Fast facts
- A pretty southern Monaro district town on the shores of the Bombala River
- Rolling pastures and dense native forests
- 485 km south-west of Sydney, population 1,200
Why go there
Eighty kilometres south of Cooma, Bombala is a picturesque town supporting agriculture, sheep and beef cattle. It is renowned for the trout and platypus in its waters.
Twenty kilometres outside Bombala is the South East Forest National Park with beautiful old-growth forests, swamps and fern-filled gullies.
History
First settled in the early 1830s, the area around Bombala became popular for its lush grazing land. The town was founded as a service centre in the 1840s.
Things to do
- Wander the self-guided heritage walk that includes the historic Olympic Cinema.
- Taste the truffles and other organic produce.
- Ride a mountain bike through the designated State Forest areas.
Events
- The Bombala Motorcycle Association’s Annual Celebration of the Motorcycle in September revs up interest.
- The Bombala and District Garden Club celebrates nature with its Spring Fair in October.
- The Bombala Historical Engines and Machinery Society’s Annual Engine Rally attracts interest from around the country.
Don’t miss
- The leisurely scenic drive south to Victoria’s Gippsland.
- The view across the town from Endeavour Reserve.
- Spotting a platypus – they're found in significant numbers in the local waterways.
- Platypus Country Visitor Information Centre at Railway Park.
- An aromatic souvenir from the town’s popular lavender farms.
