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If you’re planning to explore Australia and trying to find some “hidden gems”, then I have the perfect place for you. Bermagui is a small coastal town in New South Wales and it’s absolutely stunning, plus there are so many things to do in Bermagui.
Bermagui is historically known as a fishing town but these days people come from all over the east coast of Australia to experience the town’s incredible beaches, wildlife, restaurants, and relaxing styles of accommodation.
Where is Bermagui?
Bermagui is on the Sapphire Coast in southern New South Wales, which is a 5-hour drive south of Sydney. Or an 8-hour drive from Melbourne.
How to Get to Bermagui
The best way to explore Bermagui and the rest of the sapphire coast is by car. There’s minimal public transport and regardless of where you’re staying, not everything will be within walking distance.
So a road trip to Bermagui is by far the best option. Although, if that doesn’t work for you, then you can fly to Merimbula airport and hire a car from there.
Merimbula airport is 1 hour south of Bermagui and Qantas Link & Rex flies into this tiny airport from Sydney and Melbourne.
Also, if you’re traveling from a major city there are V-Line trains and buses that stop along the Sapphire Coast, but these options can take up a lot of time.
Awesome Things To Do In Bermagui
Blue Pools
The Blue Pools are an iconic swimming spot in Bermagui. There are two man-made pools that are set amongst the rocks & the ocean tides are always filling them up with clean water.
Also, there’s no entrance fee to the blue pools and a big car park at the top of the cliff above the pools (yep, so there are a lot of stairs you’ll need to walk down).
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
SUP is a fun water sport that can be done by anyone with a bit of balance. The best place to do Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Bermagui is on the Bermagui River. Walkonwater has paddleboards for hire and also offers lessons if you’re a newbie. And, they’re located down the road from the main shops on Wapengo Street.
Snorkel at Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is the main beach in town and apart from being stunning & in the best location, you can also go snorkeling here straight off the beach.
On the right side of the beach, there are a number of rock pools to explore and it’s also an amazing spot to go snorkeling. Always check the weather forecast before you go and I suggest going on a calm day.
Bruce Steer Pool
Another awesome swimming spot in Bermagui is Bruce Steer Pool. This is a netted saltwater swimming hole right next to the Bermagui Harbour and only a short walking distance from Bermagui’s Harbour & Fisherman’s Wharf complex.
The pool is tugged between the headland and a rock wall, so swimmers are never in any danger of being in the way of the many fishing boats that come and go.
Playing Golf
Right in the heart of town is the Bermagui Country Club which has its own golf course and of course, visitors are welcome. If you love a game of golf this is definitely a course you should visit.
The golf course offers amazing views of the Bermagui area, and to make things even better, every afternoon the country club has a happy hour.
Bermagui Growers and Makers Market
One of the other things you should definitely do in Bermagui is to visit the local markets. This will not only support the local community but you’ll also get your hands on some delicious fresh produce. Perfect if you’re staying in one of the many holiday homes in the area.
The Bermagui Growers & Makers Market also sells handmade homewares, and arts & crafts.
The market is on every Thursday out the front of the Bermagui country club, from 4-6 pm.
Shopping on Lamont Street
After all the years I have been visiting Bermagui, the shopping along Lamont street never disappoints. Over the years the shops have changed but there is always beautiful clothing, jewelry, and locally made homeware & artwork to find.
During my last trip to Bermagui in January 2022, a couple of my favorite stores were Boho Republic & Bermagui Surf Shop.
Whale Watch From Any of the Multiple Headlands
If you’re visiting Bermagui between September and late November, there is a very good chance you’ll see mother and calf Humpback Whales not too far off the shore. The Sapphire Coast is one of the best places to see Humpbacks during their annual migration.
The curvy coastline of southern NSW offers so many incredible viewpoints to spot whales. Many of them won’t involve any walking, so jump in your car do drive along the coast, and stopover at all the awesome viewpoints.
Camel Rock Beach & Horse Head Rock
Camel Rock beach is about a 10-minute drive north of Bermagui’s town. When driving from Bermagui along Wallaga Lake Rd, the beach is down a narrow road on the right just past the Caravan Park. And keep your eyes peeled for the ‘Camel Rock’ sign because it isn’t overly visible.
Camel Rock beach got its name from the giant Camel-shaped rock just north of the beach. This is also one of the best surf beaches in the area.
Another thing to do while at Camel Rock Beach is to follow the coastal walking trail to see Horse Head Rock. This rock is believed to be 500 million years old and as the name suggests it’s in the shape of a Horse’s head.
If you follow the path from the Camel Rock beach car park, along the coastline, you’ll get awesome views of the beach. And, the walking track is an easy 1.5km.
Also, only a short drive up the road from the beach is Camel Rock Brewery. This microbrewery has been here since 2017 and serves local craft beer, wines, and food.
Things to do in Bermagui – Find The Best Beaches
Bermagui is very well known for having some of the most beautiful and diverse beaches along the south coast of NSW. And because it’s not just a straight stretch of coastline there is always a beach or inlet protected from the wind.
