Eden is a coastal town on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, set around the deep waters of Twofold Bay near the Victorian border. Its location combines a working harbour, beaches, forested headlands, and a strong connection with the sea. Twofold Bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in the Southern Hemisphere and remains central to the town’s fishing, boating, and whale-watching activities. Eden also serves as a gateway to Beowa National Park, making it a useful base for exploring the far South Coast. The town’s identity is closely tied to both maritime activity and its surrounding coastal environment.

Eden has a distinctive cultural history shaped by the Thaua people, maritime communities, and the region’s former whaling industry. The relationship between the Thaua and killer whales is especially significant, with orcas historically helping Indigenous and European whalers locate and herd baleen whales into Twofold Bay. The Eden Killer Whale Museum preserves this story through displays about local Aboriginal heritage, whaling, maritime life, and the famous orca known as Old Tom. The Killer Whale Trail links several historic locations around Eden and Beowa National Park, providing further insight into the town’s complex relationship with the sea.

Twofold Bay is the centrepiece of Eden’s natural setting, offering opportunities for fishing, diving, kayaking, and whale watching. Humpback whales can often be seen close to shore as they travel along the coast, while dolphins, seals, seabirds, and other marine species inhabit the surrounding waters. Beowa National Park extends along the coast south of town, with the Light to Light Walk passing cliffs, beaches, coastal heath, and eucalyptus forest. Boyds Tower is another notable landmark, reached by a short walking track with views across Twofold Bay and the surrounding coastline.

Seafood is an important part of the food culture around Eden, reflecting the town’s location beside productive coastal waters. Local restaurants and fish markets commonly feature freshly caught fish and other seafood, while the wider Sapphire Coast is known for oysters cultivated in nearby estuaries and coastal lakes. Eden also hosts the annual Eden Whale Festival, which celebrates the arrival of migrating whales and the town’s maritime heritage. Another distinctive feature is the opportunity to explore Twofold Bay from the water, where marine wildlife, historic sites, and the working harbour can be viewed from a different perspective.