Merimbula for the Adventurous: In the Water, On the Water, Beside the Water

From diving the Merimbula wharf to whale watching, kayaking and coastal walks — South House's guide to an active stay on the Sapphire Coast.

South House sits at the meeting point of lake, ocean and bushland — which means the hardest part of an adventurous stay isn't finding something to do, it's choosing what to do first. Here's our local guide, broken into three simple categories: in the water, on the water, and beside it.

In the water

Merimbula's clear, sheltered lake and open coastline make it one of the best beginner-to-advanced dive and snorkel destinations on the NSW South Coast.

• Snorkel the Merimbula wharf ,one of the most accessible snorkel sites in NSW, home to weedy sea dragons, rays and schools of yellowtail, right in the lake.
• Dive the Merimbula Wall and offshore reefs, where the East Australian Current pushes through warm-water species you wouldn't expect this far south.
• Swim at Main Beach or Bar Beach, both patrolled in season and an easy walk from South House.
• Surf the break,  famous surf breaks at Main Beach and Short Point
• Learn to surf at one of the region's beginner-friendly breaks, with lessons available for all levels.

On the water

If you'd rather move across the water than through it, Merimbula Lake and the open coast offer some of the best paddling and boating in the region.

• Kayak or stand-up paddleboard the lake, gliding past mangroves, sandbars and the historic wharf.
• Book a fishing charter out of Merimbula Marina, chasing flathead and bream in the lake or kingfish and snapper offshore.
• Sail or take a scenic boat tour along the coastline toward Pambula Lake and Ben Boyd National Park.

Beside the water

Some of the best adventure in Merimbula doesn't require getting wet at all.

• Walk the Merimbula Boardwalk, tracing the edge of the lake from town toward the ocean.
• Explore Ben Boyd National Park, with coastal walking trails, historic lighthouses and dramatic sea cliffs just south of town.
• Cycle the Sapphire Coast cycleways, linking Merimbula to Pambula and Tathra along quiet, scenic routes.
• Watch the sunset from South House's fireside terrace, the easiest adventure of the day, after all the others.
• Whale watching from the water's edge, this is whale country.  Between August and November sightings from the shoreline are simply part of the season.

Plan your Sapphire Coast adventure

Merimbula is the base — the wider Sapphire Coast is the playground. For the full regional guide to beaches, national parks, trails and seasonal events, visit the NSW Sapphire Coast destination guide.