Broulee

Highlights

On the water

One of the most spectacular beaches in the Eurobodalla region, Broulee Beach (also known as Bengello Beach) is a seven-kilometre arc of golden sand backed by lush vegetation. Protected by Broulee Island to the south, it's gentle swell makes it popular with families and the beach is dog-friendlt 24 hours a day, so bring your pup for a dip. At the northern end of the beach is Candlagan Creek, where the clear shallow waters are great for kids or first-time snorkellers.

Family walk along Broulee Beach in Eurobodalla, South Coast

Broulee Beach, Broulee - Credit: Jonathan Poyner | Eurobodalla Coast Tourism

The calm, consistent waves make Broulee Beach a great place to learn to surf – book in for a lesson with The Famous Broulee Surf School. They also hire out surfboards and stand-up paddleboards, or you can rent one from Offshore Surf, just across the road from the beach. Join Region X for a guided sea kayaking tour or snorkelling from a kayak, with tours departing from points along the coast around Broulee. If you prefer rivers, hire a kayak from the Region X Boatshed at Mossy Point and explore the quiet estuary.

A class of surfing students on the beach standing in a line with their surf boards, Broulee

The Famous Broulee Surf School, Broulee - Credit: Broulee Surf School

Into nature

At the southern end of the beach is Broulee Island Reserve, connected to the mainland by a permanent sand spit. The four-kilometre walk out to the island offers beautiful views, native plants and marine birdlife, as well as pristine rockpools filled with tiny sea creatures. There are vantage points to see migrating whales between May and November, and a surf break at Pinks Point. It's also a great spot for snorkelling, with calm waters and seagrass meadows home to fish, stingrays, weedy sea dragons and harmless banjo sharks.

A picturesque view of Broulee Island, Broulee - Credit: Eurobodalla Shire Council

Snorkelling Broulee Island, Broulee - Credit: Eurobodalla Shire Council

More coastal vistas await at the Melville Point Lookout and Mossy Point Anchor Lookout. Cyclists can hire a bike and explore the North Head to Mossy Point Cycleway, a flat path that runs by the dunes at Bengello Beach. You can watch the surfers do their thing and keep an eye out wildlife including kangaroos, echidnas, wallabies, or goannas. A 10-minute drive inland, Mogo Trails is a 75-kilometre network of mountain biking trails with thrills and spills for riders of every level.

Sun streaming through trees onto a cyclist on the Mossy Point Cycleway - Credit: Eurobodalla Shire Council

Mossy Point Cycleway, Broulee - Credit: Eurobodalla Shire Council

Eat & drink

After all that adventure, you'll need to refuel. Broulee Brewhouse is a good place to start – directly opposite the beach, it has a sunny courtyard, craft beers on tap and local seafood on the menu. Beachy breakfasts are on the menu at Killibinbin Café, Single Fin Canteen and Goods and The Mossy Cafe in nearby Mossy Point. For great Southeast Asian cuisine, look for the Two Sisters on Wheels food truck. In Tomakin, Smokey Dan's is Australian smokehouse and bar with a range of burgers and pizzas, plus live music on Sundays.

Broulee Brewhouse, Broulee

Further afield

The tiny village of Mogo is a short drive inland from Broulee. Here you'll find the excellent Mogo Wildlife Park, which has a fascinating collection of more than 40 rare and exotic species, including the largest collection of primates in Australia. The village also has an interesting collection of shops, galleries, cafes and the Foxdog Distillery. The riverside town of Moruya is a 10-minute drive south, while Batemans Bay is 20 minutes' north.

Mogo Wildlife Park, Mogo

Where to stay

There are a handful of places to stay in and around Broulee. Bower at Broulee is a secluded, adults' only retreat, with luxury villas separated by lush bushland. Book a local therapist for a massage on your private deck. The Oaks Ranch in nearby Mossy Point is a retro motel reborn as a cool Palms Springs-style boutique hotel. Families will love NRMA Broulee Holiday Park, Aspen Holidays Barlings Beach Tomakin, Ingenia Holidays Tomakin and River Haven Tourist Park.

Birds-eye view of NRMA Broulee Holiday Park in Broulee - Credit: NRMA Parks and Resorts

NRMA Broulee Holiday Park, Broulee - Credit: NRMA Parks and Resorts

Getting there

The drive from Sydney to Broulee takes just under four hours and it's two hours and 15 minutes from Canberra. You can also fly to Moruya Airport, just 10 minutes away, and rent a car to explore the region. Regional Express operates flights from Sydney to Moruya seven days a week, either direct or travelling via Merimbula.