After seeing the sights of Canberra, the Liang family from Singapore and Indonesia decided to check out the unspoilt natural beauty of the Eurobodalla Coast with VIP Private Tours.
Their 9 hour tour started and finished at their Canberra hotel and included transfers to and from the coast in our luxury VW Multivan through sheep grazing country, historic country towns and magnificent forests of the Clyde Mountain.
The Liang family were keen to see spectacular coastal scenery and they were not disappointed with photographic stopovers at headland lookouts located at Mossy Point, Broulee, Moruya Heads and Dalmeny with Glasshouse Rocks and Australia Rock in Narooma being the standout locations.
The family also spent quality time with Sue the friendly local farmer at Ebenezer Alpacas where they saw alpacas, lamas, guinea fowl, horses, cows and working farm dogs prior to enjoying fresh fish and chips right on the water at the famous Tuross Boatshed.
The unspoilt South Coast region of NSW has seen an increase in tourism services, including VIP Private Tours, that have international ready products.
With international flights now arriving in Canberra, the range of services on offer provides international visitors with the opportunity to see so much more of this stunning region and enjoy a very interesting itinerary. VIP Private Tours has established partnerships with the best operators on the South Coast. This enables us to package a one, two or three day stay that includes accommodation, tours and experiences that are unique to this area.
See the attached listing from Destination NSW that provides international visitors with a range of opportunities to see and experience this stunning region. Please feel free to share the following link. Destination NSW Newsletter 2017
Our half day tour today took in the spectacular beaches and cliffs of the Central Eurobodalla region stretching from Broulee Island to Congo Beach.
Starting with a moderate 90 minute walk around and over Broulee Island, our guests observed sea birds including Sea Eagles, Cormorants, Petrels and Terns while on land we saw (at a distance), a venomous Red Bellied Black Snake. The sunny yet cool conditions were ideal for walking through the interior of Broulee Island ensuring that we enjoyed a close examination of the Coastal Banksia Forest.
After morning tea supplied by VIP Private Tours, we traveled to Shelley Beach located 5 kilometers east of the township of Moruya. There we explored the Moruya Rivermouth and climbed to the summit of Toragy Point where we observed seals frolicking in and around the rocks and sea birds diving for fish. Toragy Point is renown for have some of the region’s oldest graves with the earliest dating back to 1877.
Our tour concluded at Congo, a tiny hamlet located in the Eurobodalla National Park. Congo has unspoilt beaches, the landlocked Congo Creek and pretty beach walks. With the aid of our guide, look closely and you’ll see evidence of the area’s Aboriginal inhabitants, the Walbunga people of the Yuin Nation. Congo is a favoured food gathering area for Aboriginal people and the extensive middens show that the area has been important for many thousands of years. The Congo site is also a source of ochre used for ceremonial purposes.
Did you know that the NSW Far South Coast is a renown haven for Australian native and migratory birds? The headlands, lakes, estuaries and coastal hinterland of our touring region provides a range of unique habitats for dozens of bird species, from the tiny Stubble Quail to the impressive White Bellied Sea-Eagle.
The region is famous for seabirds and our experienced tour guide will ensure that you will see Eagles, Oystercatchers, Gulls, Terns and Cormorants. While entering our forests on a short easy bush walk, you will be delighted by a range of Parrots, Lorrikeets, Kingfishers and Honeyeaters feasting on Australian Flora such as Grevillea and Bottlebrush.
The mirror like waters of coastal lakes and estuaries are home to Pelicans, Black Swans, Ducks, Grebes, Herons and Ibis. Your guide will provide you with easy access to view and photograph these delightful birds as they wade the shallows and forage among the oyster encrusted rocks and reeds.
Regardless of your starting point, your VIP Private Tour guide will transport you safely to a range of known bird watching habitats or to a location of your choice (accessible by a two wheel drive vehicle). Our vehicle has capacity for six guests and we supply drinking water and snacks on all tours. An optional picnic lunch is available on full day tours.
The Eurobodalla Natural History Society has compiled the following list of birds of the Eurobodalla region.
Contact us today to discuss a Bird Watching Tour of the NSW Far South Coast. Destinations include Batemans Bay to Bermagui. Transfers available with advance notice from Moruya, Canberra or Sydney airports. We can also help to arrange accommodation and side tours to suit all tastes and budgets.
Call Steve on 0437 143 477 or email: hello@viptours.net.au to take advantage of these discounted one way trips in May 2017. We pick up and drop from your home. Here are the travel routes, dates, times and fares per person (pp):
- Friday 5th May: Eurobodalla Shire to Nowra one way, leaves Tuross Head at 6.30am for approx 9.00am arrival in Nowra ($30 pp)
- Wednesday 17th May: Sydney CBD, Airport or South Western Suburbs to Tuross Head, leaves Circular Quay at 12.30pm or Sydney Airport at 1.00pm for arrival back in Batemans Bay approximately 5.00pm ($50pp)
- Wednesday 24th May: Eurobodalla Shire to Nowra and Bomaderry one way, leaves Tuross Head at 2.30pm for approx 5.00pm arrival at Bomaderry Railway Station ($30pp)
- Friday 26th May: Sydney CBD, Airport or South Western Suburbs to Tuross Head, leaves Circular Quay at 12.30pm or Sydney Airport at 1.00pm for arrival back in Batemans Bay approximately 5.00pm ($50pp)
Terms
Maximum six passengers. Luggage ok.
