Merimbula Magic

After some initial cloudy weather and torrential rain, the sky dawned to brilliant sunshine, clear blue sky and sparkling water. The locals call it Magical Merimbula and over the length of our tour it certainly lived up to its name.

Merimbula is located on the southern NSW coast within the region dubbed the Sapphire Coast. It’s probably better known to Victorians than to New South Welshmen as it’s been a traditional summer holiday destination for Victorian families for generations.

The town seems to be populated by ex-pats from south of the border, many of whom migrated here after enjoying their holiday experience. And why wouldn’t you? With a glorious coastline featuring unspoiled beaches and pristine waterways, the area is one of Australia’s finest, where the bush runs to the water.

Merimbula and nearby towns of Tura, Pambula and Pambula Beach have a combined population of nearly 10,000. If you’ve ever been there in summer you would swear that 100,000 is closer to the mark, but even when the region threatens to explode in the busy holiday season there’s still plenty of room for a lonely walk on a beach not far from town.

PAMBULA RIVER
For our tour of the local waterways we lined up a Stacer Easyrider 525 through Merimbula Mowers and Marine and, with the boat in tow, we headed for our first destination – the Pambula River system.

Some 10km south of Merimbula signs point to the Broadwater boat ramp, about one kilometre past the Yowaka Bridge. Home of the Pambula Fishing Club, it features a well designed two-lane ramp with a floating pontoon and grassy picnic area.

Launch here and head up the Pambula River for some great fishing or peace and quiet. If you choose to turn east, you’ll wind your way through the markers towards the river mouth for fishing or some fantastic picnic places. The first section is a little tricky to navigate as it looks like a maze of oyster leases and channel markers. The edges of the leases are well marked with white poles, and the channel eventually opens into the Broadwater. Set your fishfinder and explore the area for tailor and bream.

The northern edge of the lake takes you into the Pambula River, which highlights some of the spectacular scenery the region has to offer. It’s around four kilometres to the mouth through a deep gorge and includes many productive fishing locations. Take it easy when you get closer to the mouth as the sandbanks build up and change over time. You will find Severs Beach on the southern shore – it’s an easily accessed and open, sandy area that provides plenty of places for family frolicking. On the southern shore is the Pambula Beach Lions Park, where there is a barbecue area and quaint boatsheds.

You can head to sea if the conditions are right, but seek local knowledge on the channel and bar. It’s sobering to remember that this is a legendary surfing spot that boasts one of the longest breaks in Australia when conditions are right.

The trip back up the river gave us an opportunity to check out the deep holes along the gorge. This is region has been declared a Recreational Fishing Haven as part of the NSW fishing licence program.

MERIMBULA
Continuing our exploration, we headed back to Merimbula where the main ramp is located on the south side of the bridge opposite the BP garage. Here you’ll find a two-lane ramp and a jetty, the use of which may be a bit of a task for some at low tide. Your choice here is a trip through a channel to Top Lake or under the bridge to the main town lake and a variety of picnic spots and ocean access.

Our first journey was the approximately one kilometre trip to Top Lake. The channel is well marked but can be quite shallow at the bottom of the runout, especially near the opening into the lake. After you navigate the oyster leases and channel, the lake opens into a broad expanse of water with an average depth away from the shore of 10 metres. It’s a popular fishing and water skiing spot. You’ll find much of the shore is built up with oyster leases, for which the area is justifiably famous. They will offer up some good sized bream, which seem to have been well trained to take the locally developed Squidgee or other soft plastic lures.
Don’t miss the area round the top of the lake for bream, flathead and jewies. Troll around the south-eastern shore for tailor and check out the tranquil bay near Robins Nest jetty. When you have worn yourself out you can tie up to the boat hire jetty for coffee or Devonshire tea. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample a bit of the local homemade mud cake.

OCEAN ANGLING
Back in town, we headed under the bridge towards the ocean.

