New South Wales · Narooma
Montague Island (Barunguba)
The largest little-penguin colony in NSW, on a nature reserve reached by guided boat off Narooma.
The place
Montague Island (Barunguba)
Montague Island — Barunguba to the Yuin people — is a nature reserve nine kilometres off Narooma, home to the largest little-penguin colony in New South Wales, plus Australian and New Zealand fur seals, ninety-odd bird species and, in season, migrating whales.
Access is by licensed guided boat only: evening tours to see the penguins ashore, day tours for the seals and the 1881 lighthouse, and even overnight stays in the lighthouse keeper's cottage.
All places to see penguinsRegion
Far South Coast NSW
Nearest
Narooma · 9 km offshore
Species
Little penguin · fur seals
Best time
Evening guided tours
Access
Licensed boat tour only
Protected
Montague Island Nature Reserve
Good to know
- Book through a licensed operator; boat access is weather-dependent.
- Minimum visitor age is five.
- Around four hours south of Sydney, or 2.5 hours from Canberra.