Fast facts
- Large, shallow lagoon with outstanding boating and fishing
- Tree-lined waterway ringed by villages and forests
- 187 km south of Sydney, population 8,200
Why go there
The towns on the fringes of this broad waterway make an ideal base for anyone who enjoys boating and fishing. These towns also offer easy access to the sheltered waters and beaches of Jervis Bay and to the ocean beaches to the south.
History
Home to the Dhurga Aboriginal people, the first European settlement began with the Wool Road, which was cut through to the coast in the 1840s so that wool could be transported to the coast from Braidwood. Local towns relied on farming and local saw milling, however, the towns along the 12km shoreline of St Georges Basin developed as holidaymakers discovered the natural beauty of the region and the large array of leisure pursuits that it afforded.
Things to do
- Hire a boat from Sanctuary Point and spend a day on the water.
- Explore Conjola National Park, which has forests surrounding beautiful lakes and estuaries, and large areas of woodland and heath which become a mass of wildflowers in spring. The park is ideal for walking, birdwatching, swimming, fishing and canoeing.
- Take a horseback tour of the bush with the local horse farm.
Events
- St Georges Basin Flathead Classic fishing competition in December has many prizes, with gold for landing the biggest bream.
Don’t miss
- A round of golf at St Georges Basin Country Club.
- Harv’s Gallery in Tomerong, for unique hand-crafted bush furniture.
- Boating on the basin.
- A whale-watch cruise from Jervis Bay.
- The local seafood – it’s simply delicious.