Passengers with babies or children aged 7 and under must supply their own approved capsule or booster seat.
Minimum one day advance notice and cash payment required.
Intoxicated or abusive passengers will be refused travel.
Pick up or drop off is available as far south as Tilba for an additional fare (calculated at $0.55 per kilometre on a vehicle round trip from the Tuross Head turn off at the Princes Highway).
We are not wheelchair accessible.
Mystery Bay is located in one of Australia’s most stunning and unspoilt coastal areas. Nestled between the Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) which dominates the land in this area and Barranguba (Montague Island) seven kilometres offshore, Mystery is a mix of rugged bays and headlands interspersed with empty beaches of golden sand and smooth granite pebble.
Amid the jagged deep brown volcanic rocks that jut from the land at Mystery Bay lie deep parallel channels containing a multitude of fish, seaweeds, abalone, lobster and the occasional Australian Fur Seal.
Mystery Bay is one of the hidden gems of the New South Far South Coast and a jewel in the crown of our Coastal Highlights Tour that operates daily as a full day tour from Batemans Bay and Moruya or as a half day tour from Narooma.
Aboriginal cultural signifcance
Gulaga and the surrounding landscape have great spiritual significance to South Coast Aboriginal people, particularly as a birthing place for Aboriginal women. Click here to listen to Cheryl Davison telling the story of Gulaga and her sons, Barranguba and Najanuga.
Why is Mystery Bay so named?
In 1880, five men disappeared while rowing from Batemans Bay to Bermagui and the site of the Colony’s newest gold strike at Montreal. Their damaged eight-metre row boat was discovered on a beach (Mystery Bay) on 10 October and while there was no trace of the men, there was bait, a pocket knife, pipe and tobacco, food and a bag of mixed personal articles still in the boat and scattered on the beach. To this day the disappearance of the men remains a mystery.
Where we stay in Mystery Bay
VIP Private Tours can also help with your accommodation booking in the Mystery Bay area. For a fun farm stay experience with your pets we recommend Oakleigh Farm Cottages on Mystery Bay Road. Karen and Andrew have five self contained cottages on about 100 acres that look directly at Barranguba (Montague Island). For a unique couples experience, we recommend Tilba Lake Camp where Rebecca and Tim can set you up in a luxe Lotus Belle Tent with 360 degree views of Tilba Lake, the Pacific Ocean, Gulaga and lush green paddocks.
We’ve all heard of mine workers Flying In/Flying Out (FIFO) to work in The Pilbara, well Canberrans can now FIFO to Eurobodalla’s annual River of Art Festival.
VIP Private Tours has partnered with Oystercatcher Experiences, The River Restaurant and SkydiveOz to offer Canberrans ‘The River of Art Experience’ on Saturday 20th May 2017.
Tour Inclusions
- Return flights from Canberra to Moruya (same day), including scenic overflight of the Clyde River Estuary, Batemans Bay, and parts of the Eurobodalla Nature Coast.
- Time to browse the famous Moruya Country Markets in Riverside Park, Moruya.
- Guided walking tour of River of Art Festival experiences including the Moruya Creators Bazaar, Splinters Fine Woodwork exhibition, and exhibited works by local artists.
- Gourmet two course lunch at The River Restaurant, Moruya
- Visits to various studio open houses by private vehicle, providing the opportunity to meet and interact with local artists and experience where and how they draw inspiration.
Location and timing
The River of Art Experience will depart by charter aircraft from Canberra Airport at 07.30 AM on Saturday May 20, 2017. Return flight from Moruya to Canberra will depart Moruya airport at.4:30 PM, arriving in Canberra at 5:00 PM
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes, hat and sunscreen.
Price per Person, (GST inclusive)
Tour cost is $729 pp
Bookings
Tour is limited to 10 places. For bookings contact Oystercatcher Experiences by telephone on: 1300 359 356 or by email: bookings @oystercatcher.net.au
Not only are our tours are packed with interesting sights of the stunning Far South Coast, by partnering with internationally acclaimed tourism operators, we also offer a range of unique experiences.
For example, as part of our Coastal Highlights tour, you can take an optional Glass Bottom Kayak tour to explore the underwater wonders of the Batemans Marine Park or an Oyster Kayak Tour to learn about oyster farming and sample a range of Australia’s finest oysters. In each case you’ll be safe in the hands of an experienced kayaking guide from our multi award winning partners at Region X.
Stay tuned over the coming weeks for updates on our new range of unique tours of the unspoilt Nature Coast located just 2 hours east of Canberra and four hours south of Sydney.
VIP Private Tours offers half day and full day tours with fine dining and quality accommodation options in addition to unique experiences like our kayaking offers.