Your guide to a perfect summer weekend in Narooma

Sitting on the stunning South Coast of New South Wales and surrounded by picturesque beaches and inlets dotted with oyster farms, Narooma is a bit of a hidden gem. Many tourists stop a few hours north at the popular Jervis Bay or pass right through on the way to Merimbula. But after spending a few days in the Eurobodalla town we’re baffled as to why it’s not on more people’s radar.

Why visit Narooma?

Literally meaning “clear, blue water” in dhurga, the language of the local Yuin people, Narooma is home to some of the clearest waterways we’ve seen in the state. The town sits on one side of the crystalline Wagonga Inlet, which features just about every shade of blue, green and turquoise on the spectrum. On the other side, is just one of the town’s many quiet beaches.

Unlike some other South Coast spots, we found Narooma to be delightfully quiet without feeling empty. We had no problems getting tables at restaurants (which we’ll tell you all about below), regardless of the fact we were visiting over a long weekend in summer.

The town is also the gateway to Barunguba Montague Island, which sits about 9km offshore. While we didn’t step foot on the island itself, we certainly did get in the water with the dozens of playful seals that call the island home. That experience alone is why we think everyone should visit Narooma.

Things to do in Narooma

Along with the stunning coastal drive, pitstops in quant towns along Princes Highway and a goal to eat as many oysters as possible, our trip to Narooma was based around one experience. We were stoked to go swimming with the seals at Barunguba Montague Island. And it the experience definitely didn’t disappoint.

Swimming with the seals

As scuba divers, we were incredibly jealous of those we saw swimming below us with tanks, but the snorkelling experience was still unbelievable.

We went with Underwater Safaris. While the experience itself was incredible, there were issues with the boat that meant our tour was delayed by more than an hour. Luckily, we still got the full allotted time out at the island and we didn’t have anything else planned that afternoon.

Would we do it again? Definitely! But we may try a different company next time…

When can you see seals in Narooma?

There are seals swimming around Narooma and Barunguba Montague Island year-round, but you’ll probably want to go in the warmer months as the water gets quite cool around there. 

We visited in peak-summer (late-January) and still wore a 5mm, full-length wetsuit and can’t say we felt super warm. But, our boat did provide hot tea and have a lovely warm-water hose to help you warm up after getting out of the water.

Seal pup season takes place December to May, and the magnificent Humpback whales pass by on their annual migration from June to November.

Mill Bay Boardwalk

Where is it? The boardwalk starts at either Wagonga Beach parking area or Mill Bay Boat Ramp (there’s parking there too)

This 700 metre boardwalk over crystal-clear water is a lovely stroll offering sweeping views of the Wagonga Inlet, Narooma and the rolling, green hills on the other side of town. Plenty of locals come here to fish and you’ll see heaps of sea life just looking over the edge. Swimming along here were some of the largest rays we’ve ever come across and even a friendly seal waiting for scraps.

Would we visit again? Sure! But only if we had time. The walk was lovely and there was lots of sealife to see from it, but if we’re short on time we’d probably skip it next time.

Handkerchief Beach

Where is it? Turn left off Princes Highway south of Narooma, just past the Discovery Parks. There’s a short road that will take you to a parking area where there’s also toilets. There’s two parking areas, but we’d recommend using the one at the end of this road.

The morning of our departure, was a blue bird day and that called for a beach visit. We opted for Handkerchief as it had the perfect mix of both beachy waves and a calmer swimming area. And it was this “calmer” swimming area that really blew us away.

This part of the beach, which is right where the parking area is, is essentially a natural lazy river. It’s got incredibly clear, blue water that never got deeper than we could stand and would carry you a few hundred metres toward the sea if you allowed it. Admittedly, the water was pretty chilly, but the warm summer sun evened it out.

Would we visit this beach again? Yes.

When can you swim at the beaches in Narooma?

While technically you can get in the water year-round, like the seal swim, you’ll probably only want to swim during the summer months. The water here is quite cool, and without the warmth of the sun or a pretty thick wetsuit it may not be the most relaxing experience.

Where to eat in Narooma

Quarterdeck

Where is it? 13 Riverside Drive, Narooma NSW 2546

What did we order? Grilled scallops (the highlight!), local fish ceviche, mussels and the grilled swordfis

If we’re by the coast, we’re eating seafood. And inside a weatherboard-clad restaurant atop a pier overlooking the water seemed like the perfect place to do it.

With good reviews and just the breezy, seaside vibe we were after, Quarterdeck ticked all our boxes for a Saturday night dinner location. Now owned by Merivale, the restaurant features a seafood-heavy menu and even a narrow pier for above-water dining. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t favourable enough for us to sit out there during our visit, but the views from the restaurant were still lovely.  

Would we eat at Quarterdeck again? Yes.

Surfbeach Cafe

Where is it?

What did we order? Avocado toast and a bacon egg roll.

You can’t dine much closer to the beach than this spot, and on a sunny morning it’s just perfection. Surfbeach Cafe sits just across the sand from the main beach in Narooma.

Would we eat at Surfbeach Cafe again? While the food wasn’t bad, we’d probably opt to try somewhere else in town as there’s a few well-reviewed cafes around.

The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter

Where is it? 279 Riverview Road, North Narooma NSW 2546

What did we order? Oysters (of course), scallops, prawn fritters (the highlight!) and grilled prawns with Thai salad.

Sitting on just about the most perfect location that felt like pure magic on a sunny day, The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter is an all-outdoor eatery found right next to Coxon’s Oyster Shed. So the oysters don’t get much fresher than these.

The “dining room” is made up of mis-matched, but perfectly suited, furnishings right next to impossibly blue water for an inlet. We dined on a Sunday, and there was live music that just added to the already-great atmosphere.

Would we eat at The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter again? Definitely!

How to get to Narooma

If you’re driving from Sydney, it’s a straight drive down Princes Highway. The drive is about 4.5 hours, and a few good stopping points for stretches along the way include Ulladulla and Bateman’s Bay. If you’re after a quaint town or two to visit, consider Mogo or Bodalla.

(See a Google map of this journey)

If you’re coming from Canberra, it’s about a three-hour journey. You’ll take the B52 toward Bateman’s Bay where it will meet up with Princes Highway. You’ll then follow it south toward Narooma.

(See a Google map of this journey)

Best time of year to go to Narooma

Narooma itself can be visited year-round as nothing technically closes for the season when it comes to attractions, but we recommend visiting from December to April.

It can be a bit of a long drive for just a weekend away, so planning around a long weekend or a time you can take a Friday or Monday off would be best.

While seal swimming is available year-round, we’d recommend going in the summer months. The ocean can get pretty chilly and is most tolerable during the warmer months. We were given wetsuits and boots during our January swim and were still a bit chilly.

The water temperature is at its absolute warmest in March (23C) and its coldest in August (15C).

Map of all the places marked on this guide to 3 days in Narooma

We’ve made a custom map of everywhere we’ve recommended in this guide. Restaurants are marked in purple while things to do are marked in blue.