Batemans Bay has long lived in the Australian imagination as a place of school holiday rituals and salt-stung memories — a relaxed NSW South Coast town where the Clyde River meets the sea and life moves to the steady rhythm of the tides.
For many, it begins as a holiday destination. For others, it becomes home.
“For me, Batemans Bay was a school holiday destination from birth right through to my late teens,” says Josh Waterson, founder and director of adventure tour operator Region X. “To now call it home feels incredibly special — like returning to something familiar.”
After years of guiding kayak tours around the world, Waterson chose Batemans Bay as the base for Region X, drawn back by its pristine waterways and strong sense of community.
“The rivers here are untouched, the recreational opportunities are endless, and the local people are fiercely proud of this place,” he says.
That pride is something visitors quickly pick up on — often in unexpected ways.
“On our oyster-tasting kayak tours, you paddle just 400 metres from the main town bridge and suddenly you’re immersed in a working oyster industry,” Waterson explains. “It completely shifts how people see the bay.”
From Holiday Spot to Lifestyle Destination
This growing appreciation for Batemans Bay is reflected in its evolving property market.
Local agent Kate Quinlivan of My Agent Team notes a steady increase in Canberra-based professionals choosing to split their time between city work and coastal living.
“Over the past five years, we’ve seen strong demand from buyers who work remotely and spend part of the week by the coast,” she says.
Accessibility plays a major role. Located just under a two-hour drive from Canberra, Batemans Bay offers an appealing balance of career connectivity and seaside calm. As a result, demand has risen — along with property prices.
The housing landscape tells the story of this evolution, ranging from classic 1960s fibro beach shacks to modern apartment developments edging the foreshore.
“Buyers here will always pay a premium for position, aspect and views,” Quinlivan adds. “Once people experience Batemans Bay properly, it rarely stays a holiday destination for long.”
Eat & Drink: Simple, Fresh and Unpretentious
Batemans Bay does food without the fuss. Sandy feet are welcome, and meals unfold at an easy, unhurried pace.
Open Face on Orient Street is a local favourite, widely praised for coffee “done right.” The reopening of the Bay View Hotel has injected fresh energy into the town’s pub scene, serving familiar classics with renewed confidence. Sam’s Pizza remains a dependable go-to for pasta and pizza, while The Oyster Shed on Wray delivers a truly local experience — oysters shucked metres from the water and enjoyed on an over-water verandah as the Clyde drifts below.
See & Do: Life by the Water
Life in Batemans Bay revolves around the ocean and river.
Broulee Beach offers some of the best surf on the NSW South Coast, while Corrigans Beach, just south of town, provides calmer waters and a family-friendly atmosphere complete with playgrounds and nearby off-leash areas.
On the Clyde River, Region X’s oyster-tasting kayak tour glides past working farms, revealing the region’s rich aquaculture story. For something slower-paced, the Sculpture Walk stretches 1.5 kilometres along the foreshore, marina and rock wall, dotted with public artworks and scenic viewpoints.
Whether it’s fishing, surfing, kayaking or simply staring out to sea, Batemans Bay invites residents and visitors alike to reconnect with nature — and with a gentler way of living.
A Coastal Town That Stays With You
What begins as a holiday tradition often becomes something deeper. Batemans Bay has a way of turning short visits into long-term dreams, offering a lifestyle defined by water, community and simplicity.
For those lucky enough to call it home, it’s more than just a seaside town — it’s a place that feels familiar, grounding, and quietly special.
