6 Things To Do in Bateman’s Bay

Four hours south of Sydney, along the coast, sits a sleepy little fishing town called Batemans Bay. Here are six things to do there whilst visiting.

It may seem like there’s not a lot to do in Bateman’s Bay, but there are some hidden treasures of you know where to find them. Especially if you’re happy to go exploring off the beaten track a bit.

MERINDA CLYDE RIVER CRUISE

For $45 you can kick back and relax on a three hour river cruise around the Batemans Bay Area with Merinda Cruises. They depart daily at 11.30am and we’re established back in 1988. It’s an informative tour of the Clyde river and lunch is freshly caught fish from the area, with salad and chips. It’s a pretty cruisey trip for the day and perfect for anyone wanting a break from driving or walking, as you sit back and enjoy the ride whilst enjoying the very scenic and quiet are of Batemans Bay.

They also do a twilight seafood dinner raise which features fresh local delicacies, are a must do whilst visiting the beautiful Eurobodalla Coast.

EAT FISH & CHIPS AT INNES BOAT SHED

Okay full disclosure here, this fish and chip place is fairly pricey. But the fish is mighty fine and is always the catch of the day from the morning, hence why it’s pricier than others in the area. Though, I will be truthful here, as Batemans Bay is a fisherman’s Town, most of the fish and chip shops all sell fresh catch of the day from the early morning, so they are more expensive dive than what you might find in Sydney.

I thought it was worth it though, especially as you’re only eating there once. The service at Innes was brilliant, super friendly and warming and the fish was cooked to perfection. My only criticism is they only do battered fish, but do cater for gluten free. Even if you aren’t gluten free, I recommend you choose this option, as they use a very light corn flour.

TAKE A WALK ALONG THE BOARDWALK

I recommend you start the walk around the Innes Boat Shed and head south along the water. There’s loads of great things to see along the way, and you get some exercise and absorb the fresh sea air in the process.

There are sculptures to see, from local artists, cafes to stop off and have a coffee, jetties to explore and plenty of fishing and leisure boats to admire along the way.

If you take the walk before breakfast, you might even witness the catch of the day coming in on the fisherman boats in the morning.

BREAKFAST AT JJS

JJS at the Marina is a fabulously eclectic waterside cafe, restaurant and bar who serve up an outstanding brunch menu, in the best location just south out of the main town. With open spaces, twenty foot ceilings and walls of windows from floor to ceiling, to help you take in the views better, there’s no better place to enjoy breakfast, or lunch.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the coffee, the bean was very weak for my liking, but the food and service was great. And with views looking out to the water and all the boats, and a fireplace to keep you warm in the cold, is still go again and just skip the coffee next time.

VISIT MOGO

Okay so Mogo isn’t exactly Batemans Bay, but it is quiet literally nine minutes south and is still part of the Bay Area. There’s loads of things to do in Mogo as well. Like the zoo, the historical gold mining village (which I blogged about last weekend), boutique shops and great cafes for lunch and coffee.

The zoo is really worth the visit whilst in Bateman’s Bay, as it plays a significant role for all retired animals from most zoos from around Australia. All the veteran animals who have reached an age where they are too old to be at all the big city zoos retire to Mogo, where they get to spend the remainder of their days being spoilt rotten by the keepers. A must visit.

VISIT BAYSIDE MEATS & DELI

Now these people know how to make a good coffee, absolutely marvellous. I could have had three, no seriously. It’s perfectly brewed and the beans they used were roasted to perfection. Oh, did I mention the food! Amazing. Of course, they are a deli. Which means their menu is one of Italian feasts, but they also cater for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free too.

This is a very casual and cosy place to grab a coffee and something to eat and a clear winner for the locals too. The coffee machine didn’t stop the whole two hours we were there, with businessmen, holiday makers, retirees and others, all popping in for a takeaway deli sandwich and a good coffee.