About Tathra

Tathra is a coastal village located on the Sapphire Coast of NSW.

It is approximately five hours south of Sydney via the Princes Highway; 2.5 hours south west of Canberra via the Snowy Mountains Highway; and 3.5 hours north of Bairnsdale via the Princes Highway.

Tathra is renowned for its historic steamer wharf – one of the last of its kind in the state- its pristine beaches, fishing and surf breaks.

The town developed as a small coastal port for local traders in the mid 1800s, with steamers carrying passengers, animals, wood and dairy products to markets in Sydney until the 1950s.

The town is surrounded by National Parks. The Mimosa Rocks NP stretches 17km to the north and is studded with isolated beaches and spectacular coastal campsites. To the south Bournda National Park offers equally unique coastal formations, and unspoilt beaches.

At the northern end of Tathra Beach, Mogareeka Inlet is the broad, sandy mouth of the Bega River, with safe swimming for children. Boat ramps facilitate access to the estuary and the sea.

WHERE TO STAY  

Tathra offers numerous accommodation options for all budgets from National Parks coastal camp sites, to caravan parks and five star apartments.

Sapphire Coast Tourism offers help in find accommodation and can be reached on (02) 6495 1129

Alternative options include:

Camping

National Parks Camping options:  Ph (02) 6495 5000 

Tathra Beach Motor Village: Ph (02) 64941577

Tathra Beach Tourist Park: Ph (02) 64941302  

SeaBreeze Holiday Park: Ph (02) 6494 1350

Countryside Caravan Park: Ph (02) 64941417

Apartments & Houses

Tathra Beach House Apartments: Ph (02) 6499 9900

Kianinny Cabins Resort: Ph (02) 6494 1990

Sapphire Court Holiday Units: Ph (02) 6494 1980

Esther Lodge:  Ph (02) 6494 1404

Tathra Hotel Motel: Ph (02) 6494 1101 

Stayz

Elders Tathra Beach Real Estate:  Ph (02) 6494 1087

Tathra Beach Real Estate: Ph (02) 6494 4500

DINING AND SHOPPING

Tathra offers a range of dining options from restaurants and coffee shops, to fish and chips, pizza takeaway and club meals.

Tathra also has a small, but well stocked IGA Supermarket, a bakery, butcher, chemist, newsagency, bottleshop, laundry and two convenience stores.  Larger chain supermarkets are located in Bega, approximately 20 minutes drive from Tathra.

Restaurants

As Tathra is only a small town, restaurants can fill and book out fast. It is recommended you make a prior booking to avoid disappointment.

Mimosa Rocks Restaurant: (02) 6494 1483

Fat Tony’s Bar and Grill: (02) 6494 4550

Tathra Beach Bowling Club: (02) 6494 1280

Tathra Beach Country Club: (02) 6494 5222

Tathra Hotel Motel: (02) 6494 1101

Mimosa Wines– Dry Stone Restaurant (20mins north of Tathra): (02) 6494 0164

Tathra Beach Cafe: (02) 6494 1688

Takeaway

Beach Break, Takeaway: (02) 6494 5861

Tathra Seafood, Takeaway Fish and Chips: (02) 6494 1384

Tathra Beach Cafe: (02) 64941688

Coffee Shops - not open for dinner

Tathra Beach Pickle Factory: (02) 64 94 4232

Cliff Top Cafe - Bega Dried Foods: (02) 6494 1995

Sea Whispers Cafe: (02) 6494 5077

Tathra Wharf Cafe: (02) 6494 4062             

Further restaurant dining options are available at nearby Bermagui (30 mins drive north), Merimbula (20 minutes drive south), and Bega (20 minutes drive west).

WHAT TO DO IN AND AROUND TATHRA  

Tathra Wharf Museum & Cafe

The Tathra Wharf is a favourite fishing spot for tourists and local as it features deep water and spectacular scenery.

Built in the 1860s by local farmers and the Illawarra Steamship Company , the wharf was used by coastal steamers  to transport passengers, animals, and dairy products to markets in Sydney.

The wharf was in use until the 1950s.  It is now one of the few remaining steamer wharves. A cafe and trading post now operate out of the restored wharf building.  A small museum on coastal shipping is housed in the warehouse, open on Sunday afternoon or by appointment.

Bega Cheese Heritage Centre

With the Bega Valley famous for its CHEESE, a visit to the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre is a must.

The Heritage Centre is a faithful reproduction of one of the first buildings to be constructed on the Bega Cheese site in 1899. The Heritage Centre has a comprehensive display of cheese and butter making equipment from the turn of the 19th Century, giving visitors the chance to see how early farmers in the region lived, worked and transported their wares.

At the Heritage Centre you can order everything from a milkshake to a full lunch. You can taste the different varieties of the famous Bega Cheese, and take home any or all of the Bega products.

Entry to the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre is free. The centre is open every day from 9am – 5pm, with the exception of Christmas Day and Good Friday – and located in north Bega on the banks of the Bega River.

Surfing

Tathra and the surrounding National Parks offer plenty of surf breaks, and child friendly lagoons.

If you need surfing equipment you can hire boards from Tathra Beach and Bike on Andy Poole Drive at Tathra. (02) 6494 4357 

Coast Life Adventures also offers surfing lessons and kayaking adventures.

