Best Things to Do in Batemans Bay: Where to Eat, Play & Stay
A serene slice of paradise on the South Coast of NSW, make the most of your next getaway with the best things to do in Batemans Bay.
Sitting pretty on the NSW South Coast, it's all about getting back to nature in Batemans Bay. Flanked by national parks and idyllic waterways, the holiday town attracts holidaymakers looking for a break away from the city hustle.
Clyde River and Clyde River National Park are the town's beating heart - from the delectable seafood it provides to the sailing, paddling and hiking trails throughout. Locals can also be spotted playing in the bay, swimming at one of the many beaches or along the Batemans Bay snorkelling trail to walking and cycling along the Batemans Bay Cycleway.
Make the most of your time in this coastal paradise with our guide to the best things to do in Batemans Bay.
Best Things to Do in Batemans Bay: Eat & Drink
Alfresco Coffee
Start your day with the team at Alfresco Coffee, where award-winning coffee is the order of the day! This is no regular cuppa Joe, this is coffee sustainably sourced and Australian-owned to create a brew that rivals lattes in Melbourne. Food-wise, freshly baked goods from Honor Bread have carbs sorted, while fresh sandwiches, smoothies, granola bowls and eggs on toast offer a healthy breakky choice filled with flavour and fuel for the day ahead.
5 North Street, Batemans Bay
Crumb
Only the best will do at Crumb, where coffee is brewed and fresh meals are made with love. Keep it light with banana bread, chia cups and fruit salad, or satisfy hunger in one hit with bacon and egg rolls, eggs benedict, loaded rolls and ham and cheese croissants. Come lunchtime, burgers, tacos and grazing boards cover all bases.
2/268 Beach Road, Batehaven
Se7en Cafe
Good times, good vibes and good times is the motto at Se7en Cafe, a favourite spot for locals to gather over great food and friendly chats with owners Mark and Steph. With two venues (one by the sea, one in the centre) it's easy to find the gang slinging tasty meals including sourdough fruit toast, toasted granola bowls, smashed avo and brekkie tacos with eggs, chorizo and hot sauce.
31 Clyde Street & 1 Perry Street, Batemans Bay
The Punt House
Sitting on the banks of the Clyde River and reopening with a modern fit-out and a new name, fresh local flavours and waterfront dining take centre stage at The Punt House. Combining local produce with a Mediterranean twist, expect anchovy toast, smoked beetroot carpaccio and Kingfish crudo to share. For mains, Swordfish skewers, battered fish and chicken with saffron creme fraiche will delight the fussiest foodies. Order a cocktail and save room for dessert - the lemon tart is perfection!
2 Old Punt Road, Batemans Bay
Sams Pizza
Because sometimes all you need is a cheesy pizza and a view of the water - both of which can be found at Sams Pizza. The best pizza spot in town, there is also pasta, salad and small bites on the menu, plus an extensive drinks menu of beer, wines and cocktails. The team is ready to welcome you for Hawaiin, Margherita and BBQ Chicken pizzas, garlic bread, Caprese salad and creamy gelato.
3 Orient Street, Batemans Bay
Oyster Cove & Cocktail Bar
Oysters? Check. Cocktails? Check. Quality and comfort? Double check. Oyster Cove & Cocktail Bar offers a slice of indulgence in Batemans Bay, where only expertly shaken cocktails, delicious tapas, water views and oysters fresh from the ocean will do. Committed to providing customers with a premium bar experience, this is the answer to locals (and visitors) needing a fun and inviting place to unwind after a long day.
2/5 Orient Street, Batemans Bay
Cupitt’s Estate
Tucked away in Ulladulla (and worth the 45-minute drive from Batemans Bay), Cupitt's Estate ticks all the boozy boxes boasting a winery and brewery on site. The intimate cellar door is the perfect place to sample the estate’s signature cool climate drops and is a haven for wine connoisseurs offering guided tastings daily.
Post-tasting, make your way to Dusty's Garden Bar. Casual dining at its finest, settle in amongst the vines and sip your way across the property with its craft brews and wines available behind the bar. Did we mention there’s a fromagerie on site as well?
58 Washburton Road, Ulladulla
Best Things to Do in Batemans Bay: Explore
Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden
Dive deeper into the unique bush environment at Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, where self-guided tours, maps and walking trails celebrate the diverse native flora. When the sun is shining, pack a picnic and find a grassy spot to lay out and unwind, or stop into Mossy on Gardens Cafe for a hot meal and delicious coffee. Playgrounds will keep little ones entertained, while the gift shop is filled with treasures to take home.
Deep Creek Dam Road, Batemans Bay
Clyde River National Park
The Clyde River National Park is a natural wonderland where locals swim, kayak, hike and fish. Take the trail to Holmes Lookout for spectacular views of Clyde River and beyond, or sleep beneath the stars at one of the campgrounds.
