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Situated on the calm blue waters of Twofold Bay, along the aptly named Sapphire Coast, Eden makes an ideal drive stop if you’re planning a Melbourne to Sydney road trip. Even though it’s a small town, there are plenty of attractions in Eden NSW to keep you occupied.
Eden lies about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, in far South Coast New South Wales. I stayed a night in the picturesque seaside town after visiting the beautiful Gippsland Lakes region in Victoria.
With stunning coastal scenery, hikes in nearby Ben Boyd National Park and brilliant whale-watching opportunities in the springtime, there are lots of things to do in Eden NSW. I regretted only pencilling in one night there!
To discover my recommended attractions in Eden NSW, keep on reading!
Eden Accommodation
You’ll find plenty of accommodation in Eden to choose from. Enter your dates into the search box below to check availability and prices. I’ve listed a few recommended options below.
I stayed at this budget motel, which was very basic but clean, quiet and well-equipped. Since there aren’t any hostels in Eden, it’s a great option for backpackers or those of you on a low budget. It may even be cheaper if there are two or three of you sharing a room. Click here to check prices at Eden Nimo Motel
This beachside holiday park in Eden has all the fantastic facilities you would expect from the Discovery Holiday Parks chain. You can either camp or hire a self-contained villa or cabin that comes with a fully equipped kitchen, verandah and option of a sea view.
Park facilities include a swimming pool, heated spa, camp kitchen, kids’ playground, tennis court and free WiFi. Click here to check prices at Discovery Parks Eden.
Located a 15-minute walk from Aslings Beach and a 3-minute drive from Eden town centre, this holiday park offers a choice of air-conditioned villas with a balcony, kitchen, dining table, sofa, TV and bathroom.
The park has a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and a childrens’ playground. Click here to check prices at Eden Gateway.
Situated on Twofold Bay, a 7-minute drive from Eden town centre, this boutique hotel has luxury rooms and villas set amongst manicured lawns and gardens.
The inn has an on-site restaurant, bar, lounge area and free Wi-Fi in public areas. Click here to check prices at Seahorse Inn Hotel.
Aslings Beach
The main beach in Eden is Aslings Beach, which is a beautiful long curve of sand tucked into scenic Twofold Bay. There are plenty of amazing beaches in New South Wales, but Aslings Beach in Eden has a really tranquil feel with its calm water lapping the shore.
Lake Curalo Trail
Directly behind Aslings Beach lies beautiful Lake Curalo. Make sure you take a look, as the scenery is stunning. And if you’re feeling energetic, there’s also the 3.75km Lake Curalo trail around the perimeter that you can walk or cycle. Someone unicycled past me in hi-vis gear when I visited!
Whales in Eden NSW
Since Twofold Bay is where the north and south currents of the Pacific Ocean collide, the waters in the area are nutrient rich, meaning Humpback whales stop and feed during their southern migration in the spring.
Whales are one of the major attractions in Eden NSW, and have played a big part in the town’s history since its whaling days. Here are some of the ways you can enjoy and learn about Eden’s whales.
Eden Killer Whale Museum
To learn about the relationship between humans and killer whales back in the days when Eden was a whaling town, pay a visit to Eden Killer Whale Museum. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and displays the skeleton of famous killer whale, Old Tom, along with other whaling memorabilia.
Whale Watching in Eden
The best time to spot whales in Eden is between mid-August and early November. Whale-watching vantage points include Aslings Beach, Rotary Park Lookout (see below) and Eden Killer Whale Museum, which sounds a horn when whales are in sight.
You could also coincide your visit with the Eden Whale Festival, which has plenty of fun and entertainment for all ages!
Whale Watching Cruise
If you want to make a day of it, a few companies offer whale-watching tours from Eden.
Eden Lookout & Rotary Walk
For a brilliant view of Twofold Bay, visit the headland just south of Eden town, where you’ll find Rotary Park, which has barbecues, toilets and a map of the easy Rotary Walk.
Along the walk you’ll pass the lookout point below, a great spot for whale watching over Twofold Bay.
Snug Cove Wharf
On the western side of Middle Head you’ll find Snug Cove, a picturesque working port where fishing trawlers leave from daily.
There are a couple of cafes at the wharf, as well as the Sapphire Coast Discovery Marine Centre.
Ben Boyd National Park
Another one of the many scenic attractions in Eden is picturesque Ben Boyd National Park, which is split into two sections, one north and one south of the town.
To the south, you can visit Boyd’s Tower, yet another great lookout point for whales. I decided to check out the northern section of Ben Boyd National Park, which has the unusual rust-coloured Pinnacles formation, as well as a stunning beach at Haycock Point.
The Pinnacles Walk
Drive about ten minutes north of Eden, and you’ll see the sign for Ben Boyd National Park. Turn onto Haycock Road, then take the first turn-off to the car park at the start of the Pinnacles Loop Walk.
It’s only 600m to walk to the Pinnacles lookout, where you can see the colourful Pinnacles erosion feature below! There’s also a 1km loop track.
In the other direction, it’s only 325m to the lookout over stunning Pinnacles Beach.
Haycock Point
Continue along forested Haycock Point Road and you’ll come to the picnic area at Haycock Point.
From the picnic area you can easily walk down to Long Beach, or go on a longer walk to Haycock Point or Barmouth Beach (5km return).
Mallacoota, Victoria
About an hour’s drive south of Eden, surrounded by Croajingolong National Park, is the pretty holiday town of Mallacoota in Victoria. If you’re heading to or from Melbourne, it makes a scenic drive stop before Eden.
From the town centre, head to Panoramic Drive (running along the water’s edge parallel to Allan Drive) to look across beautiful Mallacoota Inlet.
Make sure you look down on the rocks as you just might spot a sunbathing sea lion! I wouldn’t have seen this one if someone hadn’t pointed him out!
Next, follow Bastion Point Road to Bastion Point, where you can take the steps down to the beautiful beach and explore the mouth of the inlet.
If you’re on a road trip heading towards Sydney, make sure you read my post on the scenic Sapphire Coast drive from Tathra to Bermagui. It’s a must-see part of the route!
If you’re on a shorter timeframe, skip straight to beautiful Batemans Bay! Enjoy all the beautiful attractions in Eden NSW if you’re planning a visit! Happy travels!
Lisa Bull, founder of Dreaming of Down Under, has been living in Australia as a British expat since 2015. After travelling to every state and territory in Australia and living in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, Lisa knows from first-hand experience the best destinations to visit in Australia and the best budget travel tips. Her guides on this blog have been read by over 700k readers and helped thousands of people achieve their dream of living in or travelling Australia.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing this information about the Sapphire Coast. Admittedly when it came to planning for our South Coast NSW road trip, we couldn’t find a lot of information on the Sapphire Coast. Your guides have been very helpful.
In regards to the Ben Boyd National Park, we really enjoyed Bittangabee Bay. At the bay, there is a campground and a picnic area. We found it a great place for lunch and a cup of tea. The bay itself is quite small. But it’s packed with beauty. We walked along the beach there. It was very relaxing.
Thanks, Dan & Beck