Merimbula and Pambula, less than 10 minutes apart, are located on the Sapphire Coast of NSW, a spectacular coastal region of picturesque villages, beautiful beaches, calm lakes, and pristine national parks.
Quick facts
The population of Merimbula and Pambula is more than 9,000, the median age is 54 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 2% of the population.
Merimbula and Pambula are located within the South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network, this Population Health Profile provides an overview of community health for the region.
Located on the Far South Coast of NSW between Melbourne and Sydney, the Sapphire Coast is only a 3 hour drive from Canberra via Cooma or a 6 hour drive from either Melbourne or Sydney. Both Merimbula and Pambula are less than a half hour drive from the regional centre of Bega. Tura Beach is a suburb of Merimbula.
The Sapphire Coast is a high-quality oyster-producing region, both Merimbula Lake and Pambula Lake are renowned for their oysters, with Pambula Lake boasting the highest concentration of oyster farms in the region.
There is a regional airport at Merimbula with daily connections between Melbourne and Sydney.
CountryLink, VLine and Premier Motor Service provide regular coach services from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, and local bus services can get you around once you’re here.
The main industries in Merimbula are:
- Accommodation and food services
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Education and training
Pambula Hospital is the closest public hospital (less than 50 beds), it has a Nurse-led Assessment, Treatment, and Care Centre (ATC) for walk-in patients. The ATC is for minor injuries and illnesses and is open 8.00am to 8.00pm seven days a week.
Bega (less than 30 min drive) has a major regional hospital – South East Regional Hospital that opened in 2016. It offers emergency department bays, medical and surgical inpatient beds, a maternity unit, a critical care unit, operating theatres including day surgery, renal dialysis chairs, oncology area, separate mental health unit and a sub-acute rehabilitation unit.
There is a NSW Ambulance Service station at Merimbula.
Pambula Medical Centre
Sapphire Clinic
Tura Beach Medical Centre
Schools in Merimbula and Pambula include Merimbula Public School, Pambula Public School and Lumen Christi Catholic College (K-12).
Publich high schools are available in Bega and Eden.
There are a number of pre-school, day care and child care options available in the Merimbula and Pambula area.
Supermarkets in the Merimbula area include Woolworths at Merimbula and Tura Beach, and Foodworks in Pambula. There is also the Merimbula Fresh Food Market. Merimbula has a Target and a number of specialty stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafes.
In nearby Bega (25 minutes from Merimbula) is the Sapphire Marketplace, a major shopping destination of the Sapphire Coast region. The shopping centre includes Big W, Woolworths, Dan Murphys and over 20 specialty stores.
There are a number of places of worship in Merimbula including Catholic, Anglican, and Uniting churches.
The nearest Buddhist temples, and mosques are located in Canberra (3 hours from Merimbula).
Sporting Activities
Merimbula Pambula Bulldogs
Merimbula Diggers Australian Rules Football Club
Merimbula Grasshoppers Football Soccer Club
Merimbula Tennis Club
Merimbula Cricket Club
Merimbula Basketball
Merimbula District Netball Association
Merimbula Golf Club
Merimbula Fishing, Boating and Camping
Sapphire Aquatic Centre
Cultural Activities
Giiyong Festival
Merimbula Imlay Historical Society
Twyford Hall
Social Media Groups
Merimbula and District Community Notice Board
Merimbula/Pambula Buy, Sell, Trade
Annual Events
Merimbula Jazz Festival
Merimbula Fun Run
Ace of Clubs Golf Classic
Points of Interest
The Sapphire Coast is a spectacular place to be. Enjoy relaxed sunny days, long strolls along uncrowded beaches, pristine sapphire coastal waters, walks through National Parks, cafes, restaurants and boutique shopping.
There golf courses in abundance including the popular Tura Beach Country Club and Pambula Merimbula Golf Club. Art galleries can be found throughout the area as well as other cultural activities, including local museums and historical sites, or the local cinema.
Image gallery
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- Coastline
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- Whale watching
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- Windsurfing
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- Coastline
