Welcome to the Far South Coast
This guide is designed for those looking to trade the city hustle for a life balanced by rolling hills and sapphire waters.
Early Education, Primary Schools, Higher Education, Shopping Centres and Boutiques
Hospitals, General Practitioners, Specialists, Aged Care & Senior Living and Disability Support
Government & Essential Services, Employment & Job Providers and Bega Cheese
Volunteering, Social Support & Mentoring, Local Clubs, Animal Welfare and Thrift
Dairy, Local Oysters & Seafood, Bakeries, Breweries, Distilleries, Paddock to Plate & Markets
EAT Merimbula. Cobargo Folk Festival, Sculpture Bermagui, Eden Whale Festival, Wanderer Festival + more
National Parks & State Forests, Coastal Trails, Whale Watching, Camping, Mountain Bike Parks, Fishing and Sports Clubs
There is a reason we love where we live
Education and Shopping Facilities
Education and Learning
-
Early Education & Childcare - Access to a range of early learning and childcare options across Bermagui, Cobargo, Bega, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden. Centres such as Bandara Children's Services, Bubs Early Learning Centre, Little Gumnuts Childcare Bermagui and Pambula Village Preschool offer supportive programs for children aged 0–5
-
Primary Schools - Home to a mix of 16 primary and 5 secondary schools, including government schools and private/independent options like Lumen Christi Catholic College, Montessori and the Bega Valley’s Mumbulla school for Steiner Education
-
Higher Education - The University of Wollongong (UOW) has a Bega campus and TAFE NSW offers extensive vocational training in Bega
​
Shops & Services
-
The Hub of the Valley - Bega serves as the main commercial centre with major supermarkets and shops (Coles, Woolworths and Big W) and essential services including the Bega Valley Shire Council. Tura beach, Merimbula and Bermagui also have a Woolworths and Aldi is in Merimbula
-
Boutique Coastal Shopping - Towns like Merimbula, Bermagui and Pambula offer charming boutiques, local surf shops and artisanal bakeries
Medical Services and Aged Care
For anyone moving to the region, understanding the Bega Valley’s healthcare network is essential. Despite being a regional area, it acts as the primary medical hub for the Far South Coast, centred around a major regional hospital.
​
Medical Facilities
-
The South East Regional Hospital in Bega is a major sub-regional facility providing specialist care, emergency services, maternity, paediatrics, fracture clinic and mental health support. This $187 million facility is staffed by specialists, VMOs and rotating junior doctors
-
Community Health - In Merimbula, Eden and Bermagui providing allied health and nursing
-
General Practitioners (GPs) - There are approximately 10 dedicated GP clinics across the Bega Valley located in Bega, Merimbula, Eden, Pambula and Bermagui​​
-
Specialist Referrals - Telehealth or travel to Canberra which is 3 hours away for niche specialties
-
Physiotherapy, Chiropractic & Dentistry - Essential services widely available in the Bega Valley
​
Aged Care & Senior Living
-
Home Care - There are multiple residential aged care facilities and strong "Home Care" networks to help residents stay independent
-
Social Connections - Active U3A (University of the Third Age) groups and senior citizens' clubs keep the older population engaged and connected
​
Disability Support & Inclusion
-
Dedicated Providers - The Disability Trust and Tulgeen Group offer NDIS support, employment programs and community participation
-
Inclusive Spaces - The Council is actively implementing a Disability Inclusion Action Plan to ensure parks, beaches (including beach wheelchairs) and public spaces are accessible to everyone
Government Services and Employment
Government Services and Council
-
Service NSW - The primary branch is in Bega (Auckland St), with smaller service centres in Eden and agencies in surrounding areas. This is your go to for licenses, registrations and regional rebates
-
Services Australia (Centrelink & Medicare) - A major regional office is located on Church Street, Bega. It provides full face-to-face services for social security and health programs
-
Bega Valley Shire Council - Based in Bega, the council manages local infrastructure, planning, waste, and community grants. They also run the local library network in Bega, Bermagui, Eden and Merimbula
​
Employment & Job Providers
If you are looking for work or transitioning careers, several providers have permanent offices in Bega
-
APM Employment Services - Focuses on disability and injury support into the workforce
-
MAX Solutions - Provides Workforce Australia services and vocational training
-
Sureway & WISE Employment - Local experts in matching residents with regional roles
-
Top Industries - The largest employers in the region are Health Care & Social Assistance, Construction, and Retail, followed closely by Education
-
Bega Group (Bega Cheese) - The region’s largest private employer, operates multiple sites and hires locals in dairy production, logistics, lab work, engineering, HR and administration, often offering relocation support for skilled permanent roles—check their careers portal if you’re moving from afar
-
Bega Cheese Heritage Centre - A tourist icon and a major local employer and a historical touchstone for the farming community
Community and Connection
Community Connection & Volunteering
-
Rural Fire Service – Support crews, radio operators, fundraisers across the valley
-
SES Bega Valley – Assist with storm and flood response
-
Surf Life Saving – Join Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club, Tathra Surf Life Saving Club or Pambula Surf Life Saving Club, train for Bronze Medallion or help with Nippers
-
Landcare Groups – Work with BRAWL and Far South Coast Landcare on habitat restoration
-
OzHarvest Sapphire Coast – Rescue and redistribute excess food
​
Social Support & Mentoring
-
Meals on Wheels – Delivers meals and provides social support for older residents
-
