Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides, Port StephensCredit: Destination NSW
Visitors enjoying a camel ride at Anna Bay, Port Stephens with Oakfield Ranch Camel Rides.
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Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure or out-of-the-ordinary experiences, there’s Easter holiday fun to be had in every corner of New South Wales.
Get into the great outdoors
Just a 30-minute drive north of central Sydney, Manly serves up rolling surf, underwater wonders and bush trails. Combine adrenaline-pumping activities with the area’s stunning natural surroundings: go snorkelling or stand-up paddle boarding with EcoTreasures; learn to ride the waves with Manly Surf School; or take on the tracks and fire trails in national parkland on two wheels with Joe’s Mountain Bike Tours.
Take a cultural tour
Join Guringai Aboriginal Tours to explore the cultural significance of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a 40-minute drive north of central Sydney. Focused on helping you gain an in-depth understanding of Australia’s indigenous history, this Aboriginal-owned tour company leads you past significant sites to a cave with ancient engravings, where you’ll learn how Aboriginal people used the site as a classroom and cared for the surrounding environment.
Ride on the sand dunes
Port Stephens, a 2.5-hour drive north of Sydney, is a natural adventure playground. Here you can go dolphin spotting or kayak up the Myall River. Or take a 4WD tours and sandboard on the Stockton Sand Dunes, the largest shifting sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. For a memorable family experience, cruise around the dunes on camelback with Oakfield Ranch.
Meet the makers
If you’re heading further north, put Hosanna Farmstay on your must-stay list. Set in the Tweed hinterland, an eight-hour drive from Sydney, this beautiful property gives kids an understanding of where their food comes from, and little ones can have hands-on fun collecting eggs and milking cows. Bring your campervan or tent, or stay in a cabin, hut or in the homestead. Book in a farm tour, have a swim in the dam, walk one of the trails or relax in the wood-fired sauna.
Ecotreasures, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Preparing for a stand-up paddleboarding tour with Ecotreasures, Manly.
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Ecotreasures, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Preparing for a stand-up paddleboarding tour with Ecotreasures, Manly.
Stockton Sand Dunes, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens.
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Stockton Sand Dunes, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens.
Settle into station life
Give the kids a taste of rural outback life at Corynnia Station, a working sheep property around three hours by car from Wagga Wagga, in the Riverina region of southwest NSW. Cycle through the property and spot kangaroos alongside pet sheep and chickens. There’s even a pool to cool off in after a round of tennis, boules or croquet. Book ahead for farm tours and factor in time to visit the nearby Altina Wildlife Park, where you can ogle a menagerie of animals from a horse-drawn cart.
Go on safari
A five-hour drive northwest of Sydney brings you to Dubbo and the renowned Taronga Western Plains Zoo. See the zoo from a different perspective in an open-air cart, which seats six people and allows you to whiz around and disembark at whim to get a closer look at the animals. If it’s a warm day the kids can cool off under water jets at The Waterhole — this new precinct also features an outdoor café and animal habitats.
Build a bobsled team
The alpine resort of Thredbo, around a five-hour drive southwest of Sydney, is open every day of the year. You may be accustomed to seeing the stunning Snowy Mountains village topped with snow, but it’s just as fun during the warmer months. Here you can tackle the 700-metre Alpine Bobsled track, which twists and turns down the mountain. To ride solo, kids must be nine or older and 130cm tall, and smaller family members can ride with an adult.
Camp in a national park
A six-hour drive south of Sydney, near Bega on the Sapphire Coast, the South East Forests National Park is home to a beautiful rainforest that makes it easy to replace screen time with serene time. Immerse yourselves in the gem-like green hues of the old-growth canopy above while looking out for koalas, swamp wallabies and bandicoots. Go for the day or book a stay at one of the park’s campgrounds, such as Waratah Gully or Nunnock.
Climb in the treetops
Merimbula, set on the edge of a beautiful bay and lakes 20 minutes south of Bega, is home to Magic Mountain Amusement Park. Put the family’s tree-scrambling skills to the test by signing up for the Tree Climb Challenge (for ages eight and up, with a height minimum of 120cm). There are three courses and more than 30 challenges to choose from, and the scenic outlook over the Merimbula peninsula is an added bonus.
Corynnia Station, Carrathool Credit: Corynnia Station
Corynnia Station, in the Riverina region, provides an outback experience with all the comforts of home.
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Corynnia Station, Carrathool Credit: Corynnia Station
Corynnia Station, in the Riverina region, provides an outback experience with all the comforts of home.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a giraffe encounter at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
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Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a giraffe encounter at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
More Inspirational Stories
Glasshouse Rocks, NaroomaCredit: Destination NSW
Father and son heading out for a morning surf at Glasshouse Rocks, Narooma.
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Put this glorious stretch of the New South Wales coastline on your holiday radar and drive four hours south from Sydney to discover the charming Eurobodalla region. You’ll have plenty of easy adventures on this laidback coastal getaway stretching from South Durras down to Tilba Tilba on the NSW South Coast. Elevate your visit with these 10 memorable experiences.
