Top Family Friendly Activities

Sapphire Coast family adventure

Escape the city for a family adventure on the Sapphire Coast! Our coastline is a natural playground for kids, adults and everyone in between. From animal encounters to adventure challenges, our outdoor experiences are like nothing else on earth. You can touch a native diamond python, catch a fish, learn to surf, tear up a mountain bike trail or spend time in the tree tops. Discover our underwater world and explore our pristine estuaries on a paddle adventure.

The Sapphire Coast is the place for family adventures to remember.

EXPLORE OUR WATERWAYS on SUP, kayak or canoe

Explore stunning waterways right near town or paddle the estuaries, lagoons and hidden beaches in our national parks. Take a guided tour for the best secret spots, take a lesson, or hire the gear you need and take the family on an adventure. Some great family-friendly paddling spots include the sparkling waters of Merimbula Lake, scenic Mogareeka Inlet in Tathra, and Pambula River Mouth.

Explore our lakes, rivers, hire and tours  here.

Climb a lighthouse!

Green Cape Lighthouse, located in Beowa National Park around 45min south of Eden, is the southernmost lighthouse in NSW and is steeped in seafaring history. Learn about disasters, survival, and shipwrecks and climb the lighthouse stairs for fantastic views of the rugged coastline.  Guided Lighthouse tours are available on request and bookings are required. To book, email NPWS Merimbula or call 02 6495 5000. You can even stay overnight in the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage!

Green Cape precinct is a lovely spot for a family picnic lunch, so pack a hamper with local goodies and take in the coastal vistas while you enjoy some family bonding!

Jump on a coastal discovery cruise

Spot dolphins, fur seals, and a variety of bird life as you explore the magnificent, ancient coastline of the Sapphire Coast aboard a marine discovery cruise. Cat Balou Cruises departs from stunning Snug Cove in Eden, whilst Sapphire Coastal Adventures departs from Merimbula Lake. You can choose from bbq lunch cruises, sunset cruises or cruises designed just for families!

Explore more marine and wildlife experiences here.

Ride the waves at Surf School

Nothing says Sapphire Coast quite like surf school! Camel Rock Surf School & Bermagui Surf School offer beginner, family and intermediate surf lessons in Bermagui, whilst Coastlife Adventures offers surf lessons from both Pambula Beach and Tathra. Lessons can fill up fast in the summer months so make you sure you book ahead to avoid missing your spot. 

VISIT THE EDEN KILLER WHALE MUSEUM

Discover Eden's intriguing killer whale history at the iconic Eden Killer Whale Museum. You can see the skeleton of the famous of all orcas, Old Tom, and explore historic artefacts, exhibitions and films that shed light on the region's fascinating whale history. If your kids are keen history buffs, take a daytrip along the Killer Whale Trail around Eden, combining amazing history with scenic picnic spots, short walks and beach time.

You can check out more history, museums and heritage sites here.   

Go mountain biking IN EDEN OR TATHRA

Race your family members and soak up the beauty of our coastal forests on a mountain biking adventure! The Sapphire Coast has more than 100km of mountain biking trails in Eden and Tathra with trails suitable for all ages and abilities.

Explore 50+ kilometres of singletrack that snakes through the hills and gullies of Tathra at their Bundadung trails. The trails have it all – climbs, descents, bridges, ferny gullies, ocean views, beach destinations and local wildlife. Drop into Tathra Beach and Bike for bike hire and tips for family-friendly trails for beginners, and check out Tathra Mountain Bike Club for trail information.

Our new Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park is a new mountain biking network in Eden with more than 58km of premium machine-built trails to discover. With over 300m elevation, Eden's trails offer an awesome mix of flow, cross-country and technical riding for all kinds of riders. The park also features a wonderful trailhead at the bottom of the trails with an asphalt pump track perfect for beginner riders looking to hone their skills. Plus an impressive dirt jump park for more experienced riders! The trailhead includes parking, signage and amenities.

If your family would prefer something a bit more cruisy, check out the Tathra to Mogareeka pathway, the Yili-njili pathway, and the Merimbula to Pambula pathway. Panboola Wetlands is also an excellent spot for a family bike riding adventure with a network of walking and cycling tracks located within a 77-hectare protected nature reserve in the heart of Pambula.

Check out all our cycling and mountain biking trails here. 

Meet our native wildlife 

Get up close & personal with furry, scaled and feathered critters at our native animal sanctuary, Potoroo Palace! You’ll be able to observe and learn about kangaroos, wallabies, potoroos, bettongs, wombats, koalas, reptiles and many species of birds in a beautiful nature setting.