Bega Valley Shire Library Here 2 Help – Tutor residents in tech, literacy, and digital forms
-
SECCA – Volunteer as gallery ambassadors for exhibitions and events
​
Animal Welfare & Thrift
-
WIRES – Rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife
-
Vinnies, Salvos, local op shops – Support community programs while meeting locals
​
Fitness & Recreation Groups
-
Council Local Directory – Find community clubs from stroke recovery to bridge and more
​
Food Security & Community Support
-
Ricky’s Place – Monday community café meals
-
The Vibe – Pay-what-you-can meals at St John’s Anglican Church hall, Bega
-
Sapphire Community Pantry – Groceries, rescued fruit and bread for locals, Tue–Fri
-
Mobile Pantry – Delivers groceries to outlying villages like Bemboka and Cobargo
-
Pearl’s Place, Pambula – Wednesday community lunches at Pambula Anglican Church hall
Local culinary specialties
The Bega Valley is a true food bowl, where the rolling green hills meet the edge of the continental shelf. Moving here means your pantry will often be filled with items that have traveled less than 20km to reach you. Here are the regional specialties that define the local palate -
​
-
Iconic Dairy - Bega Cheese is world famous for its cheddar, with tastings of vintage and experimental varieties at the Heritage Centre. Tilba Real Dairy produces rich Jersey milk, award‑winning cheese, milkshakes and barista coffee, thanks to the lush pastures of the valley​​
-
Sapphire Coast Oysters - The region is regarded as Australia’s oyster capital, with unique flavours shaped by “merroir” from estuaries such as Pambula Lake, Wapengo Lake, Nelsons Lagoon, Merimbula Lake and Wonboyn Lake. The rare native Angasi oyster is prized for its bold, meaty flavour​
-
Fresh Catch & Seafood - Buying from the source in Eden, South Coast Fish sells fish minutes after unloading from the boats on Imlay Street. In Bermagui, Blue Wave Seafood offers fresh local tuna, broadbill swordfish and other deep sea catches straight from the wharf.​
-
Artisanal Baking – Honor Bread is a destination bakery with slow 48‑hour sourdough, specialty loaves and cardamom buns. Wild Rye’s Baking Co is famous for sourdough and Pambula pies.​
-
Distilling & Wines - For boutique drinks, North of Eden Gin uses local botanicals and offers a Gin School, while Disaster Bay Chillies produces award‑winning chilli sauces, oils and chilli wine. The Far South Coast is home to boutique wineries such as Tilba Winery and Mimosa Rocks Winery, where visitors can enjoy handcrafted wines made from local grapes​
-
Paddock to Plate Experiences & Markets – SCPA Markets Bega on Fridays is perfect for seasonal vegetables, organic garlic, heritage tomatoes, bread and honey. Bermagui Growers Market runs Thursdays with a fun bell start. Bega Valley Organics delivers fresh chemical‑free seasonal produce to your door​
-
Local Food Culture – The valley is a true food bowl where green hills meet the coast. Moving here often means your pantry is filled with produce, dairy and seafood sourced within 20 kilometres, connecting residents directly to the land and sea
Festivals, Events and Markets
Major festivals and celebrations across the Sapphire Coast
-
Wanderer Festival – A multi-generational music and arts festival with national performers and international acts including Missy Higgins, The Living End, The Teskey Brothers, Cut Copy, Larven, The Tullamarines and more. Held in Pambula Beach every second year
-
EAT Merimbula – Held in March, this is a lakeside celebration of local food, oysters, seafood and regional producers
-
Cobargo Folk Festival – A three day music and arts festival held in early March, with a relaxed family friendly village atmosphere
-
Sculpture Bermagui – A coastal outdoor sculpture exhibition held every March along the headland and foreshore
-
Eden Whale Festival – A community celebration of the humpback whale migration each spring. It features a street parade, wood-chopping competitions and markets at Snug Cove
-
Giiyong Festival – A cultural festival celebrating Yuin Aboriginal arts, music and storytelling. The first multi-arts festival in the region celebrating Aboriginal culture, held at Jigamy (between Pambula and Eden)
-
Four Winds Festival – Located in a outdoor amphitheater at Barragga Bay near Bermagui, it hosts world-renowned classical and world music performers every Easter. Four Winds also showcases a year-round calendar of varied and exciting musical performances
-
Candelo Village Festival – A creative biennial celebration of music, poetry and workshops
-
Ephemeral Festival – Held in April at the Panboola Wetlands in Pambula, this is a one day celebration of art that isn't meant to last, but to be appreciated in the moment
National Parks, Nature and Sports and Receration
Here are some of the key outdoor lifestyle highlights across the Sapphire Coast -
-
National parks and nature – Surrounded by pristine wilderness including Mimosa Rocks National Park, Bournda National Park and Beowa National Park, with beaches, forests and lagoons to explore
-
Coastal trails – Kilometres of scenic coastline and walking tracks with excellent whale watching from Tathra, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden during the spring migration
-
Water lifestyle – Surfing, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking are part of everyday coastal living, supported by strong local surf lifesaving clubs and junior nippers programs
-
Mountain bike parks and trails – The region is known for its expanding network of world class trails across the Bega Valley, including the popular Tathra, Narooma and Eden Mountain Bike Trails
-
Fishing and camping – Excellent recreational fishing and coastal and bush camping and 4wd driving opportunities throughout the coastline, estuaries and nearby state forests
-
Sports clubs and active communities – Vibrant local participation in AFL, rugby league, cricket, soccer and netball across towns throughout the valley
-
Golf with a view – Scenic coastal courses including Tura Beach Country Club offer year round play in spectacular surroundings
