Where to stay in Batemans Bay
Where Is Batemans Bay?
Batemans Bay is a small coastal town on the southern coast of New South Wales, at the estuary of the Clyde River meeting the Pacific Ocean. It is the closest beach town to the national capital, Canberra, which is a two hour drive northwest. The area is served by the regional Moruya Airport, 25 minutes south of town, and offers limited flights from Sydney, just an hour away by plane. Alternatively, Sydney is also a four hour drive up the coast.
What Is Batemans Bay Known For?
Batemans Bay is a quaint beach town popular with holidaymakers from Canberra and watersports aficionados due to the river, tight bay, and larger coastline. Popular water sports include surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and of course, swimming. What the town lacks in glamour and cultural sites, it makes up for with some of the most beautiful and undeveloped coastline in New South Wales, stretching for miles in either direction. The area is increasing its reputation for sustainable agriculture and produces what many consider to be the best oysters in Australia.
Popular Attractions in Batemans Bay
- Holmes Lookout: A short drive from town up dirt roads is Holmes Lookout — a peaceful, tucked away observation point that provides views of the Clyde River, Pacific Ocean, and across the town of Batemans Bay. The area is equipped with picnic tables and barbecues. The lookout is within Clyde River National Park which is a great place to kayak, fish, swim, or simply wander.
- Batemans Bay Heritage Museum: Batemans Bay Heritage Museum is a small, volunteer-run museum detailing both the European and indigenous history of the area. Collections include clothing and artifacts from the European settlers and the World War-era military, as well as an amusingly large collection of lawnmowers.
- Corrigans Beach: The nicest and closest beach to town is Corrigans Beach, at the south end of the bay. Corrigans Beach is clean, unpatrolled, and stretches into Batehaven.
Popular Destinations Near Batemans Bay
- Mogo: A tiny heritage village 10 minutes south of Batemans Bay, Mogo is known for its gold mines — the last of which closed as late as 1984. Today, Mogo is known as an arts district with plentiful galleries, furniture stores, and cafes. Mogo is also the home of the Mogo Wildlife Park, a private zoo that specializes in breeding rare and endangered animals, including the snow leopard and Sumatran tiger.
- Murramarang National Park: Twenty minutes north of Batemans Bay is the serene Murramarang National Park, known for its spotted gum trees that grow right down to the waterline. It is a wonderful place to camp, fish, swim, or take gentle hikes along the beach. You can also stroll along the inland walking trails by Durras Lake. Pebbly Beach and Cookies Beach are especially beautiful areas to check out as well.
- Canberra: The nation’s capital of Canberra is a two hour drive northwest of Batemans Bay in the Australian Capital Territory. The city is home to numerous important institutions, including government buildings, military academies, universities, museums, and monuments. The weather is cooler and less humid than other major cities on the coast due to its relative location near the popular ski resort area of the Snowy Mountains. Visitors are drawn to Canberra for the world-class restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and national sights all in close proximity. Canberra is proud of their wine region, with 33 wineries within 35 minutes of downtown among a collection 140 total regional wineries.
Best Neighborhoods in Batemans Bay
- Batemans Bay Central Business District: This neighborhood where the river meets the bay, Batemans Bay Central Business District has the highest concentration of restaurants, accommodations, shops, and parks. Most attractions for visitors are enclosed in an area bordered by Old Princes Highway, Beach Road, A1 Highway, and the watery coast. The area is highly walkable.
- Batehaven: Two miles south of the Batemans Bay central business district, Batehaven includes Caseys Beach, Corrigans Beach, and Observation Point Lookout. There are a handful of shops and accommodations centered around Beach Road.
- Surf Beach: Surf Beach is six miles south of Batemans Bay and offers some of the loveliest beaches around for swimming, surfing, and lounging. Beaches in this suburb include Surf Beach, Wimbie Beach and Denham Beach, just over the northern border. Bear in mind that Surf Beach and Surfside are not the same place — they are instead located at opposite ends of the region.
Popular rental amenities
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