Merimbula lies on the far South Coast of New South Wales. It is a popular seaside destination for holidaymakers looking for good weather, beaches and plenty of fun. In this article, we will explore the best things to do in Merimbula to make your holiday in Merimbula unforgettable.
Know before you go. Our top Merimbula travel tips
Travelling to Merimbula can be such an enriching experience for the whole family. There are so many things to do in Merimbula and having the best place to stay and explore is extremely important. Here we’ve got some information to get you planning your vacation and make it completely hassle-free.
Where to stay in Merimbula
You’ll never be short of options for your accommodation in Merimbula. You find hotels, apartments, hostels and caravan parks. You will be sure to be able to find something to fit singles, couples, families, and groups on every budget. If you’re not keen on any of our picks below or have specific needs, we recommend using Hotellook and Agoda to find the best places to stay in Merimbula.
Budget accommodation in Merimbula: Located in the centre of everything is the Town Centre Motor Inn. 2-minute walk to shops and 3 minutes from The Bowls Club, The rooms are clean and tidy, so it is ideal for a short stay in Merimbula. There are a bbq area and laundry onsite for guests to use. Click here for more booking details <
Mid-Range: Comfort Inn Merimbula is a 2-minute walk from Merimbula town centre and a 5-minute walk from the beautiful Merimbula Lake. It offers an outdoor pool, barbecue facilities and a restaurant. For more information and bookings search here <.
Luxury accommodation: Coast Resort offers accommodations with private balconies and flat-screen satellite TVs. It features 2 swimming pools, a tennis court and barbecue facilities. Each apartment has beautiful views of the lake, garden or pool. For more information and bookings search here <
Merimbula apartment alternative for your stay
If you prefer a home away from home-style accommodation in Merimbula then an apartment is the best choice for you and your family. There are so many options for singles, families, and budget-friendly options as well. Check out the map below to find the perfect place to stay
How to get to Merimbula Australia
Merimbula is located on the far south coast of New South Wales. The easiest way to access Merimbula is by car with Highway 1, The Princes Highway running just around the town through Bega and Pambula making access by car easy. Merimbula is 7 hours from Melbourne and 6 hours from Sydney.
You can catch a bus from Sydney that may go via Canberra and take somewhere close to 9 hours. From Melbourne, you need to catch a train to Bairnsdale in Gippsland then a bus to Merimbula. The Merimbula Airport receives flights from both Melbourne and Sydney daily. You can fly with Qantas and REX.
Merimbula Wharf Aquarium
Located at the Merimbula Wharf is a small but interesting aquarium. The small Oceanarium has 28 tanks featuring local and tropical marine life of all kinds. You can catch the daily fish feeding session and ask the friendly staff about all the fish and marine life they have. This is one of the top Merimbula attractions for families visiting the area.
Merimbula activities include going surfing
Merimbula is well known as a place that can produce good waves and surfing conditions. For more experienced surfers, Shirt Point offers some great waves that roll in towards a rocky outcrop. Waves at the beach peel off to both the left and right. You will find good surf at all stages of the tide
Pambula Beach is an exposed Sandbar break that can produce good waves. The best waves come with offshore winds from the southwest. The waves peel to the right with the best conditions around low tide.
Go to the beach swimming
Bar Beach in Merimbula is the ideal spot to go to the beach. This small beach has limited parking and limited sand. The beach has exposed rock pools at low tide, ideal for exploring the rock pools. The beach has a BBQ area with seating and hot plates for cooking. An onsite cafe runs at limited hours depending on the time of the year, selling drinks, snacks and ice cream.
For those looking for something a little more controlled, the Sapphire Aquatic Centre in Pambula offers indoor swimming all year round.
Go fishing in Merimbula
The first place to start is the Merimbula Wharf. The wharf was built in 1902 to allow boats to move goods and people up and down the coast. Today the wharf is used by people fishing and interested tourists walking on it.
The wharf is known as one of the best spots for fishing in Merimbula. The best time for fishing at the wharf is half an hour before sunset. Expect to bream, flathead, snapper, tailor, squid, gummy shark and whiting.