Mountain Biking

If the Tathra MTB Enduro has whet your appetite for more mountain bike riding, why not test out the other single trails in the area at Merimbula and Bermagui.

Merimbula’s Manna Park and Mandeni Resorts offers two single trail experiences: a more testing and technical 7km trail and Manna Park or a family friendly 15km at Mandeni.  Both locations have accommodation, with Mandeni also offering bike hire, archery, golf, paddle boats and a inflatable bouncing pillow.

North of Tathra, is the Bermagui single trail. Built and maintained by the Bermagui Dirt Surfers Mountain Bike Club, the group has taken up a Forests NSW occupation permit to develop a 7km track in the popular spotted gum forest.

For local bike hire, new rigs and repairs in Tathra visit – Tathra Beach and Bike on Andy Poole Drive. They have qualified mechanics on hand every day of the week.

Fishing

Tathra is a well known fishing hotspot.  The Tathra Wharf is the town’s iconic fishing location.

Anglers can also take advantage of the town’s coastal location, fishing from the popular Tathra Beach, off the rocks or in the protected Kianinny Bay.

The Bega River, at Mogareeka is also a popular fishing destination, with fishers able to angle from the river’s edge or from fishing vessels.

Those looking for some more action, can opt for a deep sea or ocean fishing adventure. Boats can be launched at Kianinny Bay.  Those looking to angle in the river can launch at the Mogareeka Boat Ramp – however there is no access to the sea from this location.

All anglers need a valid fishing licence.

Fishing Charters are also available.  For more information contact the Sapphire Coast Tourism Bureau on (02) 6495 1129.

Galleries

Essential Object Gallery: Andy Poole Drive,  Tathra

Narek Gallery: Tathra Bermagui Rd, Tanja

Ivy Hill: Tathra Bermagui Rd, Wapengo

WALKS

Kangarutha Track - Bournda National Park

9kms ONE WAY    Time: FULL DAY      Grade: MODERATE /DIFFICULT
Mid way access for half walk at White Rock, Kianinny Bay or Turingal Head for full walk.
The Kangarutha Track follows the coastline from Tathra’s Kianinny Bay to Turingal Head through Bournda National Park. This challenging walk has ocean vistas, sandy and pebbly beaches and a variety of coastal vegetation. It is best to organise a car shuffle at either end or midway at White Rock for a shorter walk. There is a park-use fee if you leave a vehicle at Turingal Head.

Bournda Lagoon Walk - Bournda National Park

6kms LOOP Time: 6 hours       Grade: DIFFICULT

Entrance right off Sapphire Coast Drive, into the Bournda lagoon car park North of Merimbula
The walk follows the edge of the lagoon to Bournda Island before heading inland and back along Sandy Creek. It passes through exquisite coastal habitats including pockets of rainforest. It is a great location for bird watching, and dolphins are often seen off Bournda and North Tura beaches. A park-use fee is applicable.

Main Ridge Track - Tathra Forest Wildlife Reserve

4kms RETURN    Time: 2hrs    Grade: MODERATE/STEEP  Thompsons Road Tathra

Along the Main Ridge Track  of coastal rainforest, this walk is a shady haven in summer. A secluded wetland area has an abundance of waterbirds including great egrets and white-faced herons as well as frogs and eastern water dragons. A wildlife lovers heaven.

Hobart Beach to Bournda Lagoon - Bournda National Park

5kms RETURN      Time: 2 hours  Grade: EASY

Off Sapphire Coast Drive North of Merimbula
Stroll thru low coastal heath and eucalypt forest to see the tranquillity of the Bournda Lagoon.

Hobart Beach Campground to Bondi Lake - Bournda National Park

2kms RETURN  Time: 1hour Grade: EASY

Off Sapphire Coast Drive North of Merimbula
Hidden just behind the coastal dunes discover Bondi lake, a fresh water lake filled with waterbirds for the nature lover.

Potoroo Palace, Native Animal Sanctuary

Potoroo Palace is a not for profit wildlife sanctuary located at Merimbula in the Bega Valley and aims of to educate the public about the importance of the conservation of native Australian animals and plants. 
Many animals kept at the sanctuary are native mammals of the Bega Valley area including Long-nosed Potoroos, Swamp Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Wombats, Long-nosed Bandicoots and Short-beaked Echidnas. You will also see Koalas at Potoroo Palace, although these are rare in the Bega Valley. Baby wombats are often brought to the sanctuary where visitors can see them close up.
Potoroo Palace is now open 7 days per week throughout the year from 10am to 4pm, and is located 10 minutes north of Merimbula. Admission charges apply.

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain is a fun park featuring a rollercoaster, waterslides, toboggans, giant slide, mini golf and lots more.  

Eden Killer Whale Museum

The Eden Killer Whale Museum has been in operation for almost 80 years and is recognised as one of the most progressive and innovative museums in regional NSW. The museum is a publically owned facility managed by a small but enthusiastic voluntary committee and has been extensively upgraded and expanded in the last 20 years.  The Museum provides a program of touring exhibitions sources through partnerships with metropolitan museums whilst regularly updating and changing our existing displays.

The museum is located in Eden, 50 minutes south of Tathra. It is open Monday to Saturday 9.15-3.45 and Sunday 11.15-3.45. Admission charges apply.