DRIVING Tours of the Eurobodalla
Not everyone wants to bushwalk, to kayak, cycle or swim.
To many a holiday is a drive, an explore, an opportunity to have see something new, to find good food and do it from the comfort of a car.
With unspoilt coastline, stunning forests, hidden valleys and backwaters and stunning lookouts with spectacular views from the mountains to the sea all within a few easy steps from your vehicle a driving tour of Eurobodalla is a pleasure.
Our Pick of the best drives from North to South:
Note that these are MOSTLY all bitumen drives
Nelligen: Just to the west of Batemans Bay is Nelligen. To many from inland it is just blip that you drive by on the way to the coast as you cross the Nelligen Bridge but to those who know the area it is a little gem worthy of a visit. Nelligen is a pretty little town with a very interesting history. In days of old it was a bustling gold rush town. It was once a busy port and for many years it was well populated. Now it is a sleepy little backwater with lots of charm and well worth an explore.
On the way from Batemans Bay to Nelligen call by Holmes Lookout ( via a short length of good gravel road) which is just 5 minutes out of town off the Kings Highway. Look for the turn off on the to Rotary Drive. Sitting up high on the ridge line, Holmes lookout offers spectacular scenic views looking out over the Clyde River
In Nelligen make your way to the rivers edge where you will find a town map on a plaque that indicates the location of 24 points of historical interest in the town.
Be sure to visit our NELLIGEN page for more information
The Coast Road between Batemans Bay and Moruya
Signposted as Tourist Drive 7 this road is one of the key coastal tourist routes along the coast between Wollongong and Eden. The Batemans Bay to Moruya coast road is a nice option to the inland highway that is predominantly forest corridors as you will discover on your return journey.
The driving time of this excursion is around 1.5 hours driving time on approx 70km of sealed road.
Along the way there are lookouts, cafe stops, an opportunity to stretch the legs, a bit of shopping if you time it right and then home after a good day out
You can find the intersection by intersection description of the journey HERE with a map and suggested optional detours to local coastal lookouts at Observation Point, Burrewarra Point, Melville Point and Mossy Point. All are good lookouts and if time allows be sure to give them a try.
If you time your excursion to be a Tuesday afternoon arrival in Moruya or a Saturday Morning arrival then keep in mind the mid week Farmers Market (after 3pm) and the Saturday Country markets (from 8am) held at Riverside Park.
The Tuross Head loop is one of the most striking and talked about drives on the Eurobodalla Coast. Just 7kms towards the coast from the Princes Highway turnoff Tuross Head is often overlooked by passing visitors to the area
The scenic drive takes you in a loop around the Tuross Head village starting first at Coila Beach and then sweeping along a granite bouldered coast with stops at the Tuross Head Memorial Gardens at Plantation Point and another at the equally accessible One Tree Point that overlooks 30kms of coast line and Montague Island .
The scenic route then follows the southern shoreline to look out over the stunning Tuross River mouth at the Nelson Parade viewing platform before arriving at Lavender Bay and the Tuross boatsheds. Allow an hour and a little bit more if you feel like a waterside coffee.
To add to your drive an explanatory brochure covering the points of interest is available HERE
Be sure to visit our TUROSS HEAD page for more information of places to eat, points of interest and history
The Dalmeny Kianga Scenic Drive
This drive is a favourite for those who make a practice of always hugging a coast line as they explore.
The two villages of Dalmeny and Kianga are linked by a coastal road that runs parallel to the inland highway with an easy and exit and little travelling distance lost making it a great detour.
The key points of interest along the route are the views. The road winds along a coastline of beaches and rocky headlands, mostly adjacent to an 11km shared concrete cycleway (NAR 1) that links Dalmeny to Narooma.
Describing the drive from North to South:
Turn off the Princes Highway at the Dalmeny sign and make your way towards the shopping centre. When located turn east towards the sea and just follow your nose trying to stay close to the coastline. A quick detour is there to take you down to the shores of Lake Mummaga. Back on the route there is a timber bridge crossing onto the National Park beach if you feel like a stroll.
The Must Do's along the way are a stop above Dalmeny Beach (A) looking north. adjacent to the camping ground. Then further around the coast stop by the timber viewing platform (B) and see if you can see any whales, seals or dolphins in the bay below.
As you leave Dalmeny heading south you pass along a shoreline of beaches arriving at the settlement of Kianga. Be sure to hug the coast again and turn south into Centanary Drive. The next stop is the Mill Bay Walkway that starts at the Apex Boat Ramp (C)
The Mill Bay Walkway is a 350m long timber deck suitable for wheelchairs, pedestraians and cycling that runs adjacent to the Wagonga Inlet. The first thing you will encounter is the boat ramp where there are often large rays milling around waiting for a feed from fisherfolk. More often than not the boatramp has become a favourite area of seals as well and if they aren't here they are usually on the other side of the inlet at the local wharf waiting for a fishhead or two.
The walkway is named Mill Bay Walkway because it leads to where Mitchell's Mill once stood in the cove and was constructed by the timber bridge crew of the local Council. Click here for history
To continue on to Narooma after Mill Bay walkway simply follow the road above the walkway and you will find it pops out at a safe intersection onto the Princes Highway just north of the Narooma Bridge. Keep an ear out for the bellbirds along this section.
Narooma to Tilba Scenic Drive
This drive is another favourite that showcases the coastline and reveals the natural beauty of the area.
Be sure to visit the boatsheds in Wagonga Inlet to the west of Narooma on "the flats"(B). You will find seafood cafes, summer bike and paddle board hire and a stunning view looking up to Gulaga Mountain. The Quarterdeck Cafe is also the regular launch site for the local scenic flights by seaplane.
Head across to the Narooma wharf and skirt by the edge of Wagonga Inlet to visit Australia Rock (A), a natural rock feature near the southern leg of the Narooma Bar.
Be sure to stay by the coast and drive by the Narooma Golf Club, turning East again at the bottom of the hill to visit the beach.
A local favourite spot can be seen from the beach carpark if you look south. The Narooma Cemetery (C) is accessed via Glass House Rocks Road just south of town (signposted as the industrial area). Drive to the end of the road.
The cemetery overlooks the Glass House Rocks recognised by the Geological Society of Australia as dating between 510 and 440 million years old.
Further south of Narooma is Handkerchief Beach (D) which is a locals haven. The beach is not signposted so keep an eye out for the caravan park south of Narooma on a long straight. At the South end of that straight is a bridge. The turn to Hankercheif Beach is a gravel track on the Eastern side just before the bridge. The road is a short length of good gravel. Take your togs. The next beach to visit further south is Mystery Bay (E) which is well worth the short detour in and out as well.
Not to be missed is the historic village of Central Tilba (F). Great shops, terrific little pub, award winning cheeses and a step back in time in this Heritage classified town.
If you choose to drive on to Bermagui just another half hour south (and highly recommended) continue on via the Old Highway and Tilba Tilba (G) taking in the granite boulder filled valley imagining that this skinny slip of a road was once a national highway. Tilba Tilba is the start of the Gulaga Mountain Walk
