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Montague Island Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage

Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve

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Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Montague Island Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.

Getting there and parking

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    The cottage is on Barunguba Montague Island and only accessible by NPWS-contracted commercial vessel tour operators. There is no private vessel access.

    Boat transfers to the island are included in your accommodation package. More information on your transfer will be provided by the local NPWS office after booking. If you have not received additional information 1 week before your booking, please contact (02) 4476 0800 during office hours.

    Transfers depart from Narooma wharf, Bluewater Drive, Narooma.

    A minimum age of 5 years applies for all visitors to Barunguba Montague Island. Guests need to be able to independently climb the island’s jetty ladder and the steep hill that follows.

    Weather restrictions

    Barunguba Montague Island is an offshore island. It can be cut off from the mainland vessel access due to sea and swell conditions thus delaying access to and from the Island. In some instances delays may involve several days. Please arrive well-prepared.

    Road quality

    • Sealed roads

    Vehicle access

    • 2WD vehicles

    Parking

    Parking is available at Narooma wharf.

    Best times to visit

    There are lots of great things waiting for you on Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve. Here are some of the highlights.

    Spring

    New Zealand and Australian fur seals are at their peak on the island during spring, making this the perfect time for some seal-spotting. To tempt you even more, humpback whales can often be spotted along the coastline, and pods of dolphins come to play among the boats too – book a guided tour that includes whale watching for the best chance to spot this special sea mammal in its own environment From October huge numbers of shearwaters begin to arrive and nest on the island through the summer.

    Summer

    Soak up the summer sun on a guided tour of Montague Island and provides some of the best weather for photographs.

    Winter

    From late winter the seal colony on the island starts to grow. It can get quite chilly in winter so pack warm clothes.

    Weather, temperature and rainfall

    Summer temperature

    Average

    15°C and 25°C

    Highest recorded

    38.7°C

    Winter temperature

    Average

    4°C and 16°C

    Lowest recorded

    2.1°C

    Rainfall

    Wettest month

    March

    Driest month

    July

    The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

    182mm

    Facilities

    • Bedding configuration: 3 bedrooms. 2 bedrooms have a queen bed. 1 bedroom has 2 king single beds.
    • 1 external bathroom and toilet.
    • Wide verandahs.
    • Private courtyard.
    • Please leave the property clean and tidy with all kitchen items washed up and put away. Additional fees may be charged for any unreasonable cleaning required or missing/broken items.

    Toilets

    • Flush toilets

    Barbecue facilities

    • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

    Drinking water

    Showers

    • Hot showers

    Electric power

    Montague Island uses solar power. Please avoid washing clothes during your stay, keep showering times to a minimum and turn off lights and appliances when you're not using them.

    Kitchen

    Fully-equipped kitchen with toaster, kettle, fridge and freezer, microwave, gas oven and gas cook top.

    Plates and cutlery

    Pots and pans

    Bed linen

    TV

    Towels

    Rubbish bin

    Maps and downloads

    Safety messages

    Beach safety

    Beaches in this park are not patrolled, and can sometimes have strong rips and currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

    Mobile safety

    Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

    Mobile service is accessible over most of Montague Island.

    Accessibility

    Disability access level - hard

    Guests must be able to climb a ladder independently at the island jetty and walk up and down the Island’s steep and rocky terrain. Persons with mobility issues are asked to check when booking. Some activities require moderate fitness levels.

    Prohibited

    • Swimming directly from the island itself is not permitted.
    • Amplified music is not permitted.

    Camp fires and solid fuel burners

    Fires are not permitted, including in fireplaces.

    Fishing

    Fishing directly from the Island is not permitted.

    Generators

    Generators are not permitted.

    Pets

    Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

    Smoking

    NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

    Montague Island Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage

    Park info