About Merimbula
Merimbula is ideally located in a temperate climate, on the far south coast of New South Wales. It is less than a day's pleasant drive from Melbourne (596 km), Sydney (467 km) and Canberra (241 km).
Merimbula Basks in sunshine all year round, and offers a magnificent variety of natural attractions.
A mild climate and superb golden beaches and clean waters have won Merimbula a deserved reputation as a delightful holiday resort - the perfect place for a family vacation.
There are 9 magnificent lake and surf beaches, plus the rivers, national parks and mountain scenery.
Merimbula can be as busy or as lazy as you like it. Whether your interests are carefree outdoor activities such as surfing, fishing, boating, golf, bowls, tennis, bushwalking, or simply basking in the sun or the wonderful social night life of the first-class restaurants and licensed clubs, you will be well catered for.
Visitors to the Merimbula Area will find their days filled with interesting and enjoyable things to see and do.
Whether you want your holiday to be a busy, active one or a lazy, relaxing one, you'll find the Merimbula area will accommodate your needs.
Surrounded by tree clad hills, Merimbula shelters in a shallow valley which opens to the Pacific Ocean.
Visitors will notice the easy-going way of life and particularly the abundance of wildlife and birdlife.
The Ideal Climate
Probably one of the most important considerations when choosing a holiday is the weather . and its Merimbula's mild all-year-round climate that has made it a favourite with visitors, winning it a deserved reputation as a delightful holiday resort.
In the winter, it is the warmth of the winter sun that bowlers, golfers, etc pursue their interests in an air of relaxation.
In the summer gentle breezes caress the beaches, and fill the sails of the sailboards and other sailing craft that glide across the many lakes and waterways in the area.
Sporting Facilities
Golf
The Merimbula area offers 2 superb grass green courses.
Pambula-Merimbula golf course would rank with many of the metropolitan Group 1 golf courses. The club is well known for its hospitality and the 'roos that graze peacefully on the course are an added attraction to many visitors.
Tura Beach, just 4 km north of Merimbula is an excellent test of golf in anyone's language. The course designed by Peter Thompson is a championship course and offers excellent views of the coastline. The club is known as the club with the 'million dollar view', due to its superb location and as with all the clubs in the area, hospitality is the keynote.
Bowling
Both Bowling Clubs in the Merimbula area have their greens open all year round. - A real treat for visiting bowlers.
The greens at the Merimbula Imlay Bowling Club and the Pambula Beach Bowling club are in constant use with ladies and mixed events throughout the week. Bowling carnivals are held throughout the year. Excellent catering is provided and the clubs are both known for their friendliness and informality.
Tennis
If you enjoy a game of tennis, you'll find courts available at Merimbula, Pambula and Tura Beach. There are hard courts and all weather surfaces available and both Merimbula and Pambula courts have night lighting.
Sailboarding
One of the most popular sports in recent times is Sailboarding and the Merimbula area has probably the finest waterways to offer the enthusiasts.
The safe waters of Merimbula Lake provide an ideal spot for participants and spectators alike, with the surf beaches ideal for the more adventurous wave jumpers.
In fact, sailing of all types is very popular.
Fishing
The Merimbula area offers a tremendous variety of fishing for the enthusiast or the 'holiday angler'.
The area is blessed with many natural waterways suitable for boating and fishing. And fishing is one of the great attractions that the Merimbula area offers its visitors, weather it be deep sea, rock or beach fishing or simply dangling a line in the lake.
For those who bring their own boat, a ramp is available on both Merimbula and Pambula Lakes.
The local fishing clubs welcome visitors, and are happy to give advice and a little 'local knowledge'. Merimbula Coastal Patrol is manned by volunteers and operates on all holidays and weekends throughout the year.
The beaches are quite popular and many rewarding catches are common.
The Lakes are also very popular and boats can be hired from 2 locations.
Deep Sea fishing around the many reefs produces bigger fish such as Yellowfin Tuna and Marlin.
Rockfishing is excellent in the area; however, caution should be exercised as rockfishing is a sport calling for experience.
Prawns are caught as they move out to sea between November and April and Merimbula Lake takes on the appearance of 'Fairyland' on the dark (prawn) nights with torches and lanterns reflecting across the water.
Charter boat operators in Merimbula offer extensive fishing knowledge and provide reef, deep sea and game fishing trips.
Unlimited Attractions
There's so much to see and do, all within a short walking or driving distance of Merimbula
If you'd like a leisurely boat cruise, you'll find 3 several at your disposal. Dolphin and Whale Watching cruises operate from Merimbula and Eden and you can also cruise the Pambula Lake.
Of course, if your needs call for a scenic bus cruise or a Joy Flight, then these can be arranged at the Visitor Information Centre in Beach Street, Merimbula.
9 Km north of Merimbula is Potoroo Palace native animal and education sanctuary.
It's located on the Princes Highway so you can't miss it.
Merimbula Aquarium is a fabulous 27 tank aquarium, plus a fantastic ocean tank.
Merimbula's Family Recreation Park Magic Mountain offers hours of fun and relaxation for all age groups. Set in a beautiful parkland setting, where care has been taken to preserve the natural beauty of the native flora and fauna. The park provides many interesting bush-walking tracks children's playground is available and barbecues are provided in the beautiful picnic areas. Waterslides, Roller Coaster, Mini Grand Prix cars are just some of the attractions available.
The Ben Boyd National Park covers a 9000ha area from the Pambula River to Green Cape Lighthouse. There are many superb bush walks and beautiful beaches within the park. It's here that you'll see the spectacular rock formation known as 'The Pinnacles'. very much a favourite with photographers and painters alike. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has provided many parking bays and picnic areas within the Park.
In Eden, the Killer Whale Museum is worth a visit. The Museum houses a range of Maritime relics from the days when the whaling industry flourished in Twofold Bay.
The highlight of the Museum is the complete skeleton of Tom the killer whale - believed to be one of the 2 killer whale skeletons in the world.
The Merimbula Area offers many delightful scenic drives and day trips can be organised to visit such places as Bournda Island and Lagoon, Wallagoot Lake, a first-class waterskiing and sailing venue, Dr. George and Myrtle Mountains, and the Wyndham and Rocky Hall areas.
There are numerous Galleries, Wineries, Craft Markets, learn to dive, learn to surf, hire a bike, kayak, ride a horse.
No matter what your interests, you'll find Merimbula is an extremely beautiful and interesting place to visit.
Restaurants
Visitors eating out in the Merimbula area have a choice of many restaurants and club bistros well respected for their excellent cuisine. Seafood is a specialty on many menus and if you love oysters, then you'll find none better than the Rock oysters found in the Merimbula-Pambula area.
