6 night South Coast Foodie Road Trip from the Shoalhaven to Merimbula NSW
6 NIGHT SOUTH COAST FOODIES ROAD TRIP
6 nights - Road trip from the Shoalhaven to Merimbula NSW
Our South Coast Foodies road trip is for those who would like premier boutique accommodation and at the same time explore the best local produce the South Coast has to offer. The South Coast is a haven for food lovers with some of the worlds most delicious local produce. Taste oysters from different estuaries, cool climate wines, delicious cheeses to name just a few. We have curated this itinerary around the hatted restaurants. Whilst we have started from the north end of the South Coast this itinerary can easily be reversed or for those who are short of time you may want to break it up into shorter breaks.
AT A GLANCE
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2 nights at Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads
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Wine tasting in the Shoalhaven region
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Dinner at South on Albany in Berry
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Lunch at Cupitts Estate outside of Ulladulla
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2 nights at Southbound Escapes at the Wharf, Narooma
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Dinner at Queen Chow and Quarterdeck, Narooma
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Private Oyster Farm tour and lunch at The Oyster Farmers Daughter Oyster Bar
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Visit Central Tilba and Bermagui
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Lunch at Mimosa Winery
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2 nights at Indigo Retreat West Lodge
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Visit Tathra and the Humpback Brewery
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Dinner at Valentina’s Restaurant, Merimbula
DAY 1 WEDNESDAY - THE SHOALHAVEN
Check in to your accommodation Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads
This property offers a range of different premier accommodation types - one bedroom golf or garden view villas, two bedrooms villas and a separate luxury home. Michelle Bishop, the owner, is a well-known interior designer and each villa has been styled to perfection with a relaxed beach vibe but at the same time she has thought of everything to make you feel comfortable and at home. Each villa has a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities, a beautiful deck off the living room area and in winter there is a log fire to sit in front of.
There are plenty things to do while you are here
Order a local produce picnic hamper and have a picnic on Seven Mile Beach which is 100m from the property or book a picnic in the vines at Coolangatta Estate Winery.
Enjoy a cool climate wine tasting at an award-winning boutique winery – Choose from Coolangatta Estate Winery, Two Figs Winery, Mountain View Winery, Crooked River Winery and Silos Winery (transport can be organised).
Dinner
South on Albany in Berry is an award winning one hatted restaurant and 2 Goblet award for their wine list. This small restaurant tucked away in the back streets of Berry is known for its incredible use of local produce. Owners John and Sonia will welcome you for a true South Coast culinary experience.
DAY 2 THURSDAY - THE SHOALHAVEN
Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the Bangalay Dining Restaurant (daily 7.30 am to 10.30 am)
Spend the day exploring the local produce of the region.
Here are some ideas for you
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Visit Jim Wild’s Oyster Farm to taste some oysters straight from the oyster farm
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Visit the Buena Vista Farm for a farm tour or join one of their culinary workshops (subject to availability)
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Enjoy a delicious take away lunch from the Hampden Deli in Kangaroo Valley or join one of their cooking school workshops (subject to availability)
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Book a behind the scenes tour of Tara Distillery in Nowra
Dinner
Enjoy dinner tonight at Bangalay Dining a multi award winning one hatted restaurant. Chef Simon Evans is passionate about native ingredients and the menu features the best of local produce of the region. This is a must do experience for food lovers to the region.
DAY 3 FRIDAY - NOWRA TO NAROOMA
Breakfast
For a truly locals experience make your way to Nowra to Hyper Hyper for coffee and right next door is Punch the Ploughmans which has the most delicious take away breakfast options. Try the Brekky Burrito with grilled Tilba haloumi, avocado, tomato salsa, dukkah scramble, baby spinach, pecorina and sriracha. There is a small roadside garden connected to Punch the Ploughmans to sit back, enjoy your food amongst the buzz of locals. This is a fantastic local secret spot.
Jervis Bay and Hyams Beach
From here make your way south to Jervis Bay for a walk along Hyams Beach. Voted as having the whitest sand in the world according to the Guinness Book of records. There is also the option here to join a walking tour with Djiriba Waagura. Djiriba Waagura means “Two Crows” in Dhurga Language of the Yuin Nation. This beautiful walk in the National Parks is authentic and transformational. Learn about traditional bush tucker and bush medicine. There is so much to learn from thousands of years of knowledge which has been handed down from generation to generation. Walking on Country is so important for understanding the Aboriginal Culture which is so strong in this region. This is saltwater country.
Lunch at Cupitts Estate
Cupitts Estate is multi award winning restaurant with an exceptional farm to table menu. They also produce their own wine, beer, and cheese. This is the perfect place to stop for a delicious lunch with expansive views over the vineyards to the dairy pastures below. For a more in-depth experience try the Wine Tasting Flight or the Beer Tasting Flight.
Afternoon stop at Burrill Lake and Bodalla
Your next stop on your foodie road trip is the Lagom Bakery in Burrill Lake. This local’s artisanal bakery is a great place to stop and pick up some slowly fermented sourdough bread or one of their other delicious homemade pastries. Closer to Narooma is the Bodalla Dairy Shed known for their cheeses and ice creams made with native ingredients.
DAY 3 FRIDAY - AFTERNOON IN NAROOMA
Check into your accommodation Southbound Escapes at the Wharf, Narooma
If you are looking for the ultimate waterfront getaway look no further than the Southbound Escapes at the Wharf three bedroom three bathroom apartment. This luxury apartment has stunning views over Narooma’s pristine Wagonga Inlet with uninterrupted views reaching up the far South Coast.
