Things to do at Narooma NSW Australia
Narooma is situated on the coast of New South Wales, Australia.
I visited Narooma at the start of September, which is spring weather.
Content
- Things to do at Narooma New South Wales
- 1 The Wharf
- 2 Australia Rock
- 3 Bar Rock Lookout
- 4 Glasshouse Rocks
- 5 Montague Island Tour
- 6 Mill Bay Boardwalk
- 7 Mitchell's Mill Walk
- 8 Narooma Surf Beach
- 9 More Things To Do in Narooma
- Travel Essentials
- Where is Narooma in New South Wales?
- Places and Towns to visit near Narooma
Things to do at Narooma New South Wales
Places to visit and things to do in Narooma so you can spend time with nature and learn about Narooma are:
- The Wharf
- Australia Rock
- Bar Rock Lookout
- Glasshouse Rocks
- Montague Island
- Mill Bay Boardwalk
- Mitchell's Mill Walk
- Narooma Surf Beach
- More Things to Do in Narooma
1 The Wharf
Sit by the Narooma Wharf at Bluewater Dr along Wagonga Inlet. Watch the boats come and go. Feel the spring warmth and breathe in the fresh air.
Here, you can catch a tour of Montague Island or go whale watching in whale season with Montague Island Tours.

Wagonga Inlet
As the water flows over the rock wall, be mesmerized by its rhythm. And, the seagulls fly around and squawk.
An ideal spot to eat lunch on a sunny day in spring.
A little further up the road is the Rotary Park with car parks, picnic facilities like tables and seats, shelters with tables and seats, BBQ, toilets, and a playground at the corner of Bluewater Dr and Bar Rock Road.

Wagonga Inlet
2 Australia Rock
**Currently closed to visitors due to damage, check details and updates.**
In April 2022 a rockslide at the Bar Rock Lookout and Australia Rock meant the local council had to close the area for safety reasons. Signage prevents access to the area.
From Bluewater Drive you turn left at Bar Rock Road and drive around to the cliff. Then you veer left on the one-way road. And drive along the water's edge toward the end of the road. You'll find a small car park that looks out over the Pacific Ocean. On the cliffside, you'll find Australia Rock.
The Illawarra Mercury outlines the history of Australia Rock. Its past has an interesting story. Previously, it was referred to as the 'Hole in the Rock'.

Australia Rock


Rocks and the Ocean
3 Bar Rock Lookout
**Currently closed to visitors, check details and updates.**
You can climb back up to the top of the cliff by the stairs. The view at the lookout is over the rocky coast. And, you can see the breakwall that separates Wagonga Inlet and the ocean.
Look out at the ocean and you'll see Montague Island. On the lookout, a sign states that it's only 9 km from the coast. And, the mainland local Koories call the island Barunguba. In 1790, the island was renamed Montague by the convict ship Surprise's Master.
Padlocks have been attached to the railings around the lookout. Some are in memorials because they have "RIP".
Lady Darling Shipwreck 1880
Plaque on Bar Rock Lookout states:
The steamer Lady Darling sank in thirty metres of water off Mystery Bay on 11 November, 1880. On a voyage from Newcastle to Melbourne with a cargo of coal, the seamer struck rocks to the south of Montague Island. Attempts were made to reach the shore but the Lady Darling rapidly filled and the Captain and crew were forced to abandon ship. All made the safety of the land.
The steamer’s masts were visible above the water for several days until the vessel settle further. In August 1996, local divers re-located the wreck site lying upright on sand. The most identifiable portions of the wreck include the intact stern, the two cyclinder “simple” steam engine, boiler and collapsed bow.
Built at Liverpool, United Kingdom in 1864, the iron steamer had a length of 238.6 feet and tonnage of 895 tons gross. At the time of loss, the Lady Darling was registered in Melbourne.
Because of its archaeological and recreational significance, the site is protected as an Historic Shipwreck under the Historic Shipwreck Act, 1976.
Its location was a mystery until 1996. Then in 2016, the Maritime Archaeology Research Centre acquired permission to film the wreckage to make the 3D mapping. The Lady Darling wreck lies 5.5km SW of Aughinish Rock, 8 km SW of the South end of Montague Island, and 2 km from the shore of Mystery Bay.

