VIEW the New South Wales South Coast Photo Gallery.

In the bad old days of Australian whaling, the township of Eden on the New South Wales South Coast close to the Victorian border was a bustling whaling community.

Particularly during the whale migration season, when whales from the Antarctic started swimming north to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef, packs of killer whales (orca) helped the local whalers by herding the migrating whales into Eden's Twofold Bay.

There the hemmed-in whales were killed for their oil.

Old Tom

One of the packs of killer whales was led by the orca the whalers named Old Tom.

Old Tom died around the time whaling ceased in Australia in the 1920s — of old age, if not of heartbreak.

Old Tom's skeleton is today the centrepiece of exhibits at Eden's Whale Museum.

Fisherman's paradise

With the cessation of Australian whaling, fishing became the primary focus of Eden activities — making the town a fisherman's eden.

The New South Wales South Coast is in fact divided into several colorfully-named coasts, from the Illawarra Coast to the Shoalhaven and the Eurobodalla and Sapphire Coasts.

Eden is at the southern end of the Sapphire Coast which starts near the fishing town of Bermagui where American western author Zane Grey used to fish and had his fishing camp in the south of town.

The whole of the Sapphire Coast and the areas north of it are renowned as great fishing grounds.

Midway point

Because Eden lies roughly at the midway point on the Princes Highway along the coastal route between Sydney and Melbourne, it has also become a convenient place for overnight stayovers.

Eden is roughly 480 kilometres from Sydney and 560 kilometres from Melbourne. Driving time from either of these cities to Eden should be around seven hours.

If you arrive in Eden in the afternoon and leave late the following day, you have enough time to see some of the town's major attractions. Of course, you may want to stay an extra day or two.

Explore and experience

Beaches and parklands and nearby forests provide areas for exploration and relaxation.

In town, don't forget Old Tom at the Whale Museum where many exhibits provide insights into Australia's whaling past.

South of town, visit the Davidson shore-based whaling station at Kiah Inlet. There are picnic grounds and walking tracks around the station buildings.

For divers and snorkelers there are a number of dive sites with fascinating ship wrecks. Charters and cruise boats are available in town.

Up the hill from Eden Wharf, visit Lookout Point, Rotary Park and Seamens Memorial Wall for panoramic views of Twofold Bay and Mt Imlay.

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