Bodalla

Bodalla’s dairy legacy

Bodalla Dairy produces living milk using the age-old tradition of gently pasteurising their herd's beautiful milk. It is hand bottled and on the shelf just hours after the cow was milked. Visitors can watch the process and taste the proceeds at the Dairy’s café, the Dairy Shed.

This retro cafe has the best milkshakes and thickshakes with some interesting flavours, like butterscotch for instance. Make sure to try and buy the Bush Tucker cheeses – Outback Saltbush, Smoked Gumleaf and Chilli and Wattleseed. While there, take the kids to see the animal farmyard with chickens, alpacas and Billy the Goat. If you’re there at either 10am or 4pm, they might even get to bottled feed the calves. You can also stay the night in the popular suites.

Bodalla Dairy Milk at Bodalla in Batemans Bay, South Coast

Bodalla Dairy Milk, Bodalla

Around town

Another Bodalla landmark is the picturesque Gothic-style All Saints Church. It was designed by colonial architect Edmund Blacket, whose best-known works are the University of Sydney and St Andrew’s Cathedral. Stroll up the street from the Church to check out Artisans Nest, a gallery run by local artists and craftspeople. You’ll find beautiful clothing, art, hand-made jewellery and leather goods.

There is an excellent cafe to try. The Downward Dog Café Co. has great coffee and is fully licensed, so has wine, beer and cocktails.

Cheeseboard, Bodalla Dairy Shed Guest Rooms in Bodalla, Batemans Bay, South Coast

Bodalla Dairy Shed Guest Rooms, Bodalla

Things to do

Kayaking on the Lower Tuross River and Borang Lake is popular; if you are going to do the full 17km circumnavigation of the lake, be sure take a map. A big drawcard for this region is its beautiful beaches. Spend the day swimming, surfing or relaxing on white sands at places like Potato Point, nine kilometres from Bodalla. This pretty spot also has great snorkelling for experienced snorkellers. You might encounter wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks and stingrays. The rocky reefs and sandy gutters also contain sea squirts and sea urchins. The southern side of the point is more exposed and can be dangerous.

Brou Beach is a seven-kilometre stretch of bliss and, a little further away at Dalmeny, Josh’s Beach and Yabbara Beach are worth visiting. A 10min drive east is the spectacular Eurobodalla National Park where you can go camping, walking, surfing, whale watching and fishing. It stretches from Moruya Heads in the north to Mystery Bay in the south. You can also take a day trip to Montague Island from nearby Narooma.

Mummaga Lake Walk starts at Bodalla Forest Rest Area Bodalla - Batemans Bay & Eurobodalla

Bodalla Forest Rest Area, Bodalla - Credit: Forestry Corporation of NSW

Getting there

Bodalla is a 4.5-hour drive from Sydney and just over a 2.5-hour drive from Canberra. It sits halfway between the towns of Moruya and Narooma. You can also fly from Sydney to Moruya Airport and rent a car for the short drive to Bodalla. Moruya Airport is located 5km from Moruya’s town centre. Use the taxi services at the airport to make the short trip southwest. Alternatively, rent a car from the hire services available at the airport and explore the Eurobodalla region at your own pace. Regional Express operates direct flights from Sydney to Moruya five days a week, with return flights travelling via Merimbula.