Pambula River Mouth: Turquoise Estuary Swims & Kangaroos
Pambula River Mouth is where the Pambula River meets the sea at the southern end of Pambula Beach, a short drive south of Merimbula on the Sapphire Coast. On an incoming tide the estuary fills with clear, bright turquoise water over white sandbanks, with the forested headlands of Beowa National Park across the channel.
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It's a flat-water alternative to the surf next door, and it comes with locals: eastern grey kangaroos often laze on the grass and sometimes on the sand. It's one of the easiest, most relaxed swims in Swim New South Wales.
Swimming at Pambula River Mouth
The river mouth is sheltered and wave-free. Shallow sandbanks drop off into deeper blue channels, and the water is clearest on an incoming tide as clean ocean water pushes in. That's the time to go: a gentle float with the current, a paddle along the sandbanks, or a snorkel over the sandy bottom.
Avoid swimming on a strong outgoing tide. The current pulls hard towards the open sea and can quickly take a tired swimmer out of the channel. Stay where you can comfortably stand if you're not confident.
The estuary is a nursery for juvenile fish and stingrays, which rest in the sandy shallows. Shuffle your feet as you walk in so any rays have time to move off. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular here too.
And then there are the kangaroos. They're wild animals, so enjoy them from a distance: never feed, touch or approach them, and keep your food packed away. Human food makes them sick.
How to Get to Pambula River Mouth
From Merimbula, drive about ten minutes south on the Princes Highway and turn onto Pambula Beach Road. Skip the main beach turn-offs and follow Coraki Drive to its southern end, where the road drops steeply down to the reserve at Lions Park beside the river. From the car park it's a short, flat walk across the grass to the sand. There are accessible parking spaces and a level path to accessible toilets and showers.
Know Before You Go
- Free reserve: no entry fee.
- Facilities: toilets, outdoor showers, picnic tables, barbecues and a playground at the reserve.
- Tides: swim on an incoming tide and stay out of the water on a strong outgoing tide.
- Unpatrolled: Pambula Beach is patrolled in summer, but the river mouth isn't. If you swim at the main beach, stay between the red and yellow flags.
- Stingrays: shuffle your feet in the shallows.
- Kangaroos: never feed, touch or approach them; secure your food.
- Rubbish: use the reserve bins or take it home to protect the estuary.
Pambula River Mouth FAQs
Is Pambula River Mouth safe for swimming?
It's calm and wave-free, but unpatrolled. Swim on an incoming tide and avoid strong outgoing tides, when the current runs out to sea.
Are there kangaroos at Pambula Beach?
Yes. Eastern grey kangaroos are often seen on the grassy reserve and sometimes on the sand. They're wild, so keep your distance and never feed them.
When is the best time to visit Pambula River Mouth?
On an incoming tide, when the water is at its clearest and the current is gentler.
Are there toilets at Pambula River Mouth?
Yes. The reserve has toilets, outdoor showers, barbecues and picnic tables.