For an even more personal experience, Tiny Zoo offers private group educational wildlife experiences with pythons, lizards, frogs, birds and more, and they can even visit you and your family group at your Sapphire Coast holiday accommodation, workplace or special event.

For kangaroo and bird-spotting in a picturesque natural environment, visit the beautiful Panboola Wetlands in Pambula Village. There is a lovely network of flat walking and cycling trails as well as viewing platforms, tables, seats and information panels. Then you can head into town with the family for an ice cream and coffee afterwards!

FAMILY BEACH TIME

Hit up our local's family-favourite beach spots for unbeatable, free fun. Tathra Beach, Bar Beach, Horseshoe Bay Beach, Pambula Beach, Aslings Beach and Merimbula Main Beach are all great for families, with lifesaving services in the summer months, as well as amenities, parking, and delicious coffee and local eats located close by.

Other lovely spots for the family include Mitchie's Jetty in Merimbula, Cocora Beach in Eden, Pambula River Mouth and Aslings  Beach Rock Pool.

Check out all our beaches here.

Hire a boat & go fishing

The Sapphire Coast is known as one of the most significant recreational fishing regions in the southern hemisphere. Visit Bermagui Bait & Tackle right on the Bermagui River and hire a powered boat suitable for up to 4 people with all safety equipment provided. They’ll also be able to fit you out with fishing gear, local knowledge and refreshments too. If you fancy chasing the bigger fish, book a day out with one of the many charter boats that call this harbour home. For boat hire further south, enquire with Sapphire Coastal Adventures.

For beach, wharf, lake and estuary fishing visit our Fishing page here for inspiration and info to get you started.

EXPLORE MERIMBULA'S MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Magic Mountain is family favourite for the adventurous at heart, found hidden in the forests of Merimbula. From waterslides to toboggan rides and their spinning 'Crazy Car', Magic Mountain provides hours of delight for locals and visitors on the Sapphire Coast. They're famous for their 'Sapphire Speedstar Coaster', a thrilling rollercoaster ride with amazing views from the top!

FAMILY-FRIENDLY strolls

Explore our beautiful environment on a family walk in nature. Family-friendly Merimbula Boardwalk (1.7km) meanders through mangroves forests and local oyster farms along the lake's idyllic shoreline. There is parking available at both ends of the boardwalk and there is delicious coffee and snacks located at Sunny's Kiosk at Top Lake. Tathra Headland Walk is a lovely 300m loop, linking Tathra Headland and the historic Tathra Wharf, with epic ocean views.

You'll find a network of flat, paved and grassy walking tracks in Panboola Wetlands in Pambula, whilst older kids and teens will love the Camel Rock to Murunna Point walking track (1.5km) in Bermagui. For amazing geo-history, don't miss the Pinnacles loop walking track  (1km) in Beowa National Park, located halfway between Pambula and Eden.

There are lots more family-friendly walks on offer in our towns and national parks, check them out here.

Take an archery course

Discover your inner Robin Hood and learn something new at Kianinny Bush Cottages in Tathra. Their archery course is a popular activity, enabling kids to have fun, gain a new skill and develop confidence in a new sport. And mum and dad are welcome too. Kianinny Bush Cottages is set amongst 100 acres of beautiful bushland at Tathra so don’t be surprised to spot lots of wildlife like wallabies, possums, goannas, kookaburras & parrots whilst you are mastering the ancient art of the bow and arrow.

Kianny Bush Cottages is also home to an awesome flying fox ride, an 18-hole mini golf course Wombat Holes, and an action-packed kids School Holiday Program. Find out all the details here.

DISCOVER THE CREATURES OF THE DEEP

From sharks to shrimps, octopus to the tropical fish, it’s all on display Merimbula Aquarium's living theatre of the deep. The aquarium has 27 tanks and a fantastic 70,000 litre oceanarium full of large ocean fish and sharks. And when you’re done marvelling at all the wonders that are under the water, you can head upstairs for fish and chips, or cake and coffee and enjoy the spectacular views of Merimbula Bay and Main Beach.

CONQUER A PIRATE-THEMED MINI GOLF COURSE

Step into the magical and exciting world of Top Fun Merimbula's 18-Hole pirate-themed miniature golf course! Located at the top of Merimbula, their mini golf course is located outside with engaging obstacles for kids of all ages. The course record is 36 putts (unofficially), so come along and see if you can break the long-standing record.

Top Fun Merimbula is also home to a range of indoor amusements (perfect for those occasional rainy days) with Zone 3 laser tag, ten pin bowling and a huge range of amusement and video games - many with tickets awarded for prizes!