You’ve been to the beach, and you’ve been to the carnival. You’ve eaten more fish and chips in one week than the rest of the year. The kids are starting to whisper that dreaded word – “bored”.
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Never fear, we have the perfect solution. Give one of these off-the-beaten-track adventures a whirl to bring back the holiday magic.
Float down the Tomaga River
This is better for big kids than little ones.
Step one: Find the biggest, most obnoxious floatie you can – think giant unicorns and donuts.
Step two: Slip slop and slap – there’s no shade on the river – and grab your hydrating beverage of choice.
Step three: On an outgoing tide, pull off George Bass Drive at the Tomaga River bridge. Launch your luxury cruise unicorn (donut, etc) into the river, and float the day away.
Take a stroll on the boardwalk
The Cullendulla boardwalk is one of the shire’s hidden gems.
Just drive ten minutes north of Batemans Bay, to the main beach at Surfside. When you get to the car park, instead of going on to the beach, walk to your left. You’ll emerge from the trees onto a beautiful – and often quiet – beach, nestled into national park.
If you want to stop here, we don’t blame you. Swimming conditions in the sheltered cove are perfect for little ones and beginners. Cullendulla Creek opens into the ocean here, so the mix of sea birds, black swans, and wildlife, like kangaroos, can entertain the family for hours. It’s also a brilliant spot to kayak.
If you’re a little more adventurous, walk along to the beach until you come to a sign on your left pointing to the Cullendulla walking track. Take a wander through the bush, and the trail will take you to a boardwalk through the mangrove forest along the creek edge. On low tide, you can spy colonies of tiny, brightly coloured crabs bustling about their business. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear them too.
The walk is level and fairly easy – it’s suitable for older or younger travellers.
Go off road (kinda) at shallow crossing
A concrete causeway might at first seem like an odd swimming spot but the waves from passing cars are perfect to ride on your air mattress. Pedal your bike in the water and build rock walls to your heart's content. Local folklore says that it's around this spot where the tidal salt-water from downstream meets the freshwater from upstream.
After you've worked up a hunger playing classic catches, head to the Clyde River Berry Farm, just a five-minute drive upstream, for one of their irresistible homemade berry ice-creams. Bet you can't just have one.
Shallow Crossing is 14 kilometres by gravel road from the Princes Highway. Warning: This river crossing can be impassable due to heavy rain and at high tide (note up to three-hour lag in tide times with Batemans Bay).
Stop your kids from having a cow, man
A stop in at the Bodalla Dairy Shed has it all.
Whopper milkshakes for hungry tummies, local, specialty cheeses for grow-ups, and calf feeding at 10am and 4pm each day for littlies.
They also have an ice cream lab, for those who are just as interested in food production as consumption.
Plus, live music on Sundays from 12pm-4pm.
Take a birds eye view
Head up to Holmes’ lookout for a romantic evening picnic.
Just a short drive west of Batemans Bay, turn off the Kings Highway onto Rotary Drive, before you reach Nelligen. Follow the dirt track down, up and around, and you’ll find yourself high on the ridge line, looking out over the Clyde River as it winds its way towards the sparkling blue of the Pacific Ocean.
You’ll see Batemans Bay to the southeast and glimpses of the beautiful Budawang Ranges to the northwest. Breathe deeply and take in the fresh air and smells of the Aussie bush. There’s plenty of bird life for ornithological afficionados.
As the sun sets, you’ll get a double light show. Far away from houses, multitudes of stars hang bright in the night sky. Look down towards Batemans Bay, and you’ll see a cozy toy town reflected in the river.
You’re welcome.