Bodalla & surrounds
Lush green countryside, heritage architecture and cheese making are the hallmarks of the 150-year-old dairy village of Bodalla.
The verdant green farmland and long timber barns surrounding this historic working village tell you you’re in prime dairy country. Australia’s first commercial cheese and first cheese exports were made here, and the tradition is very much alive.
Things to do in Bodalla
Bodalla Dairy
The Bodalla Dairy Shed on the main road is an iconic Bodalla attraction and one of the highlights of the Eurobodalla region.
Using an old-fashioned batch pasteurisation method to produce award-winning cheeses from their own herd of notoriously happy cows. The process can be viewed from behind glass inside the dairy, and cheese-making courses are available. Impressively, this local Bodalla dairy cheese factory owes its origins to a 6th generation farming family, and has been operating for over thirty years in this charming little slice of New South Wales.
The adjoining Dairy Shed Café offers a chance to sample and buy all of the products made by this fine Bodalla company, including their uniquely-flavoured ice cream, as well as other food and local produce. The café has a distinctly retro feel and features a great open deck area for a delightful outdoor dining experience on those long warm days, and a huge stone fireplace for cooler times.
Shops and eateries
Bodalla shops and cafes are clustered along the highway. It’s layout makes for an easy and relaxed walk, with time to explore the township and take in the small details. The perfect place to visit all year round.
A host of other great eateries, quirky shops and interesting galleries dotted along the town’s main street are all part of the fun things to do in Bodalla. With Gallery Bodalla, in the old Post Office, exhibiting impressive local art and craft.
Enjoy a craft ale at Malt Man Brewing, one of the Eurobodalla region’s newest breweries. Offering a dog friendly garden setting you can sample unique beers made on site along with selected wines and spirits. Satisfy your hunger with tasty pizzas, salads and snacks, house roasted coffee and homemade cakes.
If cakes are your thing, don’t miss the Bodalla Bakery. This beautiful quaint bakery in the middle of Bodalla is famous for its incredible celebration cakes. But they are also popular for making traditional pies, pastries and a variety of yummy treats to go.
History
Like many 19th century towns, the architecture here is dominated by the two competing services of the time; the church and the pub.
The magnificent All Saints Church dates to the 1880s and is built in the Victorian Academic Gothic style and is one of many historic Bodalla attractions. The nearby Bodalla Pub, established in 1875 has been the town’s other community meeting place for over 140 years.
As well as offering incredible natural landscapes, the valley holds the relics of a wild and largely unknown past. The now quiet village of Nerrigundah was once a booming gold mining town.
The gold rush established and grew many small regional settlements in New South Wales and Victoria, and along with it some notorious criminals. In 1866, Australia’s worst and most troublesome bushrangers, the Clarke Gang, held up the town to liberate it of its gold. In the ensuing gunfight, a police constable and one of the gang members were killed. An obelisk now stands in the town to commemorate the fallen police officer.
National Parks, forests and wildlife
If you’re looking to go a bit beyond Bodalla for more things to see and do, why not explore the nearby Eurobodalla National Park and the small village of Potato Point.
It is a far cry from the city with wild coastal headlands, remote beaches, great fishing spots, absolute waterfront camping and accommodation. Potato Point is a great little place to visit for a relaxing getaway and a fantastic place to visit with the kids.
Activities include surfing, bushwalking, swimming and snorkelling. It is also one of the best places on the south coast to see wild emus, with the giant birds regularly hanging about on local beaches. The story of how these particular West Australian Emus came to be here is both surprising and fascinating. Unofficially, photographing a kangaroo at South Durras Beach (north of Batemans Bay) and an emu at Potato Point Beach is known as “The Coat of Arms” and comes with substantial bragging rights.
places to stay in bodalla
Bodalla Dairy Shed Guest Rooms
Guest suites are now available and are part of the Bodalla Dairy.
Say Bodalla, say Cheese! Bodalla Dairy’s factory and Dairy Shed café/milk bar are located in the centre of this historic village. For over 100 years Bodalla has been famous for quality cheese. Watch dairy product production through large viewing windows, learn about the dairying industry and taste the acclaimed products at the multi-award winning Bodalla Dairy Shed.
Five stylish quest rooms of the highest standard are on site. These are a bit of a secret but once you find them, you’ll keep coming back.
Beachcomber Holiday Park
Beachcomber Holiday Park is right on the beach in Eurobodalla National Park.Enjoy a holiday the way you used to have them. Laid back, friendly and unpretentious. When you’re looking out across the blue horizon, with the eucalyptus perfume of the bush wafting from behind you, it’s easy to imagine that this was what the world was like before people came along. Go on, enjoy this slice of seclusion, but your Beachcomber hosts warn you that once you get here you’ll want to stay forever.
Learn more about Bodalla.
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Nice ice
The flavours of the bush are making a big bang at Bodalla Dairy. Bodalla Dairy Shed Admit it: ice cream flavours like “Let’s Go Surfing” (also known as fresh mango with toasted coconut pieces) or Coastal Wattleseed, and cheeses with native ingredients like saltbush or Tasmanian pepperberry are hard to resist. It’s no wonder that ...