This plaque was unveiled by Mrs Hazel Hawke, Chair Heritage Council of NSW on 26 March 1997
CP Vardon Mayor JF Levy General Manager

View of the Rocky Coast from Bar Rock Lookout

Lady Darling Shipwreck 1880
The steamer Lady Darling is thought to have looked similar to this illustration
4 Glasshouse Rocks
The land nearby the Glasshouse Rocks is private property.
Therefore, the closest view is from the cemetery which lies at the end of Cemetery Rd.
Getting to the beach includes a steep descent down the cliff.
The beach is unpatrolled and has rips and rocks which makes swimming not possible.
As a photographer with mobility issues, the best view is to stand at the top of the cliff inside the fence at Narooma cemetery.

Glasshouse Rocks
5 Montague Island Tour
Montague Island is known as Barunguba by the Aboriginal people in the local area.
To visit Montague Island you need to book a tour. Narooma Charters organizes tours to the island.
Things you can do and see on the Montague Island Tours are
- Watch the Whales in whale season, between September and the middle of November
- See the Seals
- Snorkel with the Seals
- Fish
- See the Penguins
- See Dolphins
- Watch the Sunset
- Sightsee at the Lighthouse
- Walk around the Island
See the different tours to choose from at Narooma Charters.
6 Mill Bay Boardwalk
You can walk, wheelchair, or ride a bicycle over the 350-meter Mill Bay Boardwalk. And, you can fish and bird watch there too.
And, the boardwalk crosses over the Wagonga Inlet.
7 Mitchell's Mill Walk
Read about the history and historical sights on Mitchell's Mill Walk. It goes from the Narooma Visitor Information Centre to where Mitchell's Mill once stood.
You'll learn things like the original name of Narooma and its meaning, see the breakwaters, and the place where Mitchell's house was situated.
8 Narooma Surf Beach
Go for a walk along Narooma Surf Beach. The view in the picture was taken from the cliff top at Narooma Cemetery.
Check beachsafe for beach conditions including hazardous rips, rocks, and patrol days and hours. Read and watch the video about going to beaches.

Narooma Surf Beach view from Narooma Cemetery
9 More Things To Do in Narooma
- Discover more beaches and things to do in Narooma
- Find more ideas at Narooma Visitors Information Centre
- 45 Princes Hwy Narooma NSW
NSW Travel Essentials
- Find out the NSW Weather and Warnings at BOM
- Check the Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans and Rules in NSW
- Check for NSW National Park closures and alerts
- Look up the beach information and conditions, at Beachsafe, and the app, for instance:
- If the beach is patrolled or unpatrolled, and if patrolled days and hours
- Warnings
- Current Temperature
- Rips
- Currents
- Swell
- Tide
- Parking
- Look up NSW National Parks for details including alerts, visitor information, park entry fees, annual passes for beaches, lookouts, car parks, and picnic areas, road quality, vehicle access, weather restrictions, entry points, facilities, maps, safety, and prohibited.
- Murramarang National Park on the South Coast NSW near Batemans Bay
- Mimosa Rocks National Park on the South Coast near Bermagui
- Gulaga National Park near Bermagui and Tilba Tilba
- Blue Mountains National Park in country NSW and The Three Sisters in Katoomba
- Eurobodalla National Park on the South Coast from Moruya Head to Mystery Head
- Boewa National Park on the South Coast near Eden
- Meroo National Park near Batemans Bay and Ulladulla on the South Coast
- Budderoo National Park near Jamberoo and Nowra, inland from Kiama on the South Coast
- Barren Grounds Nature Reserve near Kiama on the South Coast
- Macquarie Pass National Park near Kiama on the South Coast
- Killalea Regional Park near Kiama on the South Coast
- Download the National Parks NSW App
- Read the recommendations to leave the park, bush, and beach as you found it
- Don't feed the wildlife, find out the details
- Take water
- Find toilets
Where is Narooma in New South Wales?
In the below map, you can see Narooma is on the south coast of NSW.
Australia Rock and Bar Rock Lookout are at the end of Bar Rock Road (currently closed, check updates)


