Guide to Sussex Inlet New South Wales Australia

Sussex Inlet lies on the channel that links St Georges Basin with the ocean, about 45 minutes south of Nowra. Canals lined with jetties run through part of the town, which gives it its nickname, the Venice of the South Coast. It is a favourite with families and retired people who like to fish.

Known For

• Fishing in the inlet, the basin and the surf
• Canals, jetties and boat hire
• Uncrowded ocean beaches close by

Things To Do in Sussex Inlet

Fishing and Boating

The inlet is known for flathead, bream, blackfish and whiting, and the basin upstream for trophy flathead. Boats, kayaks and paddleboards can be hired on the waterfront, and a big family fishing carnival is held each July.

Beaches

A short drive or a boat trip brings you to the ocean. Cudmirrah Beach and Berrara Beach, to the south, have good surf, and Bherwerre Beach, across the inlet in Booderee National Park, is wild and almost always empty.

Swan Lake

Just south of town, this smaller lake is shallow and calm, ideal for young children, kayaks and summer prawning.

Where To Stay

The town has many holiday parks, some with their own jetties, as well as motels and holiday houses on the canals.

Eat & Drink

There is a shopping centre with cafes and takeaways, an RSL club on the water, a bowling club and a small cinema.

History

The first settlers were the Ellmoos family from Denmark, who arrived in 1880 and built a guesthouse, Christians Minde, on the eastern bank. It still stands and is counted as the oldest guesthouse on the South Coast.

Getting to Sussex Inlet

Turn off the Princes Highway onto Sussex Inlet Road, south of Wandandian, and follow it for 13 kilometres.