For beach fishing head to Middle Beach, where you have a chance to catch salmon, tailors, bream, flathead and mulloway. Fishing in Merimbula is strong all year round. Maybe a fishing charter is an option if you want to experience offshore fishing in Merimbula. You can call the Merimbula tourism office and ask about the great fishing in Merimbula spots.
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Play golf
There is two championship quality golf course around Merimbula. You will find the Pambula -Merimbula Golf Course located east of the town and the Tura Beach Golf Club located north of the town.
The Pambula-Merimbula Golf course is a 27-hole layout with a golf club and cart hire available. The Tura Beach course which I think is the better option is a 18-hole course with club and cart hire available.
Magic Mountain Merimbula
Magic Mountain is Merimbula’s own small but fun theme park. Magic Mountain features water slides, toboggans even a mid-sized roller coaster. Magic Mountain is most suited for young to early teenage children. The water slides are always a favourite with kids lining up for hours to ride them, a newer feature is the high ropes treetop challenge course that will have climbing high above the ground and zip lining over the park. A few of the other Magic Mountain attractions include
- Mini Golf
- Grand Prix cars
- Jumping Castle
- Magic Mountain maze
- Pirates Playground
- Splash pool
Make sure you check for opening times as they vary throughout the year. You will find in the warmer months Magic Mountain will be open every day.
134 Sapphire Coast Dr, Merimbula NSW 2548
Ages 13-59 $39.00
Ages 5-12 $32.00
Ages 60+ $14.00
Top Fun Merimbula
Top Fun is Merimbula’s fun zone for both kids and parents. Top Fun features 4 bowling lanes, laser tag, mini-golf and amusement machines. We suggest you book a time for bowling if you are travelling in the peak school holiday season. There are drinks and ice creams available onsite to keep the whole family happy. Top Fun is an excellent choice for things to do in Merimbula when raining outside.
Merimbula tourist attractions include Whale watching
Spring is the best time to see Whales in the waters off Bermagui, Tathra and Merimbula. There are a few vantage points from the land around the town where you can try and spot Whales. In the township head to Short Point for Whale sightings, take a picnic and set up on the grass for the best views.
Heading out of Merimbula to places like Eden, Tathra and Bermagui offers good vantage points to view Whales. One of my favourites is from the Historic Tathra Pub while sipping a craft beer made onsite, also The Wajurda Point track in the Mimosa Rocks National Park.
For those wanting to get out on the water, there is Whale watching boat tours that run from the town’s jetties most days during the season. Whale-watching cruises run from the Merimbula Marina on Market St, while Headland fishing charters and Whale watching leaves from the jetty opposite the Lake View Hotel. A short drive from Merimbula and you can visit the Eden Killer Whale Museum.
See the wildlife
Potaroo Palace is located in the picturesque Bega Valley just a few minute’s drive from Merimbula. At the palace, you see animals up close and personal in a natural environment. There is an emphasis on animals native to the Bega area such as Long-nosed Potoroos, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies, and Bare-nosed Wombats. Short-beaked Echidnas and Long-nosed Bandicoots. The Potaroo Palace offers animal encounters such as patting wombats and photos with Koalas.
Children 3-6 years $16.00
Adults $25.00
Family 2 children & 2 adults $80.00
Playgrounds for Kids in Merimbula
You will find a playground at the Middle beach reserve and Spencers Park. Both these parks have toilet and bbq facilities. Middle Beach Reserve is just a few metres from the beach while Spencers Park is on the water’s edge of Merimbula Lake.
Walking in Merimbula
For some people, there is nothing like going for a walk by the water. For walkers, there is a path, track, trail or beach to suit everyone. Below you will find a list of walks to do when visiting Merimbula
- Merimbula Boardwalk – 3.4km path starting from right in town and heading towards the bridge over the lake, crossing the road to the right to continue onto the boardwalk with lake views.
- Long Point Walk – 1-kilometre return walk from the Short Point car park to the headlands of the Pacific Ocean
- Main Beach to Pambula beach – 10km return walk along the flat white sand beach with spectacular sea views.
