Featured Articles

The Bundian Way is a pathway from the sea to the mountains. A 365km pathway of shared Aboriginal and European history that leads between Turemulerrer (Twofold Bay) and Targangal (Mount Kosciuszko), the highest point on the Australian mainland.

The Bundian Way is an ancient pathway for Aboriginal people from Yuin, Ngarigo, Jaitmathang, Bidawal Country that provided safe passage between the coast and the high country. Travel along the pathway allowed different tribal groups to gather on the shores of Turemulerrer (Twofold Bay) during the spring whale migration and ceremonial places near Targangal (Mount Kosciuszko) for the Bogong gatherings in summer.

Aboriginal people were early guides to the colonial surveyors and settlers. Travelling stockmen went on to use the Bundian Way when moving stock to fresh pastures, and today’s visitors can see many examples of two cultures using the one trail to access food, shelter and community.
Scarred trees and early examples of Aboriginal crop cultivation dot the track, and bimbola shells, an Aboriginal saltwater food, turn up many miles from the sea. Travellers may also see trees marked by colonial explorers, stockmen’s trails, huts and homestead ruins.
Today the Bundian Way is sometimes an established trail, sometimes a minor country road, and also a rough track through wilderness woodlands or tall forests. But always it is there. Always the Bundian Way, waiting to safely show people a route between the sea and the mountains.
In 2013 the NSW Government officially recognised the Bundian Way’s cultural, historical and wilderness significance with a Heritage listing.

Visit www.bundianway.com.au for more details on experiences,
history of the Bundian Way, bookings and more…

The Montreal Goldfield is located along Wallaga Lake Road, north of Bermagui on the far south coast.
In September 1880, Canadian Henry Williams discovered alluvial gold in the shingles along the beach, seven kilometres north of Bermagui. The rush for gold began!
From 1880 to 1883, the Montreal Goldfield produced nearly 250 kilograms of gold, all unearthed using just picks and shovels.
Unique for being the only goldfield in Australia that extends into the sea, its legacy includes the great unsolved Bermagui Mystery – the disappearance of a government surveyor and four other men.
Today, a 450 metre boardwalk and compacted pathways wind through the area, allowing visitors to safely explore fenced-off or covered shafts, as well as a beautiful native forest that has regrown over time. This forest features tree ferns, eucalyptus, and orchids and is home to sugar gliders, lizards, and a diverse range of bird life.
Montreal Goldfield offers guided tours at 2PM from Thursday to Sunday. The tours, led by trained local historians, reveal the area’s intriguing history and anecdotes from the past. A visit to the Heritage Centre will highlight the fascinating stories shared by the guides.
Each tour lasts about 1¼ hours and restrooms are available. Admission to the site is only through guided tours, making it an excellent outing for families, experience seekers, and interest groups of all ages.

If you’re visiting the South Coast, make sure to mark your calendar for the Fungi Feastival – June 20 to July 20, 2025. This month-long celebration of fungi combines science, food, and art.
Renowned mycologist Alison Pouliot will open the Feastival with a soirée in Bermagui and then lead fungi forays and workshops, including a special women-focused event in Tanja. With limited tickets, these events are sure to sell out quickly, so don’t miss your chance!
Whether you’re a novice or an expert, mushroom growing workshops will provide practical hands-on experience for all levels on growing Oyster, Lion’s Mane and Shiitake mushrooms.
The popular fungi photography competition also returns, but only photos from the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley are eligible – start identifying your photo locations now.
Film lovers can enjoy ‘Fungi: The Web of Life’ by Merlin Sheldrake, with a special guest appearance by one of the film’s writers, Catherine Marciniak, and world-leading fungi photographer Stephen Axford.
And that’s just the beginning! The Feastival also features fungi kayak trips, art exhibitions, watercolour workshops, fungi photography masterclasses, horror films, truffle hunts and fungi-inspired feasts.

Visit fungifeastival.com.au 
for the full program and to book your spot today!

The Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden is a stunning and diverse botanical garden located just south of Batemans Bay in the Mogo State Forest.
It’s a popular destination for nature lovers, families, and visitors looking to explore the native flora of the Eurobodalla region.
The garden is dedicated to the conservation and display of plants indigenous to the Eurobodalla region, featuring over 2,000 species that showcase the incredible biodiversity of the South Coast’s forests, heathlands, and wetlands.
There are several well-maintained walking tracks that wind through themed gardens, natural bushland, and along small creeks. Popular trails include the Arboretum Track, Naturescape Display gardens and Aboriginal Heritage Walk. Visitors often spot kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and a variety of birdlife, including lorikeets and parrots.
The gardens regularly host community events, plant sales and workshops focused on gardening, conservation, and local ecology. Free guided walks are held on the first Sunday of each month at 11am with a trained volunteer guide.
Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens were significantly affected by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020 but have since made an impressive recovery, featuring new additions and improved paths and facilities.
The garden is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 9 AM to 4 PM, and is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It is open on all NSW public holidays and every day during the NSW school holidays. Admission is free.
Many main areas and walking paths are wheelchair accessible, making it family-friendly with a children’s play area and sensory garden.

