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.
-
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park has coin-operated pay and display machines - please bring correct coins.
Buy annual pass. -
-
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
-
Email: npws.sapphirecoast@environment.nsw.gov.au
-
Merimbula office
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Bournda National Park.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
From Tathra:
- Travel south towards Merimbula on Sapphire Coast Drive
From Bega:
- Take the Tathra Road (Snowy Mountains Highway) toward Tathra
- Turn right onto Sapphire Coast Drive and continue south towards Merimbula
From Merimbula:
- Travel north towards Tathra on Sapphire Coast Drive
Park entry points
- Bournda Road access See on map
- Kangarutha carpark See on map
- Wallagoot Lake Road access See on map
- Widgeram Road access See on map
Parking
- Bournda Lagoon See on map
- Hobart Beach campground See on map
- Turingal Head picnic area See on map
By bike
Check out the Bicycle information for NSW website for more information.
By public transport
For information about public transport options, visit the NSW country transport info website.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Bournda National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
As the weather cools but the waters are still warm, it's a great time to enjoy the Kangarutha walking track. Swim along the way at secluded beaches. It will feel like you have the place to yourself.
Spring
Enjoy the colours of wildflowers and the take in the smells of spring as the park comes alive. Head to the lookout at North Tura, find a sunny spot and look out for whales passing in the distance.
Summer
Discover the water activities on offer. Paddling at Bournda Lagoon, sailing on Wallagoot Lake, fishing at Wine Glass Bay or surfing and swimming at any one of the secluded beaches.
Facilities
Amenities
Toilets
- Bournda Lagoon
- Hobart Beach campground
- Turingal Head picnic area
- Wallagoot Lake picnic area and boat ramp
Picnic tables
- Bournda Lagoon
- Hobart Beach campground
- Turingal Head picnic area
- Wallagoot Lake picnic area and boat ramp
Barbecue facilities
Showers
Maps and downloads
Fees and passes
Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park has coin-operated pay and display machines - please bring correct coins.
- All Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (including Kosciuszko NP) $190 (1 year) / $335 (2 years)
- Multi Parks Pass - For all parks in NSW (except Kosciuszko) $65 (1 year) / $115 (2 years)
- Country Parks Pass - For all parks in Country NSW (except Kosciuszko) $45 (1 year) / $75 (2 years)
- Single Country Park Pass - For entry to a single park in country NSW (except Kosciuszko). $22 (1 year) / $40 (2 years)
Annual passes and entry fees (https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/passes-and-fees)
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
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'.
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.
- Bournda workshops to awaken your wild side Activate your wild self and boost your sense of well-being on these delightful workshops with Wild Cherry Nature Connection, inspired by the natural beauty of Bournda National Park, near Tathra.
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.
- Bournda workshops to awaken your wild side Activate your wild self and boost your sense of well-being on these delightful workshops with Wild Cherry Nature Connection, inspired by the natural beauty of Bournda National Park, near Tathra.
- 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)
What we're doing
Bournda National Park has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents.
