenty of walking, swimming, biking, paddling, and camping to be done in the Eurobodalla.

How far is Eurobodalla from Sydney?

From Sydney to South Durras at the start of the Eurobodalla Shire, it’s around a 3.5 hour drive. From Sydney to Narooma, one of the major towns in the region, it’s a 4 hour and 40 minute drive.

How far is Eurobodalla from Canberra?

From Canberra to Batemans Bay, where the Kings Highway intercepts the Princess Highway, it’s a 2 hour and 10 minute drive.

Photography by @jonharris_photography