Larger boats may have some difficulty with the bridge, which can offer clearance of only two metres at extreme high tides. You might have to lower the canopy, head to Pambula or opt for direct ocean access at Tathra. Once under the bridge, it’s an eight knot limit through town. Tie up at the town wharf to visit the nearby hotel, where you will also find the marina office for fishing advice and information about whale watching and ocean cruising trips. Pass the moored charter and leisure boats to fish for bream around the oyster leases and sunbathe on the sand flats.

If you are heading to sea, log on with coastal patrol on Channel 88 for advice on bar and sea conditions. The bar itself is fairly straightforward. A green buoy marks the entrance. Keep close to its seaward side, check the waves and take the usual care with bar crossings. On the day of our trip there was a one to two foot wave breaking across the bar but it is not unusual to find the bar completely flat.

In summer you’ll find that you will have to share the entrance with swimmers floating with the tide along Bar Beach.

The Stacer Easyrider 525 made short work of the bar and plenty of small boats use the entrance, but it is important to check conditions. If in doubt, don’t go out. NSW maritime laws state that all people aboard must wear a lifejacket when crossing this and the Pambula Bar.

Charles Divers from the local Coastal Patrol says that there have been three rescues in the last four years on the Merimbula Bar and three in the last 12 months at Pambula. The bar at Pambula can catch you out due to its shifting nature and the lack of clear markings.
Once across, you will see the historic wharf on your left. Try the area around the wharf for livebait. It is also a popular place for diving so keep an eye out for snorklers.

Merimbula Bay extends for about six kilometres and is sheltered from the north-easterlies that blow during summer. If it’s rough offshore, the bay can offer sheltered spots for finding flathead.

Just out of the bay are the reefs off Long Point where you should pick up snapper, morwong, trevally, nannygai and leatherjackets. Head north a few kilometres and you will find flathead around Tura Headland, more reefs off Haycock to the south and plenty of beach locations for flathead, gummy shark and whiting. Many people troll in the area between Long and Short Points, but watch the bommies north of Short Point.

If your interest lies in gamefishing, you will be pleased to know that yellowfin made a welcome return to the area this past season. There is an active angling club in Merimbula, with many of its members venturing to the shelf, which is about 20 kilometres wide at this part of the coast.

While the majority of holidaymakers arrive during summer, Merimbula has become a year-round destination. The area is at its best in spring and autumn. The weather is milder and the winds are likely to be more moderate. From Melbourne, it’s a seven-hour drive up Princess Highway and a bit less from Sydney.

Accommodation is plentiful outside the peak seasons. These days, many much-loved caravan parks have made way for more upmarket apartments, but you’ll find a style to suit. Your best bet would be to ring the visitor information centre on 1800 150 457.

Merimbula lies on the NSW coast 586km north of Melbourne, 465km south of Sydney and 241km east of Canberra. Other attractions in the region include national parks and conservation reserves, local markets, golf and historic tourist drives.

For more information visit, www.sapphirecoast.com.au

TrailerBoat would like to thank Merimbula Mowers and Marine – (02) 6495 4495 – for supplying the Stacer Easyrider 525 featured in this story.

WHALE OF A TIME
If you are on the water in Merimbula between September and November, you’re likely to encounter humpback whales on their migration south. It is estimated that there are now up to 1800 humpbacks journeying along the eastern seaboard each year.

They migrate to the waters off Queensland over winter and return to Antarctica for summer. Merimbula has become one of their favoured stops on the trip south and a significant whale watching industry has built up in the last few years. It is thought the seas off the coast offer them a last stop feeding ground before they leave Australian waters.

Whales are known to spend several days feeding here – especially if accompanied by newborn calves. Many fishermen have been surprised to have their peace suddenly shattered by a whale surfacing near their boat and letting out a frightening blow.

The spectacle of a 40-tonne whale breaching can also be intimidating and is something never to be forgotten.

We jumped aboard with him for the short run from the town ramp.

“There aren’t too many places where you can get such good fishing right in the middle of town,” Bushy said, as he flicked around his soft plastic Squidgee and proceeded to pull in a one kilogram trevally and a trio of tailor in quick time.