- Wharf to Wharf Walk is a 27-kilometre coastal walk from Merimbula to Tathra. This new trail links up existing trails that run through coastal reserves, flora reserves, beaches and Bournda National Park.
Just south of the town is the Pambula Haycock area in the Ben Boyd Nation Park. here you will find the Pinnacles loop walk. This short 1.1-kilometre loop walk provides beautiful coastal views south to Lennards Island and north to Haycock Point. Two lookouts provide you with a look at a fascinating erosion feature that consists of cliffs of soft white sands.
Bike Riding in Merimbula
Bike riding is a popular activity for many couples and families in the area. Bike riding is one of the best things to do In Merimbula outdoors, it is a great way to explore the town and take in the sights by the water,
- Merimbula to Pambula bike trail is a flat sealed surface path for all levels of bike riding
- Merimbula Bowling Club to Merimbula Wharf 5 km return on shared footpaths
- Bundadung Mountain Biking Network is located close by at Tathra. 50 kilometres of single track
Bikes can be hired from Surf and Cycle on Marine Parade Merimbula
Merimbula attractions Markets
Merimbula and Pambula have their own regular markets for visitors to check out. For those wanting some local produce to buy and sample, maybe even a handmade souvenir to take home, then the markets are the place to go. Merimbula markets are well worth a visit.
- Pambula Market is held on the second Sunday of Every month
- Merimbula seaside market is held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at the Fishpen oval
- Merimbula produce market is held most Saturday mornings around the main street area
Going to the Cinema in Merimbula
The Picture Show Man Cinema is a modern independent twin cinema, locally owned and operated in Merimbula. The cinema is open 6 days a week, closed only on Mondays. Ticket prices at the Merimbula cinema are $15.00
Play the gaming machines
Merimbula in the past was extremely popular with Victorians crossing the border to play the Pokies as they are called. These days Victoria has its own machines but you will still find the venues full of people trying to win a fortune. There are a number of places to play gaming machines in Merimbula
- The Sapphire Club – 119 Main St, Merimbula NSW 2548
- The Merimbula RSL Club – 52-54 Main St, Merimbula NSW 2548
- Pambula – Merimbula Golf Club – 173 Arthur Kaine Dr, Merimbula NSW 2548
- Tura Beach Country Club – 5 The Fairway, Tura Beach NSW 2548
What to do in Merimbula NSW – visit Oaklands Barn
Oaklands Barn and Garden Centre are technically located at Pambula just out of Merimbula. The Oaklands Barn complex consists of a Brewery, Cafe, Garden centre, hairdressers, and gift shop all rolled into one.
You can easily spend a few hours at Oaklands Barn shopping, eating and drinking. The Microbrewery is onsite makes some tasty beers, while the café serves good pizza and other meals straight to your outdoor or indoor table. Merimbula trip advisor page has more great reviews and photos of this attraction.
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Places to eat in Merimbula
You have plenty of options for food in Merimbula. The two clubs, The RSL and the Bowling Club both have good-priced good quality meals. Dulcie’s Cottage is popular with people seeking the fresh local produce they use in the menu.
For Breakfast, we recommend Mor Mors who do an amazing eggs Benedict and breakfast burger that will have you filled till lunchtime. The midtown delicatessen does great coffee on the go.
If you’re looking for fish n chips we recommend trying out fish pen takeaway on Marine Parade. One rule to live by is always fish when you are by the seaside.
Where to stay in Merimbula
At the top of the article, we suggested some accommodation choices. If you are looking for a wider variety of choices please find below an interactive map from Booking.com for you to find your perfect stay in Merimbula
Booking.comWeather in Merimbula
Merimbula is known for its warm to mild weather making it a destination all year round. On average, the warmest month for visiting are January and February with the coolest month being July. The months to visit are March, April, October and November where average temperatures fall between 20 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius.
We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has you inspired to visit Merimbula in New South Wales Australia. There are so many things to do in Merimbula that will have singles, couples and families entertained for your family stay on the South Coast. For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Australia click through to our Australia Destination Guide page for more brilliant family travel inspiration.