Bournda National Park
Overview
Bournda National Park is the Far South Coast’s best-kept secret. Located near Tathra, enjoy coastal walks, birdwatching and kayaking in Bournda Lagoon.
Read more about Bournda National Park
Bournda National Park is a natural playground on the Far South Coast, packed with options to entice explorers of all ages.
Get away from the crowds and drive to Turingal Head, then wander down to Wine Glass Bay and spend the afternoon picnicking by the beach. Discover secluded beaches and spectacular cliffs along the rugged coastline on the Kangarutha walking track. In the warmer months, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a passing whale.
Hobart Beach makes a perfect base, with excellent camping facilities and loads of activities to keep the kids entertained. Enjoy swimming in the calm waters of Wallagoot Lake. Scour the nearby coastline and Bondi Lake on short walking tracks, or head off to explore on your bike.
If you love sailing or just some gentle paddling, check out the northern shores of Wallagoot Lake as well. Launch your boat and indulge in some waterskiing on the glassy waters. And, of course, the waterways of Bournda offer fantastic fishing and birdwatching opportunities, too.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/bournda-national-park/local-alerts
Contact
- in the South Coast region
Bournda National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to extreme weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. This park uses a self-registration fee collection system, please bring correct change.
Buy annual pass. -
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Merimbula office
02 6495 5000
Contact hours: Monday to Friday and some weekends during peak holiday periods, 10am to 3pm. - 47 Merimbula Drive, cnr Sapphire Coast Drive, Merimbula NSW 2548
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Email: npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
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Merimbula office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Bournda National Park.
Map
Map legend
Maps and downloads
Nearby towns
Tathra (1 km)
Tathra is a small coastal township clustered around a historic sea wharf, a popular fishing platform and the only one of its kind remaining on the east coast of Australia.
Merimbula (6 km)
The main coastal towns of the Sapphire Coast include Bermagui, Tathra, Merimbula and Eden. This stunning coastline has sparkling beaches and bays, lakes and national parks, all accessible via excellent walking tracks and coastal drives. You'll find beaches just perfect for surfing, swimming and walks.
Bega (18 km)
With its forests, lush pastures and a coastline sculpted into a succession of wonders by the sea, the Sapphire Coast is a perfect holiday destination at any time of the year. Set in a valley at the junction of the Bega and Brogo rivers and surrounded by rich dairy country, Bega is a handsome, historic town that's the rural centre of the Sapphire Coast and gateway to the lush Bega Valley. Visit the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, housed in a faithful reproduction of the original, tells the story of cheese-making production in the area.
Learn more
Bournda National Park is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:
The land of generations
Bournda has been a special place for the Dhurga and Yuin people for thousands of years, with its plentiful food supply and quarry for making tools. As you explore the park and its wildlife, it'll be no surprise that 'Bournda' means 'place of tea tree and kangaroos'.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, Living Culture – a Stage 2 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 Geography excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Traditional weaving workshop: Bournda Get creative on a traditional weaving workshop in Bournda National Park, near Bega and Merimbula. Learn Aboriginal weaving techniques and see how these ancient skills carry a strong connection to Aboriginal culture.
Ships ahoy
There's plenty of fascinating heritage in Bournda, dating back to the 1830s when European settlement of the district began. Today, you can still see anchor bolts at Kangarutha Point, which was established as a port with Kianinny Bay in 1859. It's also believed the existing track to the point, and parts of the coastal walk, were once used to supply ships anchored there, and transport produce and passengers. Some building remains can also be found around Games Bay, which was cleared for dairy farming by settler Mr Games.
Get active
With so much to do, there's no excuse not to get active in Bournda. The beaches and waterways offer a range of options for watersport enthusiasts - waterskiing, boating, paddling, sail boarding, fishing, swimming and surfing. The coastal walk is perfect for hikers and those hoping to spot migrating whales. And for cyclists, the roads throughout the park are an extensive network to navigate on your bike.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 1 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, Living Culture – a Stage 2 History excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
- Living Country, living culture Join us for Living Country, living culture – a Stage 3 Geography excursion in Bournda National Park. In this cross-curricular program, an Aboriginal guide will help students understand the importance of culture and caring for Country.
Birdwatchers haven
With around 200 species of birds in the area, Bournda is a birdwatcher's paradise. The estuarine wetlands at the eastern end of Wallagoot Lake provide roosting and feeding areas for a large variety of waders and waterfowl. Keep your eyes out for threatened species like the little tern, hooded plover and pied oystercatcher. Bondi Lake is the largest freshwater lake situated behind coastal dunes in the region, and is another important habitat for waterbirds.
- Bournda Lagoon Bournda Lagoon is an ideal spot within Bournda National Park, near North Tura, where kids can swim, fish and go paddling and picnic among the paper barks.
- Kangarutha walking track Kangarutha walking track, in Bournda National Park, is a hiking route with scenic coastal views and birdwatching, picnicking and swimming opportunities along the way.
- Sandy Creek loop track Taking in Bournda Lagoon, Sandy Creek and pockets of dry sclerophyll forest, Sandy Creek loop track is a hike in Bournda National Park on the far South Coast.
Education resources (1)
School excursions (3)
- Living Country, living culture, Stage 1 (Years 1-2), History
- Living Country, living culture, Stage 2 (Years 3-4), History
- Living Country, living culture, Stage 3 (Years 5-6), Geography
What we're doing
Bournda National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. View the detailed park and fire management documents.