30 Dec 08 Eden

Eden is located (475km) 6 hours south of Sydney, 7 hours from Melbourne and 3 hours from Canberra and is just 61km south of Bega on N.S.W.’s Sapphire Coast. It is the last main town and Seaport before the Victorian Border and home to 3,000 people.  Eden is situated on the deep harbor of Twofold Bay (third deepest natural harbor in the world) and it overlooks Snug Cove.

The area (which includes Ben Boyd National Park, Nadgee Nature Reserve and Womboyn Lake) is one of phenomenal beauty.  Brightest blue waters of lagoons, oceans and lakes are separated by white sands; bushland reaches out towards the mountains and the small and pretty town, surrounded by National Park and woodland, is a tranquil place to be.  The area was originally inhabited by the Thawa Aborigines.  The first white settlement was established by John Raine when he started the first on shore whaling station in the deep Twofold Bay in 1828.  In days gone by, the sounds of a siren blasting meant that a passing whale had been spotted.  Whales still pass by from late September to November, but now they are watched with wonder and not hunted.  The whales are migrating south to the Antarctic.  Humpbacks, sometimes with calves, Orcas and Blue Whales can often be spotted feeding in the waters around Eden.

In 1949 a tuna canning operation was started in Eden.  Commercial fishing is still one of the town’s main industries, as well as the income that tourists bring when they come to enjoy the surroundings and dip their own line into the water.

Apart from whale watching, fishing and beautiful walks, Eden has many shops, sporting facilities, restaurants and licensed clubs for visitors to enjoy.  Eden is a fine place to stay.