Bermagui for Families

Bermagui, on the Sapphire Coast (NSW), can be best described as a little piece of paradise. We recently booked four nights in Bermagui with no expectations – it was simply a good place on the map to break Melbourne to Sydney journey. It turned out to be a wonderful place for a family holiday. Here’s why.

Beaches

For us a perfect summer holiday involves lots of beach time with the kids. There’s something about splashing in the water, building sandcastles and collecting seashells that makes everyone happy. I was really surprised by how many different places there were to swim in and around Bermagui, so no matter what the conditions were, we had somewhere to play. Our favourites were:

Bermagui Beach: a patrolled surf beach, directly opposite the main street, with lovely rock pools to explore. An enclosed playground just above the beach provides a great place to run around and dry off before jumping back in the car.

Bermagui River: as our girls are young and they don’t always want to play at a surf beach. At low tide the river offered sandy beaches and shallow water to play in.

The Blue Pool: located at the base of a steep cliff, this is without a doubt the most beautiful ocean pool I’ve ever seen. There’s a separate children’s wading pool at the southern end and the main pool is large enough to swim laps in. The water is clear and an abundance of fish along the rocky oceanside wall make it well worth bringing a snorkel and mask. Showers and toilets are located at the top of the steep staircase, next to the car park.

Cuttagee Beach and Lake: this unpatrolled surf beach is around a 10 minute drive south of Bermagui and is very popular with surfers. The lake, which drains into the ocean, is an absolute winner with families. Young children will always find a shallow and protected pocket to swim in, chase fish or watch hermit crabs scuttle past. Older children, and adults, can ride the rapids under the bridge created on the change of tide. At full tide the lake is a beautiful place to explore with a kayak or paddle board.

Fishing

Bermagui has a reputation for great fishing, and this is well deserved. There are plenty of charter companies who will take you out game or deep sea fishing or you can throw a line out at any number of places in surrounding lakes and rivers (make sure you have a fishing licence). My husband took our five and three year old girls down to the shore of the river most days, catching quite a feast of flathead and black fish – very tasty on the BBQ!

Central Tilba

This National Trust classified village is 15 minutes north on the highway and well worth a visit. Shops are all beautifully restored and plaques outside tell the history of each. Kids will love a visit to the old fashioned lolly shop. For adults there are plenty of gift, woodwork and jewellery shops. I recommend a visit to the Tilba ABC Cheese Factory, in operation for over 100 years and a great spot to try truly yummy cheeses!

Mumbulla Creek Falls

Of cultural significance to the local Indigenous community, this is a beautiful place. A 225 metre raised walkway suitable for wheelchair access leads to a viewing platform over the falls. You can have a picnic or BBQ here, and the natural rock water slide is a very popular place to swim.

Montreal Goldfield

Fancy a trip back in time? Take a tour (daily at 2pm) of the Montreal Goldfield located 7km north of Bermagui. Learn about the gold rush, mining processes, geology and discover how Australia’s only seaside goldfield was discovered.

My whole family fell in love with Bermagui, truly a little piece of paradise. It has inspired us to spend more time exploring the beautiful Sapphire Coast.

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