NSW Travel
Blue Mountains in NSW
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you make purchases, at no extra cost to you. Go on the Three Sisters Walk in the Blue Mountains Where are the Three Sisters? The Three Sisters are at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales,...
Wallaga Lake Things To Do
Things To Do At Wallaga Lake Spend Time by a Lake on the south coast of New South Wales Australia Where Is Wallaga Lake? You will find Wallaga Lake in Bermagui on the south coast of New South Wales Australia. Driving from the north, you'll drive over a...
Sydney to Melbourne Inland RoadTrip
Places to Visit between Sydney and MelbourneVisit 4 places on a Sydney to Melbourne road trip inland. You can stop at these four places and visit them on the drive between Sydney and Melbourne. And, you can visit the four stops on a Melbourne to Sydney road trip too....
Places and Towns to visit near Narooma
- See the things to do in Batemans Bay
- Read about the things to do at Wallaga Lake
- Find places and towns to visit and things to do on the NSW Road Trip
These views are absolutely gorgeous!!
Thank you Shirley
Thank you for sharing. Australia is on my bucket list and I have started researching places I may want to see. Your photos are gorgeous!
Thank you Heather. That sounds cool.
What a beautiful, peaceful location to just hang out. I would love to listen to the water and birds.
Thank you Alison. Glad you like it.
Australia has always been on my bucket list! Maybe one day!
Hope so too, Michele
It would be wonderful to sit at the wharf along Wagonga Inlet to watch the boats. We like boats.
It’s lovely, Missy.
Glad you got to go before the fires!
Me too, Hera. I had gone at the beginning of spring, and the fires started late spring. I had never been to most of the towns in that area. The communities and wildlife are doing it tough.
Amazing photos. It makes me want to visit right now! Hopefully it’s in my future! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Shannon. You’re welcome
Your pictures are gorgeous. I’ve never been to Australia but it’s definitely on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Cynthia. It’s amazing.
Wow! Those photos are stunning. If I ever make it that way, fingers crossed, I will have to visit these beautiful locations. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Amanda for your comments. It’s a beautiful location.
Gorgeous water views! I cannot believe how beautiful the water looks in your photos. I cannot wait to get to Australia one day.
Thank you Jordon. It’s an amazing place.
What a beautiful place! Would love to visit. Anywhere near crashing waves always recharges me and inspires me to create.
Thank you Kmf for your comments. It’s a cool place to hang out.
Those photos look incredible! I would love to see Australia Rock in person one day.
Thank you Tanya for your comments. It’s cool to see Australia carved in a Rock!
This looks beautiful! I have not been to Australia.
Thank you Courtney for your comments. It’s an amazing place.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos! I’d love to visit there someday!
Thank you Lee Anne for your comments. It’s a lovely along the coast of NSW.
Jen, Australia is on my bucket list and this looks like a good place to consider. I’ll look forward to your future posts on Australia. Oh, and the video in the article is a great touch.
Hi Joe
Thank you for your comments.
Along the coast of NSW is amazing.
Your photos are gorgeous! Australia is a place I have always wanted to visit.
Hi Allison
Thank you. It’s a big amazing place.
I’ve always wanted to travel to Australia. After reading this post, I want to even more! The photos you took are gorgeous. My husband and I love to sight see when we travel. We drive around and explore. It sounds like there are many amazing places to explore. Australia rock is one I would definitely like to visit.
Hi Chelsie
Thank you. There are, and the coast is a wonderful place to visit.
I would love to go to Australia. It is so beautiful and so different from one side of the country to the other. But then again so are the states.
Hi Leeanne
Yes, both are big and varied, and have many beautiful places to visit.
This is awesome! I’m currently saving and planning for a trip to Australia so these are great ideas of things I hadn’t heard of yet! Gorgeous photos! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Stephanie
Thank you for your comments.
Stay tuned for other posts on Australia.
If there is anything you would like to know, please ask
Hopefully it works now! You have some beautiful pictures!
Hi Dawn
Thank you, much appreciated!