Get ready to witness cycling history right here in our backyard on the NSW South Coast!

Local mountain bike events promoter Rocky Trail Entertainment will bring Sea Otter, the world’s biggest bike festival brand to Batemans Bay and Mogo Trails from 24-26 October 2025.
The first Sea Otter Australia is making its Southern Hemisphere debut, transforming our region into the epicenter of the cycling world.
This isn’t just an event; it’s a three-day cycling explosion packed with adrenaline-pumping action and unforgettable experiences, and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful region to a worldwide audience.

The Festival and event centre will be based at Hanging Rock Sports Precinct. Imagine a hub buzzing with over 150 top brands showcasing the latest gear, offering demo rides, and exclusive deals. You’ll meet cycling legends, witness jaw-dropping freestyle stunts, and experience thrilling races like Marathon, Gravity Enduro, Superflow® and a massive Gravel Ride in Mogo State Forest and e-BikeCross Racing, and Cyclo-Cross beach battles out of Hanging Rock! Mountain bikers from all over Australia and the World will literally descend into Batemans Bay to ride the legendary Mogo Trails, right at the heart of the Festival.

Sea Otter Australia will draw a stunning caliber of international and national athletes, offering an unparalleled opportunity for fans to meet the legends of the sport and rub shoulders with their idols, creating a truly unforgettable experience for everyone.
We’re particularly excited to highlight the Rocky Trail Academy Championships on Thursday. This is a golden opportunity for our local junior riders to shine on a national stage. Imagine our young talents competing in the inaugural Sea Otter Australia, gaining invaluable experience and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information including bookings etc, visit www.seaotter.au

Whether you’re playing golf amongst the deciduous golden trees in autumn, enjoying a lazy, refreshing lunch in spring, or finding the perfect fireside table for dinner in winter, Catalina Club is the perfect place to play, relax, entertain and dine.
 
Surrounded in native casuarina bushland, ageing gums and vibrant birdlife, Catalina Club’s 27-hole championship golf course encapsulates the natural beauty of the Eurobodalla, flaunting vigorous seasonal colours and luscious greens all year round. For the newcomer, Catalina Club is the perfect place to get into golf, with a dedicated Golf Shop team and PGA-qualified coaches, led by the 2024 Australian PGA Club Professional of the Year, Rodney Booth.

2025 looks to be a huge year for golf on the South Coast. In May, the Club will host the Batemans Bay Open, offering a $6,000 prize pool to the best golfers from the coast, Canberra and beyond. In October, the historic Catalina Classic tournament invites local businesses and golfers from across the region to enjoy the freshness and vitality of spring on the Catalina course.

Experience an award-winning restaurant

Built on an ethos of ‘quality over all’, Catalina Club’s award-winning restaurant delivers to the flow of seasonal and local produce. With a new, diverse menu each season, Catalina Club’s kitchen is determined to deliver bold, invigorating and comforting flavours, driven by local, reliable suppliers.

A refreshed, perfect place

With major renovations planned for the reception, foyer, and their award-winning restaurant, Catalina Club will continue to grow in 2025 as a premium coastal club, inviting both local members and travelling visitors to experience the compelling South Coast. Clubhouse renovations are expected to be completed by spring 2025. With freshly shucked oysters from fifth-generation oyster farmers on the Clyde River, and freshly baked desserts from Baker Dave, the Club’s restaurant team welcomes you to try the very best of the South Coast.

To book your place on the course or to secure a table at Catalina’s restaurant, visit catalinaclub.com.au or call (02) 4472 4022.

The Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen is the perfect spot to catch up with friends, bring the kids, relax in the beer garden, or grab a table in the renovated restaurant or a seat at the stunning front bar.
Situated across from the BIG4 Caravan park, we are your new local for mouthwatering food, unbeatable atmosphere and live music every Friday – Sunday along with weekly Trivia and Jackpot Joker.
Focusing on quality free-range meats and the freshest seafood, the kitchen is open 7 days from midday until 9.00pm. We are a family and pet friendly venue, available for private functions, weddings, or that special dinner in the private dining room.
For those who don’t have time to pull in, call ahead to order takeaway, grab a few beverages from Steampacket’s Bottle Shop – and for those who want to make a night of it, there’s a courtesy bus which runs from Long Beach to Broulee. Better yet, book one of the rooms.

Follow us on Facebook for all the weekly live music, events and Chef’s specials.