10 things to know about a South Coast road trip

From beach-loving kangaroos to windswept national parks, there’s plenty to discover on the NSW South Coast.

Holiday villages, empty beaches and great camping await travellers road tripping along the NSW South Coast. Here are 10 things you’ll want to know before you go.

There’s an old-school fish and chips takeaway at Burrill Lake

Blink and you’ll miss The Fish Shop down a side street near Stony Creek. You’ll be chinwagging on the footpath with locals as you wait for Aussie classics such as fish cakes, sea shanties, Chiko rolls, pluto pups, and potato scallops, plus your standard fish and chips combinations. The queue may be long, so give yourself plenty of time so the kids don’t squawk like hungry seagulls.

Eat up at the Fish Shop. Picture: Jennifer Ennion.

You can mingle with mobs of 'roos in Murramarang National Park

One of the most picturesque places in the state to chill with kangaroos is Pebbly Beach, about 15 minutes’ drive off Princes Highway, south of Termeil. There’s a bush campground not far from the sand, along with a picnic area for day visitors. Park entry fees apply; be mindful not to feed the 'roos or the resident parrots.

Could get a more Aussie image than roos on the beach?

The Eurobodalla Shire has some of the prettiest beaches in NSW

It’s worth lingering along the coastline between Batemans Bay and Narooma, with the beaches around the tiny suburb of Dalmeny especially beautiful. You can check them out from a 21 km bike path that follows the foreshore all the way to Narooma. Enjoy a seafood lunch in Narooma before returning the same way, stopping for a swim or beach comb. Look for stingrays and seals when you cross Mill Bay Boardwalk.

The beaches at Narooma are world-class. Picture: Destination NSW

There’s an accessible playground in Tathra

When I think I couldn’t love the cute village of Tathra any more, the community’s beachfront playground gets an upgrade, making it accessible to all children. The Tathra All-Abilities Playground (also Taylors Square Playground) features a giant basket swing, inclusive swing, trampoline, flying fox and carousel, with a mix of sand and soft-fall areas, and pathways. The playground is next to Tathra Surf Club and across the road from a small strip of shops.

Discovery Parks - Pambula Beach is a top family campground

When it comes to holiday parks, Pambula Beach has everything a family could want. The most impressive features are the lagoon-style outdoor pool and the splash park that suits little and big kids. But there’s also a heated indoor pool, a large playground with mini trampolines, a mini golf course that’s very popular, a bouncing pillow with dedicated time for toddlers, and pedal carts, which are perfect for zooming around campsites and cabins. Parents will also appreciate that there’s a restaurant and kiosk on site with plenty of good meal options.

Big fun awaits at Discovery Parks Pambula Beach.

You’ll want to nab a table at Toast Cafe Pambula 

Stylish, cosy and welcoming, Toast Cafe Pambula has to be one of the best dining choices in the region. Open for breakfast and an early lunch, dishes include scrumptious sweet potato, pumpkin and kale fritters (trust me on this), and pork burgers with (drumroll, please) crackling. If you’re travelling with kids, order the ice chocolates that come with Tiny Teddies poking out of the whipped cream.

Order the fritters at Toast Cafe. Picture: Jennifer Ennion.

Panboola Wetlands offers nature-based respite

For a dose of nature therapy, head to Panboola Wetlands, not far from Pambula’s main street. You can walk or cycle around the wetlands, which consume 82 hectares from the township to Pambula River. It’s a great spot for bird watching, with habitats including billabongs, tidal mudflats, mangroves, saltmarsh and more. 

Tranquility awaits at Panboola.

Eden’s whale museum is worth a visit

The most well-known town on the Far South Coast is Eden, a former whaling port turned whale watching destination. Before heading out on a tourist boat or hitting a clifftop hiking trail, learn about the area’s history at Eden Killer Whale Museum. There are thousands of whaling artefacts on display, as well as an orca skeleton. Kids will enjoy a visit as much as adults, and you should also call into Davidson Whaling Station, where a 1890s’ homestead still stands.

Lots of history at the Eden Killer Whale Museum. Picture: Destination NSW

The drive to Green Cape Lighthouse is a fun adventure

You’ve made it this far, so what’s another 45 minutes’ drive to see Green Cape Lighthouse? A windy adventure is in store as you travel an unsealed road through the remote Beowa National Park to the state’s southernmost lighthouse and its keepers’ quarters. The lighthouse, with its 116 stairs, is a great spot for whale watching in spring and you can join a guided tour on a handful of dates throughout the year; bookings required. 

Sunrise at Green Cape Lighthouse. Picture: Destination NSW.

It’s always best to go slow

With all of the South Coast’s great beaches, fishing hamlets and wild spaces, a South Coast road trip can be slow going. If you give yourself time to explore, you’ll be rewarded with a holiday that’s much more peaceful than a stay in the state’s popular north. The water is fresh though, so pack your steamer.

Writer travelled as a guest of Discovery Parks & Resorts

Originally published as 10 things to know about a South Coast road trip