Eden
The Crown & Anchor Historic Bed & Breakfast
Tourism links and information of assistance to South Coast visitors
Eden is located on the far south coast of New South Wales in the picturesque Bega Valley Shire. The town has a small population of around 3,500 people and is still very much a 'working town'. The main industries in the Shire include farming, fishing, forestry industries and tourism. The area is often referred to as the Sapphire Coast or the Wilderness Coast. Both descriptions are well deserved. Eden is located in a beautiful and rugged part of the coast. There are many unspoilt beaches and amazingly diverse national parks with walking trails, recreational fishing, sailing, kayaking, diving and many other activities for the active minded. For everyone else there are whale watching cruises during September to November, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, the Killer Whale Museum and local markets, both within Eden and in towns nearby.
Welcome To Eden
Welcome to the beautiful Sapphire Coast. Eden is the ideal location for that well-earned, relaxing holiday, set on beautiful Twofold Bay. Bushwalks, forest drives and beautiful unspoilt beaches are everywhere and can be enjoyed all year round with our great climate. Whales fill a very large part of Eden’s history. Whale watching is an experience of a lifetime, so why not come and join us? Eden is one of the few places in Australia where you can watch these fascinating leviathans close to shore. We hope you enjoy your visit with us. Eden is a very special place and we would love to share it with everyone.
It’s hard to resist the Eden Wharf…
Visitors to Eden invariably find themselves drawn to investigate the natural beauty to be discovered at the Eden Wharf. Three wharves are home to one of the largest fishing fleets in NSW with fishing vessels varying in size from day fishing trips to those which can remain at sea for months chasing big schools of fish around the southern ocean. From the fishing boat fleet cases are swung up to waiting trucks to be ultimately dispatched to the cities’ fish markets; then the boats are cleaned and nets and equipment serviced in readiness for the next trip. If your fishing style happens to be land based, then Eden Wharf is just the spot. In this, the third deepest natural harbour in the world, there’s always the chance to land the evening meal just by dropping a line in the clear waters. There’s a friendly atmosphere no matter what time of year - take away foods, dine-in café-style or even enjoy the restaurant - the wharf really is a great place. Book a charter trip for diving, scenic cruise or fishing. Enjoy a picnic lunch while appreciating the views over the harbour with Mt Imlay rising in the distance. Graceful pelicans frequently soar overhead in search of their own meal, dolphins also invariably enjoy a frolic in Twofold Bay and seals are often seen near the wharf. Perhaps the most popular pastime at the wharf is simply strolling past the many vessels, stopping for an occasional yarn with the locals and learning a little more of the vital fishing industry of Eden.
Gateway centre…visitors welcome
The Eden Visitor Information Centre has always provided visitors to the region with a wealth of information but those who are returning to re-acquaint themselves are in for a pleasant surprise. The centre has been upgraded. The old building had insufficient room to house all the displays, so it has now been relocated just around the corner…still at the roundabout but now situated in Mitchell Street. Eden Gateway Centre is a first rate facility informing visitors not only about regional attractions, but also operating as a ‘gateway’ (hence the name) for those requiring information on more northerly areas or for those heading into the Gippsland region of Victoria. A huge range of displays, literature, maps, video information and wall panels cater for all needs. A range of gifts and souvenirs is also sold from the centre. Assistance is available with tours, attractions, accommodation, National Parks and bookings for whale watching cruises, scenic cruises or fishing charters. For those visiting the nearby Snowy Mountains or travelling to the Australian Capital Territory, there’s a substantial array of information to ensure you’re not left wondering what to do upon arrival. A variety of accommodation is available in Eden – caravan parks, motels and units. Your personal needs can be catered for with one simple call to the centre. Onward bookings to your next destination can also be made. The Eden Gateway Centre is situated at the roundabout, corner of Princes Highway and Mitchell Street facing Mitchell Street or phone (02) 6496 1953.
Eden
Eden, population of around 3,500, has been renowned historically for its whaling industry (now defunct), its fishing (professional and amateur) and in more recent years for its major timber based industries. The town nestles on the shores of Twofold bay, the rugged cliffs from which magnificent views can be obtained of the Pacific Ocean. Humpback whales can be seen in October and November. Eden’s history is steeped in the tradition of the sea, evidenced in the Killer Whale Museum (a must for every visitor) and at the Seamen’s Memorial Wall built in recent times by the townspeople in memory of its seamen who have been tragically lost at sea and never found. The commercial fishing fleet has often been the major supplier of the fresh fish to the Sydney market. Of equal importance, the woodchip export industry and the sawmill industry. Not only do the state forests which surround Eden provide valuable timbers, they also offer many attractive recreation and educational opportunities. In particular, Newtons Crossing picnic area (swimming and camping), Mallacoota Lookout (majestic views over Mallacoota Inlet) and Maxwell's picnic area and Rainforest Walk are well worth a visit.
Ben Boyd National Park
Generous folding in the red and brown shales, conglomerates and sandstones have produced a rugged coastline with cliffs, jagged rocks and sweeping beaches to the north. In the southern sector, a large expanse of heath stretches back from the rocky headland below Green Cape Lighthouse, gradually giving way to tall sclerophyll woodland. Perhaps the most spectacular of the heath flowers are the bright pink bells of the Coral Heath. Boronias, low growing wattles, the red belled Native Fuchsia, and woody hakeas are supported by the organic sandy loams fringing the coastline. Red bloodwoods characterised by rough flaky bark. And the Silver Top Ash dominates the sclerophyll woodlands. Tall stands of coastal Banksia, rough barked Anaphora and Sunshine Wattle grow up to ten metres high, shading the under storey of geebungs, hakeas, tea trees and black boys. The dunes backing the beaches in the northern sector support sand binding plants, low heath and merge into woodland. Commonly seen in the area are grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, Red Necked Wallabies and goannas. Occasionally visitors may catch sight of Yellow Bellied Gliders, wombats and marsupial mice, which even occur near picnic areas. White breasted sea eagles, yellow tailed black cockatoos and lyre birds are common in the park, which serves as a haven for the rare Ground Parrot, an endangered species which nests in the heath.
Seamen's Memorial Wall
On the lookout adjoining Rotary Barbeque Park, there is located a unique memorial wall on which plaques have been, and are still being erected, carrying the names of seafarers, fishermen and others, who through tragedy have been lost out of Eden and their bodies never recovered. The wall was built by a local committee following the sinking of the Eden trawler “Shiralee” in 1978 with the loss of all three men on board.
Recording the Memories
One of the most fascinating and interesting 'places to see' at Eden, also happens to be one of the ports busy industrial areas… the trawlers and wharves in Snug Cove (just follow Imlay Street through the shopping centre). There is plenty of activity, and plenty of colours for the shutterbugs, when the boats are unloading in the afternoons. There are some wonderful photographs to be had too, when the fleet is tied up to the wharves due to rough weather. While on the subject of photography, a couple of other most photographed subjects in the town are the Eagles Claw Rocks on the Lookout. Drive to the eastern end of Weecoon Street and walk across a park to the cliff edge; you can't miss the three prominent rock 'claws'. With the sapphire sea on the east and the timbered ranges on the west, Eden offers a restful and enjoyable backdrop for your holidays to enjoy nature all year round.