Merimbula is a town on Merimbula Lake, on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, also known as the Sapphire Coast. At the 2021 census it had 3,821 residents, and more than 11,500 once the satellite towns of Pambula and Tura Beach are counted. This page covers what living in Merimbula looks like day to day.
We have kept to the practical side: the setting, the weather, schools, getting around, sport and the distances to bigger centres. For holiday planning, our Merimbula travel guide is the better starting point.
Setting and population
The town sits on the lake and the coast, with beaches close by. Within 10 km of the Merimbula Post Office there are more than 18,000 people, and Tura Beach falls inside that radius.
A decent share of residents are retirees, which helps explain why golf and lawn bowls are so popular. Merimbula is largely a tourist town, and the bulk of its earnings come from tourism. Holiday accommodation is plentiful, including motels, self-contained units and holiday houses for rent. Merimbula is also known for its good beaches and locally produced oysters.
A little local history
Merimbula Point is of palaeontological significance and is regularly studied by the School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University. Several previously unknown species have been found in the ancient sedimentary rocks there, including Merimbulaspis and Pambulaspis.
The town also has a number of heritage-listed sites. One is Courunga, on Monaro Street.
Climate in Merimbula
Merimbula has an oceanic climate (Cfb), with mild to warm summers and cool, windy, drier winters. Average annual rainfall is 770 mm. Recorded extremes run from 44.2 °C down to -2.0 °C.
The relatively dry winters and springs are typical of the New South Wales coastline and are attributed to the foehn effect. The town's south-western location also exposes it to cold southerly airmasses off Bass Strait, which rarely reach areas further north on the coast. Even in summer that can bite: December 2019 saw a reading of 3.9 °C.
In practice, the climate is closer to East Gippsland than to the rest of the New South Wales coast, with distinctly cooler temperatures and lower dew points. If you are used to Sydney humidity, we reckon you will notice the difference.
Schools and everyday services
Merimbula has one primary school, Merimbula Public School. It does not have a high school. Public high school students travel to Bega or Eden, and others attend private schools in the surrounding area, including at Pambula Beach, Eden and Bega. For families, that daily travel is worth weighing up early.
There are many restaurants and eateries in town, including one small bar. Merimbula Wharf has an aquarium with 25 tanks, and it is a popular restaurant for locals and visitors alike.
Getting around and distances
Merimbula is one of only a few South Coast towns with its own airport. QantasLink and Rex Airlines run daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne, and flights from Sydney often stop in Moruya.
By road, the town sits just off the Princes Highway (the national highway 1). The drive is nearly the same distance to Sydney and Melbourne.
| Destination | By road |
|---|---|
| Sydney | Between five and seven hours |
| Melbourne | Between five and seven hours |
| Canberra | About three hours |
Many interstate and intrastate road coaches serve the town, connecting with rail services at many interchanges. Local commuter buses run six days a week to nearly all urban areas and some regional centres within the council area.
Sport, events and the outdoors
Berrambool Oval has a green oval and two soccer fields. It hosts cricket in summer and Australian Football in winter. The Merimbula Diggers play in AFL Sapphire Coast and are one of its most successful clubs.
Other clubs include:
- Merimbula Grasshoppers (soccer, with men, women and junior sides)
- Merimbula Knights Cricket Club
- Merimbula Basket Ball Club
- Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club
- Merimbula Netball Association
The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, based in nearby Pambula, play in the Group 16 Rugby League Premiership. Five golf courses lie within an hour's drive, including Pambula Merimbula GC and Tura Beach Country Club. Merimbula is also the home town of Cooper Woods-Topalovic, the 2026 Winter Olympic men's moguls gold medallist.
The yearly calendar includes the Jazz Festival on the Queen's Birthday weekend in early June, and a much smaller Country Music Festival at the Merimbula-Imlay Bowling Club around the start of November. The Pambula Merimbula Golf Club hosts a Week of Golf in October that draws over 900 golfers, and the Merimbula Classic windsurfing and kiteboarding festival runs in late November.
Beaches and nature
There are six main beaches: Main Beach, Mitchies Jetty, Bar Beach, Spencer Park Beach, Middle Beach and Short Point. Main Beach, Bar Beach and Short Point are rated best for surfing, and Bar Beach is also used for snorkelling. Middle Beach suits fishing. Bournda National Park, South East Forest National Park and the northern end of Beowa National Park are all close. Potoroo Palace Wildlife Sanctuary is 10 km west along the Princes Highway towards Bega. See our Merimbula activities and attractions page for more, or Merimbula holidays with kids if you have a family in tow. Official state information is at Visit NSW.
Frequently asked questions
Does Merimbula have a high school?
No. Public high school students travel to Bega or Eden, or attend private schools in the area.
How far is Merimbula from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra?
Sydney and Melbourne are each between five and seven hours' drive. Canberra is about three hours away.
What is the weather like in Merimbula?
Summers are mild to warm, and winters are cool, windy and drier. Annual rainfall averages 770 mm. More detail is on Wikipedia: Merimbula.