I have never been unsuccessful at finding a perfect beach near Bermagui to spend the day.
Here are a few of my favorite beaches close by, that I highly recommend checking out!
Horseshoe Bay
Beares Beach
Cuttagee Beach
Camel Rock
Barragga Bay
Bithry Inlet
Four Mile Beach
Bermagui Events
Sculpture Bermagui
This outdoor event happens in Bermagui every March for 9 days and showcases heaps of amazing sculptures. The event is set up at Dickinson Point headland and foreshore overlooking Horseshoe Bay. So it’s in such a beautiful and convenient location (right in the heart of town).
Bermagui Sculptures is a free event and showcases some really interesting pieces of artwork.
Bermagui Seaside Fair
The Bermagui seaside fair has been held in March since 1998. The fair is a community-run event and has a mix of free & paid entertainment.
There are also over 100 market stalls, charity auctions, kid’s games and cultural events.
Four Winds Easter Festival
This event in Bermagui is held over the Easter long weekend and has performances of Classical, cultural, and world music. There’s a lineup of live music, films, and even meditations.
Due to covid capacity restriction, the event organizers ask that all tickets be pre-purchased, and other entry requirements may apply but please check their website for further information.
The Four Winds Festival has a mix of free events and ones that cost.
Tilba Festival
Tilba is a small historical village, about a 20 minutes drive from Bermagui (just off the Princes Highway)
Every year on Easter Saturday, Bate Street comes alive with the Tilba Festival. The street is closed off to traffic and there’s plenty of live music, games for kids, even more shopping than usual and so much food.
Best Time to Visit Bermagui
The very best time of year to visit is when the weather is the warmest, to be able to make the most of the beautiful beaches.
September – December: The weather is generally amazing during these months. Visiting during this time in the past I’ve been lucky enough to get two weeks straight of continuous sunny weather.
This is also during the Humpback Whale season, and with the Humpback Whale population on the rise, I’m sure you will regularly see them from the shore.
January: Peak season for the Sapphire Coast as it’s the Christmas school holidays. So January is definitely the busiest time of year to visit the Sapphire Coast. There will be Australian tourists visiting from all over the country.
The weather in January can be very hot & sunny but also the temperatures are known to drop and January can also see a bit of rain.
February – March: These are the last couple of months of really hot weather before the autumn and winter days set in, and as this isn’t school holidays it is also much quieter in town and there will be cheaper accommodation options.
April – August: After Easter & the April school holidays the tourist numbers definitely quieten down until later in the year. Making this a great time to visit if you’re after a simple, and low-key getaway. There just won’t be as many hot days at the beach as the temperate drops below 20 degrees.
Bermagui Accommodation
I believe the best type of accommodation in Bermagui is a holiday home or self-contained apartment. Mainly because of the space and cooking facilities! At night Bermagui can become a bit of a quiet town, so I’m sure some nights you’ll want to stay in.
I’ll link to a few places below that I would recommend:
Finally, if you’d like to read more about this beautiful part of Australia, Click for Your Ultimate Guide To The Sapphire Coast
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
I need to add southern New South Wales to our travel list!
Bermagui is such a beautiful place to visit along the East Coast – I look forward to visiting and swimming in the pools!
Amazing! Will definitely add them all to our NSW bucket list. Thank you for the top tips!
I’ve never heard of Bermagui but it looks like so much fun! Especially the swimming holes and whale watching 🙂
Great guide to things to do in Bermagui On The Sapphire Coast! I would LOVE to visit New South Wales one day. Bermagui is now on my list! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Omgosh what a gorgeous destination! I have yet to make it to Australia but it’s on my list!
Bermagui is one of the prettiest spots on the Sapphire coast & one of my favourites. The walk around the cliffs past the horse’s head is really spectacular, especially when you get the incredible view of Wallaga Lake around the point. I’d also love to go to Sculpture by the sea but I wonder if it will be rained out this year?
That’s so good to hear Linda, it really is such a wonderful town. I believe the sculptures will be displayed regardless of the weather 🙂
Great article 🙂 I would love to visit during summer months as it gets less crowded, so saving this article for my future travels!
What a beautiful place! Australia is on my list of dream vacations. I bet seeing the humpback whales in person is amazing.
What a stunning destination! I’ve never heard of Bermagui before reading this article and now I must had it to my list!
Bermagui looks incredible. The color of the water is magnificent. I’d love to sit out on the headlands and watch whales go by. We are going to Australia in July but unfortunately will be too far away to visit here. Too bad.
Thanks, Karen, that’s a shame but I’m so glad you’re coming down under. Let me know if you need any tips or advice.
Bermagui sounds lovely. We are going to Australia this summer but unfortunately won’t be able to visit here as we’ll be up at the Great Barrier Reef. I checked out some of your posts from that area. Very helpful.
Australia is a continent that I would love to explore. I had not heard of Bermagui before I read this post. Looks like another destination I should add to my list of places to visit.
I’ve never heard of Bermagui before! There are so many fun things to do there it seems!! Thanks so much for sharing this!