83 beaches to discover in Eurobodalla
Golden sands, crystalline waters, and rolling waves are the hallmarks of a perfect beach holiday.
A holiday in Australia is often associated with swimming, surfing and fishing. That’s in no small way due to Australia being blessed with some of the most iconic and spectacular beaches and coast in the world.
In a country “girt by sea,” Eurobodalla holds its own with an impressive suite of around 83 beaches on the south east coast of Australia.
The beaches of Eurobodalla are as diverse as the landscape itself. From ancient headlands to long windswept coastline, you will find a variety of ocean beaches, sheltered beaches, bays and coves. Choose from protected bays for swimming, shallow breaks for learning to surf, or deep drop-offs with powerful surf for a hardcore experience. If you like to fish, long open beaches with deep channels deliver excellent fishing opportunities.
There is a beach to suit your favourite water activities, a family day out, or your mood.
You can find information on pet friendly beaches and patrolled beaches on the Eurobodalla Shire Council website.
Beaches
Stunning beaches
This is no Gold Coast and you definitely won’t find a Bondi lookalike in this part of the world. Often hidden by a border of tall native eucalypts and nestled between two headlands, many of Eurobodalla’s gorgeous beaches (around 83 all up) are places you need to work a little harder to find. But it’s definitely worth the effort.
Long, windswept beaches open to the ocean can make you feel like you have been shipwrecked on a deserted coast. It’s not uncommon to find yourself making the only footprints in the sand. Eurobodalla beaches are rarely crowded and often secluded, which is a rare find these days.
We’ve listed the best of our beautiful beaches for you to explore. Whether you like to swim or surf, fish or soak up the sun by the sea, we have the right beach for you.
Bays & Coves
Beautiful bays, secluded coves
Coves and bays offer calmer conditions, generally with more protection from ocean swells and winds. Bays and coves make an ideal beach environment for families, swimming and snorkelling.
The protected conditions also make bays and coves ideal options for launching your kayak or getting out on your SUP. If you prefer surfing, check out our beaches section on this page.
Best ocean beaches
Nothing says “Australia” like a holiday by the beach. Have a picnic by the sea on a golden sandy beach, dive under the waves, and feel the sensation of freshness and vitality that you can only find when you swim in the saltiness of the ocean.
Cookies Beach
Cookies Beach in South Durras is a beautiful place to stop for a swim. It is skirted by a natural native bush setting. The beach screams of the quintessential Australian summer holiday, right down to the basking kangaroos found all around the village.
Maloneys Beach
Maloneys beach is ideal for family outings with a wide grassy reserve, toilets, boat ramp, free electric barbecues and covered picnic area. The western end of the beach features a protected cove and string of small rock pools – perfect for children to explore. The colourful rock ledges are teeming with sea creatures that will surprise and delight everyone, you may even catch a glimpse of the local dolphin pod as it travels past.
Corrigans Beach
With plenty of space on and off the beach, relatively calm safe waters, little to no surf, excellent amenities and shops nearby, Corrigan’s beach is definitely a family destination and one of the best beaches on the south coast for families with young children. The northern end is even pet friendly!
It is a popular spot because of its safety and close proximity to Batemans Bay city centre, shops, cafes and restaurants. There are also plenty of dining and recreational facilities behind and along the beach. During summer you can try kite surfing, hire a jetski, grab fish and chips for lunch and take the kids to the Bells Family Carnival in the evening.
The northern headland is home to the Coastal Patrol Rescue building and concrete boat ramps, located safely behind the Hanging Rock break wall – making it a great spot for fishing, best off the entrance wall into the Clyde River.
McKenzies Beach
A rugged and picturesque surf beach located about 14 km south of Batemans Bay, just past Malua Bay on George Bass Drive. McKenzies lies on the southern side of a headland jutting east called Pretty Point.
McKenzies is a golden sandy beach set well back between two tall headlands. Wide, flat rock ledges surround the headlands with numerous small rock pools waiting to be explored.
Pretty Point offers good rock fishing but only for the experienced and well prepared, while McKenzies has easier to access rock platforms and usually a rip gutter or two.
Broulee Beach North
Broulee beach is a popular 1.5 kilometre long beach protected by Broulee Island. Candlagan Creek is located at the northern end of the beach. Ideal for families with smaller children as the water is very calm on the creek and great for swimming and paddling. There are many amenities and facilities close by, making it a popular day out for the whole family.
For surfing, Broulee usually has a low beach break over the shallow bars, increasing in height during higher swells, but tending to close out. Big southeast swell breaks on the northeast side of Broulee Island produce a good right-hander at Pink Rocks, a prized surfing spot for experienced board riders only.
Moruya Main Beach
Moruya main beach is a good all-round surf beach, with the facilities and space for all to enjoy. Long, wide and patrolled in summer, it is great for swimming, surfing, fishing and walking. On the beach below the point there is an extra wide sandbar and some rock pools waiting to be explored.
Moruya Main Beach is patrolled throughout the summer. Rips tend to dominate the northern end with a permanent rip running out past the rocks just north of the surf club, so stay between the flags.
One Tree Beach
One Tree beach is the jewel in the crown of Tuross Head, reminiscent of the colours of the Mediterranean. It has a wide sandbar and a near perfect crescent-shape carved into the soft, white sand and is protected from the north wind, making it a great beach for families with small children.
One Tree Beach (Main) is patrolled throughout the summer.
Yabbara Beach
The northernmost beach is a string of small beaches stretching south along the coast to Narooma.
It is wide, with golden sand and features colourful rock formations at each end. The southern end features a collection of brown and pinkish coloured boulders and rock ledges, perfect for exploring at low tide.
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Narooma Surf Beach
There are a few towns that can lay claim to a beach as good as Surf beach. It is home to the surf lifesaving clubhouse, with a large carpark, and amenities including toilets. At the northern end you will find Smuggler’s Cove.
The Narooma Cemetery is on the headland, which leads you around to the southern part of the beach and the iconic Glasshouse Rocks.
Narooma Surf Beach is patrolled throughout the summer.
Mystery Bay
Two beaches joined by a sandbar and rocky headland. The northern section has several offshore rock bars that create sheltered rock pools at low tide, ideal for children to enjoy. The waters deepen and are perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving.
SLS Australia Patrolled beaches - swim between the red and yellow flags
Surf Life Saving Australia is the peak coastal water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority in Australia.
Professional Lifeguards patrol at Surf Beach, Malua Bay, Broulee, Moruya, Tuross Head, Dalmeny and Narooma and are sponsored by Eurobodalla Shire Council.
Check with the local SLSC for current patrol timetables or check the Eurobodalla Shire Council Beaches web page
The safety of you and your family is paramount. Remember, beaches can present hidden dangers. Always swim on patrolled beaches if possible and stay between the flags.
Rips can be difficult to spot, so always observe the rhythm and movement of the sea before entering the surf. If unsure, check with your local Surf Lifesaving club.
Swimming and snorkelling in calm bays and protected beaches is advisable. Avoid swimming or surfing in rough seas and never when safety warnings or beach closures are in force.
Board riders should keep clear of flagged areas and swimmers when surfing.
