Visitor Information -- The Merimbula Tourist Information Centre, Beach Street, Merimbula (tel. 1800/150 457 in Australia, or 02/6495 1129; www.merimbulatourism.com.au), is open daily from 9am to 5pm (10am-4pm in winter).

Special Events -- Jazz fans should head for the Merimbula Jazz Festival held over the long Queens Birthday weekend, the second weekend in June. A country-music festival takes place the last weekend in October.

Getting There

The drive from Sydney or Melbourne is about 7 hours. The Greyhound Australia (tel. 13 14 99 in Australia, or 07/4690 9950; www.greyhound.com.au) bus trip from Sydney takes more than 8 hours.

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