Introduction to Merimbula

480km (298 miles) S of Sydney; 580km (360 miles) NE of Melbourne

This seaside resort (pop. approximately 7,000) is the last place of interest before the Princes Highway crosses the border into Victoria. Merimbula is a good center from which to discover the surrounding Ben Boyd National Park and Mimosa Rocks National Park; both offer bushwalking. Another park, Bournda National Park, surrounds a lake and has good walking trails and a surf beach.

Golf is the game of choice in Merimbula, and the area's most popular venue is the Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club (tel. 02/6495 6154). You can spot kangaroos grazing on the fairways of the 27-hole course. Another favorite is Tura Beach Country Club (tel. 02/6495 9002), which is known for its excellent coastal views.

Eden, 20km (13 miles) south of Merimbula, was once a major whaling port. The rather gruesome Eden Killer Whale Museum, on Imlay Street in Eden (tel. 02/6496 2094; www.killerwhalemuseum.com.au), is the only reason to stop here. It has a dubious array of relics, including boats, axes, and remnants of the last of the area's killer whales, called Old Tom. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:15am to 3:45pm, Sunday from 11:15am to 3:45pm. In January, it's open daily from 9:15am to 4:45pm. Admission is A$7.50 (US$6.75/£3.40) for adults and A$2.50 (US$2.25/£1.10) for children. You can still see a scattering of whales off the coast in October and November.