18 great bike rides in the Narooma - Tilba - Bermagui area of the New South Wales Far South Coast
Ride 2
Seaspray Drive to Mummuga Lake
Return distance 16 kilometres
Easy grade
Start: Rotary Park
This is an easy ride along the foreshore of Wagonga Inlet to Dalmeny and then to Mummuga Lake.
Although this is a rather short ride of about an hour or so, allow more time to look at the vantage points along the way, and to enjoy some time beside the lake, and, in the right season (between September and early December), watching the whales.
Coffee anyone?
There is a shop at Kianga serving dine-in meals, takeaway foods and coffee. Enjoy your refreshments at the front deck of the cafe, or at the beachfront opposite, and a cafe at the Dalmeny shops you will pass on your way to the lake.
Start at Rotary Park
Start this ride at Rotary Park near the wharf. The first couple of kilometres are along a well-formed bicycle track beside the water. Cross over the bridge (there is a lane on the side of the bridge for cyclists and foot traffic). Take your time to take in the views of the inlet from the bridge.
From the bridge, there is a short but steep section of track. If you have children with you, make sure you supervise them on this stretch of the track. There is a boat ramp at the bottom, and a public road. And there is a bollard at the bottom that is in a position that makes it very easy to hit.
Mill Bay Boardwalk
Ride down to the start of the Mill Bay boardwalk. This is a multi-use facility that is shared by dogs and dog owners, cyclists and pedestrians. This is a 700-metre facility that is very popular. Once you have ridden over it a few times, you will realise why it is so popular. Watch out for fish in the clear waters below, and the odd seal that will be basking on the surface, usually at the eastern end of the boardwalk near the boat ramp and the fish-cleaning tables.
The northern breakwater
At the end of the boardwalk, continue on for a short distance and go to the end of the northern breakwater. Sometimes wild seas rush in through the heads, and the huge waves can be quite spectacular. Watching the small fishing boats coming over the bar is rather nerve-wracking at times!
Centenary Drive
Return to the end of the boardwalk, and pick up the cycle track. Watch out for vehicles and boats on trailers. In peak holiday time, there is often a lot of traffic in this section. Please supervise small children.
Ride past the wetland, and along Centenary Drive to the end, then turn right into the cycleway beside Dalmeny Drive. This road is sometimes known as Seaspray Drive. The good news is that the Eurobodalla Shire Council, with a team of dedicated volunteers, has constructing a bike path / multi-use path from Centenary Drive all the way to Dalmeny shops. This is one fabulous bike path, and an excellent example of what can be achieved by the community pulling together and raising tens of thousands of dollars towards the project, and a Council who can work with those volunteers to achieve something worthwhile for their community!
For part of the way, you have bush on one side, and the ocean on the other. Along this stretch of cycleway, you can get good views of Montague Island a few kilometres off shore. If you have time during your stay in Narooma, enquire at the Visits Centre about trips to the island. There, you will be able to see the large seal colonies (Australian fur seals, New Zealand fur seals, and some Antarctic fur seals, little penguins (often known as fairy penguins), and probably whales at the tight time of the year. But for now, back to cycling.
Riding through Dalmeny
The cycleway now extends to the Dalmeny shops. But along the way there are two wonderful viewing platforms. One is almost opposite Duesbury Road, but there is a short extension to the cycleway taking you to the platform. And a little further along the cycleway, there is another platform, this one much larger than the previous one, with views south towards Narooma, to Montague Island, and to the north, the cliffs and headlands in the Eurobodalla National park, with Tuross in the distance, and the Eurobodalla National Park just over the water.
Dalmeny shops
Wind your way past the camping ground until you reach the shops (you will still be on the formed cycleway). There is a playground opposite the shops, an ideal stopping place for a while if you are taking small children with you, and that is where you will pick up the next bike path. But don’t cross the main road.
The bike track will take you past Mummuga Lake near the entrance and the main channel. Keep on going until you come to the first road. This will be Binalong Street.
To Mummuga Lake
Turn right and ride for about 50 metres to Myuna Street. Turn down Myuna Street and go to the end. Turn right into Atunga Street to the end.
There is a picnic area beside the lake, with a boat ramp, benches and plenty of shade on those warm days. And usually a cool, gentle breeze in summer.
Return to the start of your ride by retracing your route.
Map for Ride 2.