Sapphire Coast's Easter Feast of Beasts

Davidson Whaling Station

Children who like to get up close and personal with the wild, weird and wonderful should be heading for the NSW Sapphire Coast over the Easter Holidays.

National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre and Potoroo Palace are all offering a range of activities that will allow kids - and their parents - to find out more about critters with fur, feathers and fins.

The NSW NPWS Discovery Activities 

These will run from April 3-18 with the program including snorkelling, canoeing, a boat trip across Eden's Twofold Bay to tour the Davidson Whaling Station, and snakes alive! Bookings are essential and full details are available from the NPWS offices at Merimbula and Bombala or on the website www.wildwildworld.com.au

Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre at Eden is offering a range of its most popular activities during the Easter holidays including Rocky Shore Ramble, a 90-minute guided tour of the local rock platforms with a marine biologist pointing out what lurks along the water's edge. There are also guided snorkelling tours, fish feeding and special marine-related creative sessions. Bookings are essential. For more details, phone (02) 6496 1699 or check the website (www.sapphirecoastdiscovery.com.au).

Potoroo Palace Native Animal Education Sanctuary 

Potoroo Palace Sanctuary

An evening with a flock of flying foxes will be hosted at Merimbula on April 11. Visitors are invited to arrive at the wildlife sanctuary (2372 Princes Highway, Yellowpinch) an hour before sunset for soup, bread rolls and a talk by the keepers before thousands of flying foxes head out to feed for the night. The fly-out should darken the skies for about 30 minutes and the evening is a chance to learn about family bonds, the critical role flying foxes play in forests, and their unique personalities. Cost is a gold coin donation. More information is available on the website (www.potoroopalace.com/) or by phoning the Sanctuary on (02) 6494 9053.  

Twofold Bay Discovery Cruises

Eden-based whale specialist Cat Balou will be running its popular two-hour Twofold Bay Discovery Cruises during the holidays. While the whales won't be around until later in the year, visitors will learn about Eden's fascinating whaling history and - fingers crossed - the dolphins and seals will be co-operative! More information is available on the website, www.catbalou.com.au/

Tathra Mountain Bike Enduro

Tathra Mountain Bike Enduro

Of course, Easter on the Sapphire Coast is not just about animal encounters. Mountain bikers who are visiting the area should make sure they bring their gear and sign on for the Tathra Mountain Bike Enduro over the weekend of April 21-22. There are free children's races as well as 20km, 50km and 100km loops for the more experienced, with all proceeds going to clean energy projects in the town. All the details are on the website: www.mountainbiking.com.au

Merimbula Centenary

And there is a lot of extra action in Merimbula during these holidays because the town is celebrating its Centenary. Easter Saturday is when it all wraps up, and a full list of activities is available on the Sapphire Coast website (see below).

Sapphire Coast

Located on the far south coast of NSW, the Sapphire Coast is three hours' drive from Canberra via Cooma ( slightly longer at present due to closure of Brown Mountain/Snowy Mountains Highway after flooding) or a six/seven-hour drive from either Melbourne or Sydney. There are also regular daily flights from Melbourne or Sydney via REX Airlines into Merimbula, and regular inter-city bus services.

More information on the area, and accommodation details and bookings, are available by calling toll-free on 1800 150 457 or by visiting the region's website, http://www.sapphirecoast.com.au