Barunguba Montague IslandThe Lighthouse Montague Island Natural Heritage Montague Island Touring Montague Island
Barunguba (bar-ran-goo-ba) Montague Island is home to hundreds of seals and more than 90 bird species. It also has cultural significance to the Yuin people, who know the island as “Barunguba”. The name of the island is said to be the oldest son of Guluga, which is located on the mainland and officially known as Mount Dromedary, and the brother of Najunuka, located at the base of Gulaga and officially known as Little Dromedary.
Both oral history and archaeological records, confirm the Aboriginal name for the island date back quite some time. There are significant Aboriginal sites and artefacts found throughout the island (except for on the east coast of the island). This evidence explains the strong connection between the Aboriginal people and the island, which was a site for traditional Aboriginal ceremonies as well as providing them with food. Today, the island remains a significant site for men’s teaching.
Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve, is just 9 km off the south coast of NSW, south-east of Narooma, offering a spectacular wildlife experience, breath-taking island views and the opportunity to relax in the historic lighthouse and lovingly-restored lighthouse keeper’s cottage accommodation.
The island comprises two elevated sections divided by a ravine, covered with huge granite boulders and with a total area of 82 ha. The water around the island is rich in marine life due to the close proximity of the continental shelf and the warm eastern Australian current. It is in these waters that you can encounter pods of migrating whales, dolphins, sunfish manta rays, and pelagic fish.
Montague Island is one of the most important seabird nesting areas in NSW, especially for the likes of little penguins, wedge-tailed shearwaters, short-tailed shearwaters, sooty shearwaters, silver gulls and crested terns. It also contains the most important Australian fur seal haul-out sites along the NSW coast, being the most northern most colony of this marine mammal in eastern Australia.
Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1953, the guided tours are popular as they take in the colonies of seals and fairy penguins, as well as a glimpse of past occupation.
Source: Montague Island Nature Reserve, Plan of Management (November 1995)
For more information, checkout the Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve – NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, that includes Visitor info, Learn more, What we’re doing and Local alerts
Access
The island is accessible by boat and pre-arranged tours. When leaving by charter from wharf at Narooma, you are required to don life jackets prior to passing through the notorious bar at the entrance to Wagonga Inlet. Swells can be quite rough.
Montague Island is located just 9 km east of Narooma within the popular Sapphire Coast region.
Footnote & References
- Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/barunguba-montague-island-nature-reserve
- ANUSC Trip Montague Island, Department of Computer Sciences, FEIT, Australian National University, CANBERRA ACT, by Peter Christen – check out his digital images.
Barunguba Montague IslandThe Lighthouse Montague Island Natural Heritage Montague Island Touring Montague Island
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