Eden

Eden
Eden is set in rugged beauty with golden sandy beaches and crystal waters to the east and forests and parklands to the west. Eden is pretty much the last seaside stop before the Princes Highway heads inland towards Victoria. Eden situated on the magnificent harbour of Twofold Bay is steeped in the traditions of the sea and started its life a whaling town. In 1818 the first whaling station on the Australian mainland was established at Eden, and whaling remained a major industry until the 1920s.
Although whaling is no longer practised the coastline is a whale watching wonderland playing host to these magnificent creatures on their annual migration south during the months of September to November. Many species of whale (Humpbacks, Southern Rights, Minke, Blue) are sighted just offshore during this period, some venturing all the way into the bay. Charter boats offer deep sea fishing and diving expeditions all year round. Eden Killer Whale Museum has many fascinating exhibits of Eden’s past and houses the skeleton of “Old Tom� a legend Killer whale in his day.
Today Eden is touristy in a quiet sort of way, with good fishing, and there are plenty of reminders of the old days, the best of which is the Killer Whale Museum on Imlay Street as well as whaling, it looks at the fishing and timber industries which still contribute to Eden’s livelihood. At the information centre you can also book cruises on Twofold Bay and further out to sea – with luck, penguins, dolphins and, in winter, even whales might be sighted.
There’s more on the important and controversial timber industry at the Harris Daishowa Chipmill, which gobbles up thousands of eucalypts from the surrounding forests and transforms them into wood chips for export to Japan. The visitors centre at Edrom Road (daily 8am–5pm) presents an exhibition and slide show about the local timber industry, past and present – no prizes for guessing whose side they’re on in the forestry debate.
The forests themselves may seem a more attractive option, and as you head south you become increasingly surrounded by the vast temperate rainforests that characterize southeastern Australia. Roads lead off the highway in both directions into the magnificent Ben Boyd National Park, which hugs the coast to the north and south of Eden, offering good camping, walking and beaches.
Inland, the summit of Mount Imlay can be reached by a three-kilometre walking track which starts at the picnic grounds at Burrawang Forest Road, 14km south of Eden. The steep, strenuous ascent is rewarded by a panoramic view over the coast and across the dense forests of the hinterland onto the Monaro plain. An excellent way to explore the mountain and forest is on horseback with Leo’s Eagle Rest Rides.
At BOYDTOWN, 9km south of Eden, take a look at the mock-Tudor Seahorse Inn, which nowadays houses a small museum of local history as well as tearooms, a restaurant and a hotel.
For information on the local area, call in at the Eden Visitors Centre on the highway (Jan & Feb daily 9am–5pm; March–Dec Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat & Sun 9am–noon). Eden can be reached from Bega and Merimbula on Edwards Bus Services from Sunday to Friday, and from Canberra daily.
Mount Imlay National Park
A rough and steep 3km track from the end of Burrawang Forest Road provide access to this park which offers spectacular views of the coast and forest from Mt Imlay. Located 20km south of Eden.
Nalbaugh National Park
Located 40km west of Eden this park has no established walking tracks but the wild area offers many unposted walks. Since it remains mainly undisturbed rare creatures such as the powerful owl and the tiger quoll are left in peace.