A playground for nature and water sport enthusiasts, there is ample space to enjoy 9km of river frontage, forested hills, mangroves, picnic spots and a moment of seclusion within the park.
Mogo Wildlife Park
Embark on a safari in New South Wales at the Mogo Wildlife Park! Located between Batemans Bay and Narooma, this is an oasis of pathways taking you through African savannahs, the Amazonian jungle and the bamboo forests of Nepal.
Load the kids into the car and get up close and personal with zebras, meerkats, gibbons, hyenas, rhinos, red pandas and cheetahs as they roam freely in 70 acres of protected land.
222 Tomakin Road, Mogo
Get Active
For a town surrounded by national parks and coastline, it should be no surprise that Batemans Bay boasts many a walking, hiking and cycling trail. For art lovers, the Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk follows the shoreline and is dotted with award-winning sculptures from the Sculpture for Clyde events. Starting with 8 pieces in 2020, the number of artworks to see grows yearly, giving visitors plenty to look at - as if the bayside vistas weren't already good enough.
If you prefer to travel on two wheels, the Batemans Bay Cycleway offers a family-friendly (mostly) flat path hugging the bay and, sitting at 18km long, makes for a relatively easy way to take in the sites. Once you reach Myamba Parade, we suggest walking along Cullendulla Boardwalk to explore the wetlands and Batemans Bay ecosystem.
Clyde River
Running alongside Batemans Bay, Clyde River is a standout within the region, thanks to its pristine waters and world-class oysters (arguably the country's best). Hire a houseboat, paddle the waters or taste the local delicacy at sea-to-plate oyster farms. If you prefer to let someone do the hard work so you can relax (rightfully so) hop on the Merinda River Cruise from Innes Boatshed and glide into the historic village of Nelligen.
For a unique experience, combine a water-based adventure with an oyster tasting with the Clyde River Oyster Tasting Kayak Tour - which is exactly what it sounds like! This memorable experience gives you an insight into the working oyster farms on Australia's Oyster Coast, a fully guided tour and amazing wildlife encounters as you glide through the Clyde River Estuary. Not a fan of oysters? No worries! Join the Region X team for a serene social paddle instead, taking off from Mossy Point most weeks.
Best Things to Do in Batemans Bay: Stay
The Isla
Step back in time with The Isla, the charming motel that will make the perfect destination for your next girls' trip! Just a hop from the centre of Batemans Bay in Batehaven (a charming pocket in the Eurobodalla region), but casting your eyes upon The Isla, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled into 1970s Palm Springs.
Oozing with Malibu Barbie pool party vibes the fun and playful redesign of this property makes it one of our favourite new motels in Australia. Sophisticated yet unpretentious the common areas, pool terrace and rooms and suites (which we’ll dive into below) are fitted with gingham cushions, trendy wavy mirrors, light wood panelling and curved white walls.
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222 Beach Road, Batehaven
Casita Motel
Little cousin of Isla Hotel, the recently opened Casita Motel lends itself to laidback escapes and family getaways. A boutique motel lovingly restored to glory, expect nods to the raw beauty of the Australian coast blended with influences from Spain.
Complete with luxuries you would expect in a hotel, rooms are fitted with comfortable bedding, modern finishes, premium bathroom amenities, personal touches and privacy for secluded escapes. Within walking distance to a local IGA, cafe and pizza shop and directly opposite the water's edge, everything you need for a fuss-free holiday is at your fingertips.
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220 Beach Road, Batehaven
Bay Breeze Boutique Accommodation
Proving the resurgence of cosy motels as a premium accommodation option, Bay Breeze perfectly combines relaxed luxury with natural beauty. Perched on the waterfront overlooking the bay, this is the perfect spot to begin each day with a coffee as you take in the view.
The renovated rooms are all coastal chic, with elegant interiors, calming colour schemes and modern finishes. Throw in the handy location within walking distance to shops and eateries, and there isn't a thing to fault at Bay Breeze.
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21 Beach Road, Batemans Bay
The Oaks Ranch
Escape from town and find an idyllic hotel at The Oaks Ranch in Mossy Point filled with luxury finishes, warm hospitality and breathtaking scenery. Sitting on 300 acres, there is room to roam. You can play a round of golf, sip cocktails by the magnesium pool, or dine at the on-site restaurant, Arlo.
The `14 guest rooms overlook the Deua Mountain Ranges and Tomaga River, should you wish to explore the region, or unwind in the comfortable rooms with a complimentary mini-bar, private courtyards, tea and coffee facilities, heated floors and linen bath robes. This is simplicity at its best.
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340 Old Mossy Point Road
If our guide to the best things to do in Batemans Bay has you ready for a coastal adventure, check out our guides to Newcastle and Jervis Bay for more holiday inspo.
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