Things to Do in Mallacoota Over Christmas and January

Summer brings beach cricket, fishing competitions and live music by the lake, and something is on for New Year's Eve in town. Christmas to mid-January is the peak, and the crowds thin from late January. In January cafés and restaurants are generally open seven days.

This page is the Christmas and January list. For the rest of the year, see our things to do in Mallacoota page, and for crowds, water temperature and booking windows, read what Mallacoota is like in summer.

Community markets run every Saturday through the summer school holidays, and at Easter.

The Mallacoota Artisans and Produce Market runs on the first Saturday of the month, 8am to 12pm, at Lions Park and the Mudbrick Pavilion. It doesn't run in January or at Easter.

Mallacoota Bakery opens early for pies, pasties, bread and coffee, and there's often a queue in summer. Sundayss, the seasonal café and juice bar on Allan Drive next to the Bakery and Scallywags, is closed over the cooler months and generally reopens in the early summer period. Our Sundayss guide has more.

Mallacoota Hireboats is family-run and has been going since 2012. Grant Cockburn hires out power boats, the fast boat Kermit, the Inlet Barbie pontoon, kayaks, SUPs, pedal boats and bikes. It's at 10 Buckland Drive, with the jetty at M38 Coulls Inlet, and it's open seven days, 7:30am to 6pm. Ring 0474 818 058. No boat licence is needed for its power boats, kayaks, SUPs or pedal boats. A licence is needed for Kermit and the Inlet Barbie.

Mallacoota Barbie Boats is run by Grant "Gutsy" Shorland through Scallywags. You don't need a licence to drive a barbie boat. A half day (4 hours) is $250 and a full day (8 hours) is $400. Enquiries go through scallywagsmallacoota.com.au/barbieboats.

If you'd rather someone else drove, Mallacoota Cruises runs lake cruises, scenic cruises and eco tours aboard the M.V. Loch-Ard, which dates from about 1910.

Bringing your own boat? The public boat ramps are at Bastion Point (for the ocean), Karbeethong and near the caravan park in town, and there can be a queue at peak times. Our guide to boat hire in Mallacoota and our barbie boats guide have the details.

Check beachsafe.org.au before you swim. It lists each Mallacoota beach with its hazard rating and live patrol information.

Betka Beach is about five minutes' drive south of town along Betka Road. It's where the Betka River meets the sea. When the river mouth is closed, the lagoon is shallow and still, which suits small children. The ocean side has surf, rocks and currents. Our Betka Beach guide covers it properly.

The inlet warms up first and is comfortable from December. The ocean beaches lag behind. The Mallacoota swimming guide has the other beaches.

The Mallacoota Coastal Walk is about 9.5 km one way. The Double Creek Nature Walk is an easy 1 km loop through warm temperate rainforest, about 8 km from Mallacoota, with a picnic ground. Lyrebirds are common, and koalas are possible. Dogs aren't allowed on the Double Creek walk. Secret Beach is about 7 km south of town along Betka Road, then a short walk and stairs down to the sand. See our Secret Beach and coastal walks guide.

Gabo Island tours and boat transfers operate year-round, so a summer trip is on. You reach Gabo by boat or light plane, weather permitting, and you have to book. You can't just turn up.

Our Gabo Island guide has more on the island.

Genoa Falls is just off the Princes Highway about 4 km west of Genoa. It's a short walk with stairs, about 800 m return, to small falls spilling over wide rock shelves. The turnoff is unmarked, and there's a small unsealed car park and no toilets or picnic tables. Dogs aren't permitted at Genoa Falls. Genoa Peak in Croajingolong is currently closed to the public. Our Genoa Falls guide has the details.

Scallywags Restaurant & Bar is a waterfront seafood restaurant on the inlet at 14 Allan Drive. It serves fresh locally caught fish and chips and cocktails, and has live music. It takes bookings online, and a courtesy limo picks up diners in town. Phone 03 4110 2059.

The Mallacoota Hotel Motel is at 51–55 Maurice Avenue and is open seven days from 10am. Phone 03 5158 0455. Our guide to where to eat in Mallacoota has the rest.

Book boat hire, charters and tours for Christmas and January as early as you can. In January, book a table a few days ahead.