Known for its long history of cheesemaking, this pretty valley town provides easy access to national parks and the beaches of the Sapphire Coast.
Set amid green rolling hills dotted with dairy cattle, Bega is a picturesque country town that has retained its historic character. Admire the appearance of the heritage buildings and museums of the main street or venture out of town to hike through the stunning coastal wilderness of the Mimosa Rocks National Park.
Cheesemaking has been a booming industry in Bega since 1900. Discover the secrets of traditional cheesemakers at the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre and taste the creamy dairy products in the attached café. Learn about the European settlers at the Bega Pioneers Museum, which documents the early days of the town with displays of textiles, farming tools, military artefacts from both world wars and an extensive collection of pioneer photography. Other interesting attractions in town include the Bega Valley Regional Gallery, which showcases both historic and contemporary art, while the artists’ co-operative gallery on Church Street sells local art and pottery.
Head to the coast to soak up the sun on the white-sand beach in the town of Tathra. The town’s historic wooden steamer wharf is a great place to go for a stroll and enjoy lunch in the café-gallery housed in the old cargo sheds. Taste the famous Tathra oysters, look for fur seals and penguins playing around the wharf and rent a kayak for a paddle in the Bega River.
Mimosa Rocks National Park, named after a wrecked paddle steamer, lies on the coast by Tathra. Follow forest trails dotted with remnants of the 19th-century timber industry and marvel at the impressive castle-like rocks of the shoreline. The park also contains important middens where feasts were once held by the Yuin Aboriginal people. Hike along the coast to the secluded Moon Bay for a swim in azure waters.
Bega is about an hour’s drive south of the Wadbilliga National Park. While the town of Bega itself is small, it is charming and perfectly located for those wanting to explore the national parks and Sapphire Coast.
