Often touted as one of New South Wales’ best-kept secrets, Merimbula is considered the gateway to the sparkling Sapphire Coast. As your plane lands, you’ll see the glittering Merimbula Lake on one side and the Sapphire Coast on the other.
With the Merimbula Airport located just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of this holiday playground on the far-south of New South Wales’ coast, you’ll want to take advantage of a hire car to help you make the most of this cosy coastal paradise with ease.
Relax and revel in the sleepy seaside town life
Picture walking through luscious lime-green rolling hills towards the ocean at dawn and planting yourself down on a blanket of ancient smooth stones that sit along the edge of a deserted beach, as you stare out across the water and watch the sun rise, with nothing to listen to but the gentle crashing of waves along the shore. This is what Merimbula is in a nutshell. You can truly lose yourself in its tranquillity and take things slow for a while and wash away all the stresses of everyday life. If you find yourself lucky to travel to this quiet corner of the world, let its peaceful presence take hold of you, and embrace a life of solitude and complete relaxation. If you’re lucky, you might also spot whales peeking out of the surface of the ocean in the distance.
When you’ve had your fill of blissful morning meditation by the seaside, head into town and walk along Market and Beach Streets for coffee and breakfast with a view out across Boggy Creek. When it comes to food, from dusk until dawn, Merimbula never disappoints. Due to its calm waterways, the town has a thriving oyster farming industry, with a history of eating oysters for at least 3,000 years. Taste them at one of the oyster farms in the area and wash them down with some of New South Wales’ famous wines. If you don’t like oysters, Merimbula has plenty of crayfish, mussels and prawns to offer, too!
Water is an important part of the local lifestyle. The town’s name itself is an aboriginal word meaning “two lakes”, in reference to the Merimbula and Back Lakes on the north and south sides of the town. You’ll often find surfers at the town’s Main Beach, and kayakers and paddle boarders in the lakes.
Merimbula also organises several festivals, which draw visitors from all over Australia throughout the year. For music lovers, the Jazz Festival is held over the Queen’s Birthday weekend every June. For exotic plant lovers, the Sapphire Coast Orchid Club holds several events a year to showcase native and rare plants.
Take a break from everyday life and make Merimbula your next holiday destination. Pick up a hire car and make the most of your time in this peaceful paradise with ease.
