Holiday houses in Broulee

You probably haven’t heard of Broulee before—and that’s just the way locals like it. This dreamy seaside town on the South Coast of New South Wales delivers everything you could possibly want in an Aussie beach holiday: long stretches of powdery sand, opaline coves, waves for surfing, estuaries for swimming or kayaking, and lookouts for spotting bottlenose dolphins and migrating whales — the latter linger in these waters from May to November to refuel before heading back to Antarctica. The area is also surrounded by state forests and national parks, many of which reveal opportunities for high-octane 4WD adventures. In fact, the only things Broulee doesn’t offer are the crowds who characterise many other beachside villages on the coast and around the Eurobodalla region. Which means you can ease into a laidback Broulee lifestyle full of outdoor pursuits by day and starry skies by night.

Dreaming of old-school beachside summer holidays? From December through February, Broulee delivers just that: sunshine, sand, swimming, and surfing. Pad barefoot to buzzing cafes, or eat fish and chips while gazing out over the ocean. It’s a hot time to be hiking and cycling, however, so many visitors return in the cooler winter months (June through August) to enjoy these pursuits, and to do so in the company of migrating whales. Southern right whales love these warm waters, and tend to linger here late in the season (October and November) to feed their young before continuing their journey south.

Broulee Island Nature Reserve

Connected to the mainland via a permanent sand spit, Broulee Island unites pristine rock pools with wide ocean vistas and swathes of native forest. The four-kilometre walk here from the Broulee Surf Club is popular among birdwatching enthusiasts, who delight in spotting superb fairywrens and enormous white-bellied sea eagles.

Surfing

Surf culture in Broulee is strong, with waves around the region catering to all levels of experience. Just starting out? Sheltered North Broulee is one of the best places to learn to surf on the South Coast. More challenging are the breaks at South Broulee, as is Pink Rocks on the northern side of Broulee Island, known for delivering monster waves.

Cycling Mogo State Forest

A 15-minute drive northwest from Broulee you’ll discover one of Eurobodalla’s most adrenaline-pumping cycle trails. Winding 14 kilometres (8.5 miles) through Mogo State Forest, the loop track caters to beginners and advanced mountain bikers alike, with scenic flat stretches of track through forest, plus steeper hills and dips sure to excite those with a passion for speed.