Go snorkelling with seals
Experience the unforgettable thrill of snorkelling alongside playful fur seals on a day trip to Montague Island, a protected nature reserve just off the coast of Narooma. Local operators such as Montague Island Adventures can take you on this exhilarating adventure and if you book between November and May you might be lucky enough to share your trip with migrating whales. You can also tour the island’s historic lighthouse and significant Aboriginal sites or seize the rare chance to stay overnight in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
Get back to nature with your family
Connect with your loved ones in the inspiring surrounds of Murramarang National Park, which offers a family-friendly taster of the magnificent coastal wilderness in the Eurobodalla region. Children will love the tree stump stepping ‘stones’ at the start of the Durras Lake Discovery Trail, with possible kangaroo sightings adding to the fun. Find the trailhead for the 1.5km loop at the end of Lake Road.
Enter cheese heaven
Feasting on local cheese is a quintessential experience in this historic dairy region, which has been producing quality cheeses since the 1870s. Live out your farming fantasies at the 1950s-style Bodalla Dairy in Bodalla, where fresh milk is produced onsite every morning to make artisinal cheeses with native flavours, as well as traditional milkshakes, great coffees and ice-creams. Stay the night in one the property’s five farm-chic guest rooms.
Sample more delicious cheeses and perhaps join a cheesemaking course at the ABC Cheese Factory further south in the charming surrounds of National Heritage-listed Central Tilba, which offers a living snapshot of 19th-century regional Australia.
Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
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Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
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VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
Be mesmerised by whales
Seeing a whale in the wild is magical, whether it’s your first time or your 50th. The huge marine mammals are at their most playful in the Eurobodalla region from September to November, making this the perfect time to marvel at their aerobatic feats. Bring your binoculars to spot whales from the shoreline at Toragy Point near Moruya (which has the region’s only airport) or on Broulee Island. Or join an action-packed whale watching tour with the likes of Narooma Charters. You might also be treated to a very special whale encounter on a half-day kayaking tour with Region X as you paddle out into open water in search of hidden beaches and azure rock pools.
Sign up for more aquatic adventures
The Eurobodalla Shire is known as the land of many waters, with rivers, lakes and, of course, the ocean to enjoy aquatic adventures such as surfing, diving, fishing, and more. Revel in the accomplishment of learning to surf with Surf the Bay, a mobile surf school based in Broulee; get a buzz catching your own seafood dinner on a fishing trip with Narooma Charters;, and feel anew after an invigorating beach dip at pretty Mystery Bay.
Explore Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden with all your senses
Stop and smell the native flowers in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, just south of Batemans Bay, where five walking trails weave around a collection of themed gardens. Learn something new on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a 1km walking path suitable for visitors with limited mobility that reveals the fascinating traditional uses of about 30 Eurobodalla plants. Feel your worries melt away as you wander the gardens, calmed by the trickle of water features and the buzz of the bees. Bring a picnic or grab a wholesome bite at the Mossy on Gardens Café, which overlooks the gardens.
Follow Eurobodalla’s oyster trail
Shuck and slurp to your heart’s content in the Eurobodalla region, which forms part of Australia’s famous Oyster Coast. Look out for these plump delicacies on menus across the region, as well as oyster specialists like the Oyster Shed on Wray Street in Batemans Bay, where you can sample oysters beside the Clyde River where they are farmed. The Oyster Farmers Daughter is an alfresco oyster bar nestled alongside the idyllic Wagonga Inlet in Narooma where you can pair fresh oysters with refreshing cocktails made with local gin.
Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
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Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
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Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture
Transform your understanding of the Eurobodalla region’s Aboriginal peoples and their fascinating stories with local Indigenous operator Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness. Its 40-hour Yuin Retreat, named for the region’s Traditional Custodians, begins on the first evening with a traditional welcome, followed by a sunrise ceremony and the option to hike Gulaga (formerly Mount Dromedary) or visit significant sites on the Djirringanj Dreaming Trail. Following a cultural program in the evening, the experience ends with an Aboriginal healing and connection workshop on the final morning, leaving you with a whole new outlook on Aboriginal culture and this storied corner of the country.
Embrace next-level camping and glamping
Deepen your connection to the region’s enriching natural landscapes on a local camping or glamping experience. Soak up the unrivalled seaside location along with the stellar wildlife-watching opportunities at Beachcomber Holiday Park at Potato Point, just south of Tuross Head, where you may be surprised to discover emus are among the menagerie of native animals known to frequent this campground backing onto Eurobodalla National Park.
If glamping is more your style, wake up to sweeping mountain views after a romantic night in a glamping tent at Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba. Also tucked in the lush rolling hills of the Tilba Valley is Tilba Lake House, which offers a luxe glamping option as well as four cosy self-contained tiny house stays with views of the lake, ocean and mountains.
Go market-hopping
Get to know the friendly Eurobodalla community at the region’s vibrant markets. Learn about their passion for developing a sustainable local food system as you fill your basket with local goodies spanning vegetables from Old Mill Road Biofarm to McAsh Oysters at the SAGE Farmers Market, held every Tuesday afternoon from 3pm at Riverside Park in Moruya. Find more produce and connect with the local artisans, craftspeople and designers, at the Moruya Country Market on Saturday mornings from 8am, held at the same spot.
Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
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Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.