Visit Observation Head Lookout, which sits high on a headland just east of the small village of Batehaven in southeastern New South Wales. Drive or hike here to enjoy the panoramic views, which are often magical at sunrise.
Observation Head is the name of the headland with the Observation Point at its summit. Tall spotted gum trees stand on the headland, providing shade during hot summer days and some shelter during colder windy days.
Aboriginal people stored water and tools in the hollow gum trees on the hill. The Koori have lived in this bay for as long as anyone can remember and reportedly used to come here to find bush “tucker” (food) and quartz stones to sharpen their spearheads for hunting and fishing. These stones also kept the heat of their fires going and they used to cook meals on the hot stones.
These days, the area is mostly used as a lookout point. Access is free of charge and you can park your car at the top. Fences are in place to keep visitors from tumbling down the cliffs, which are very rugged and steep.
If you look just to the south you can see the rocky shape of Snapper Island, a small mountain-like island full of tall green trees. This dot of an island has a hidden cave at sea level that was used for contraband storage by smugglers back in the late 1800s.
To get a closer look at the cave on Snapper Island, join a tour by boat. Drive to the boat ramp at the Hanging Rock recreational area just across from Joes Creek in Batemans Bay. Note that you’ll only be able to see the cave from the water as you are not permitted to land on any island in Batemans Bay Marine Park.
If you want to stay the night near the Observation Head Lookout to catch the sunrise, it’s recommended to book ahead. Batehaven is a popular spot with Canberrans who want to escape the land-locked Australian capital city during long weekends and school vacations. There are a few hotels and motels and some RV parks in town. Batemans Bay, which is just to the north, has a much wider range of accommodation options and also a bigger selection of shops, cafés and restaurants.
