Narooma: Wagonga Inlet, coast and culture

Narooma brings together Wagonga Inlet, coastal landscapes, trails for a range of activities, and a culture shaped by oysters and cinema. For planning your trip, there are several themes to choose from: kayaking and charter experiences on the water, trails around the inlet or along the coast, and nature and festival events. The specific places and routes can help you decide which aspects of Narooma you want to shape your stay.

Wagonga Inlet, coast and tours

To kayak on Wagonga Inlet, you can use the Old Punt boat ramp beside the highway on the south side of Narooma Bridge. The inlet is home to diverse marine life, including seabirds and occasional fur seals. Paddling and wildlife watching offer different ways to experience the same body of water.

Charter experiences are offered in Narooma’s clear waters, including deep-sea fishing, whale watching, diving, snorkelling with seals, and visits to nearby Barunguba (Montague Island). For the trip to Barunguba, the vessel operated by Narooma Charters departs from Narooma Wharf on Bluewater Drive. The Narooma Seals and Whales Discovery Tour, by contrast, starts from the upper car park at Narooma Bar Rock Lookout. So if you compare the options, even their stated departure points differ: the wharf and the lookout car park.

Narooma Bar Rock Lookout is also a vantage point for watching whales during their annual migration. This gives you the option of whale watching from land, while the charter offerings include various experiences on the water. These two perspectives can help you choose different ways to explore the inlet and coast on your outings.

Walking and cycling trails

The 350-metre-long Mill Bay Boardwalk follows the water from Apex Park on the north side of the inlet. The wide path is suitable for walking, cycling and fishing. Information panels bring Narooma’s history to life beside a group of heritage-listed boat sheds. The boardwalk thus combines a short waterside walk with an insight into the town’s history.

For a longer coastal outing, consider the Narooma to Dalmeny Coastal Trail: a 21-kilometre loop on a mostly flat, shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. The route follows the coast past beaches, headlands, Wagonga Inlet and Mummaga Lake. Compared with the 350-metre boardwalk, it is a much longer route and also a different type of trail: a stretch along the inlet or a coastal loop with several landscape features.

Mountain bikers have another option in the Narooma Mountain Bike Trails. The trails include almost 100 kilometres of purpose-built tracks, with riding opportunities for everyone from beginners to experienced mountain bikers. The boardwalk, coastal loop and mountain bike trails can be distinguished by activity and distance; they do not describe the same kind of outing.

Nature, oysters and Narooma’s culture

The named coastal formations offer different points of interest. Australia Rock is a natural landmark in Narooma: coastal erosion has created a rock formation resembling Australia. Glasshouse Rocks are a geological formation on the Narooma coast, estimated to be 510 to 440 million years old. Australia Rock is notable for its shape, while Glasshouse Rocks stand out for their geological classification and estimated age.

Narooma’s cultural side can also be experienced away from the coastal trails. School of Arts Hall, better known as the Kinema, is one of the longest-running cinemas in New South Wales. The information panels on Mill Bay Boardwalk offer another way to learn about Narooma’s history. The two examples differ in whether your interest lies in cinema history or in the town’s history along the water.

The wooden boat sheds beside the bridge in Narooma offer fresh local oysters and seafood to the public; oysters can be opened on site on request. The Narooma Oyster Festival celebrates Rock Oysters on the shores of Wagonga Inlet. Information published in 2025 gives the first weekend in May as the recurring date. Check the event website for the specific festival dates before your trip. The Saturday programme published for 2026 includes Oyster Farmer’s Alley, Betta Cooking Demos and tastings with mobile oyster openers; programme details may vary by festival year. Both the local oyster offerings and the festival provide a distinct insight into Narooma’s connection with Rock Oysters.

Discover more destinations: Mossy Point, Dalmeny, Batemans Bay, Potato Point, Broulee, Kianga, Long Beach, Moruya

For the broader travel overview: Eurobodalla Shire Council.