Idlewilde Motor Inn

South Coast NSW


A good choice for wildlife watchers, Idlewilde is a few steps from wetland reserve Panboola, and in winter kangaroos bound right into the yard. Sixteen cosy rooms have the usual conveniences, like kettles and fridges, plus sofas indoors and seating on the lawn outside.

Ask ahead for interconnecting rooms (this is a great spot for families). Check online for discounts galore, including lower rates for seniors and reduced tariffs for long stays.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Coast NSW attractions

1. Panboola

0.12 MILES

An admirable community project has protected 77 hectares of wetlands for native bird species. The well-managed realm of mangroves and salt marshes is…

2. Nature Boardwalk

3.21 MILES

Following the estuary for 1.7km, the boardwalk is a pleasant stroll past mangroves, oyster farms and melaleucas. You'll spot seabirds, scuttling crabs and…

3. Merimbula Aquarium

3.74 MILES

Get to know your wrasse from your kingfish at the aquarium beneath the very good seafood restaurant Merimbula Wharf. It's an educational, if not very…

4. Potoroo Palace

5.09 MILES

Warmly run Potoroo Palace, a not-for-profit animal sanctuary, has a menagerie including echidnas, dingoes, koalas and native birds. Keepers have an…

5. Killer Whale Museum

9.65 MILES

This long-running museum satisfies appetites for tales of seabound adventures, local Aboriginal history and blubber-based medical cures. As its…

6. Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre

9.9 MILES

There's a school-classroom feel to the family-focused Marine Discovery Centre, which has touch pools full of harmless creatures and a dark room that glows…

7. Whale Lookout

10.16 MILES

Between late September and late November, a good spot to look for whales is at the scenic lookout south of the wharf. This can also save you the time and…

8. Boyd's Tower

12.6 MILES

At the end of Edrom Rd is the turn-off for Boyd’s Tower, built in the late 1840s from Sydney sandstone. It was built as a lighthouse, but the government…