Stylishly finished with modern furnishings, this apartment is designed for your ultimate comfort. Featuring a king bedroom master suite with views, queen bedroom and twin bedroom looking on to the courtyard, each with its own ensuite, a well appointed kitchen and a spacious open plan entertaining area, your holiday comfort is assured.
Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the sights of Narooma including Australia Rock, the seal colony at the break wall and the Mill Bay Boardwalk.
Dinner at Queen Chow Restaurant
Enjoy dinner tonight at the Queen Chow Restaurant in the Whale Inn, Narooma which is an award winning one hatted restaurant. The highlight of the menu is of course the incredible local produce. The oysters are straight from the local oyster farm, the sashimi is locally caught fish and the lobster comes from Narooma. There is no wonder this restaurant has caught the attention of the national food judges.
DAY 4 SATURDAY - IN NAROOMA
Morning coffee
The best coffee with a view in Narooma is Salt at the Marina with its expansive deck overlooking the Wagonga Inlet, locally roasted Guerilla Roasters coffee and delicious breakfast options from local producers such as Honor Bread from Bermagui.
E-Bike Narooma
After breakfast enjoy a walk along one of Narooma’s many pristine beaches or hire an E-bike from us and ride the Narooma to Dalmeny Coastal trail.
Lunch at The Oyster Farmers Daughter Oyster Bar
One of Narooma’s largest industries is oyster farming. Narooma is the home of some of the most highly regarded rock oysters in Australia thanks to the unique geographical location of the Wagonga Inlet waterway. The Wagonga Inlet is tidal and forms part of the Batemans Marine Park. The pristine water with rare sea grasses gives the Narooma oysters a particular merroir unlike other river estuaries.
If you love oysters join our private oyster farm tour of Coxon’s Oysters followed by a tasting seafood platter from the onsite restaurant The Oyster Farmers Daughter Oyster Bar which is open Friday to Tuesday 11.30am to 4pm. There is no fresher way to eat oysters than straight from the oyster farm itself. Choose from eating them natural or with one of the assorted toppings. The restaurant also features other local fish and seafood, the best fish and chips in town, prawns, locally caught fish and scallops with local wines, craft beers, gins and cocktails.
Narooma Golf Course
Spend the afternoon relaxing on the spectacular terrace of your apartment or for something a bit more energetic how about playing a few holes of Narooma Golf Course. Voted the number one public course in NSW in 2023 the first six holes form a loop which follows the coastline. The Narooma Golf Club has an outdoor terrace which is great place to stop for a drink after building up a thirst playing golf.
Dinner at the Quarterdeck Restaurant
A trip to Narooma would not be complete without eating at the Quarterdeck Restaurant. This tiki style bar and restaurant has to have the best view of any restaurant venue in Narooma especially at sunset. The menu again focuses on local produce, but our absolute favourite dishes are the Tuna Tostada and the swordfish. Known for their cocktails we can also highly recommend the Pina Coladas.
DAY 5 SUNDAY - MYSTERY BAY TO THE MURRAH
Mystery Bay Kelp
Take a short 10 minute drive to Mystery Bay and meet with the producer of Mystery Bay Kelp for a behind the scenes tour and tasting experience (subject to availability). Kelp farming is one of Narooma’s most innovative and expanding industries. Learn about how the kelp forests are so incredibly important for the marine environment, how it is farmed and the incredible health benefits of kelp.
Central Tilba
From here make your way to Central Tilba the home of Tilba Real Dairy, 10 minute drive. Did you notice the Jersey cattle in the paddocks on either side of the highway as you turned off into Tilba? These are the dairy herd that are milked to produce the Tilba Real Dairy cheese. There is no better example of paddock to plate. Our favourite cheeses are the Brie and Camembert. If you leave these cheeses out of the fridge to get to room temperature, they get that beautiful runny consistency, and we think are some of the most delicious cheeses to be produced in Australia. Pick up some provisions for tomorrows breakfast at your self catering accommodation.
You cannot leave Tilba without a stop at the Dromedary Hotel to try their Tilba Brewing Co craft beer range or the homemade rhubarb gin.
Bermagui
Make your way to Bermagui, 10 minute drive. Stop at Fishermans Wharf where the local fishing boats off load their catch ready for Sydney Markets, or for those with a sweet tooth try Bermagui Gelato Clinic ice cream. The next stop is the Blue Pool a must do iconic sightseeing spot with views along the coastline. Another must do stop for foodies in Bermagui is Honor Bread. This bakery makes the most delicious sourdough breads and pastries as well as great coffee. Il Passagio Deli has lots of local produce including the amazing Mountain View tomatoes. Pick up some provisions for tomorrows breakfast.
The Bermagui Tathra Road has to be one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline on the South Coast with inland waterways meeting the ocean with quaint wooden bridges to cross. There are also National Parks walks in this area including the Mimosa Rocks National Park.
Lunch at Mimosa Winery
Mimosa Winery is 15 minutes drive from Bermagui. This multi award winning two hatted restaurant is one of the culinary highlights of the South Coast. Nestled amongst gum forests with expansive views over the National Parks to Gulaga Mountain the menu is incredible with a wine list to match This is fine dining with a French influence. It is all about the sauce and the fresh local produce.
DAY 5 SUNDAY - AFTERNOON IN THE MURRAH, TATHRA & MERIMBULA
Credit : Destination NSW
Check in to your accommodation Indigo Retreat, Murrah
Indigo Retreat West Lodge is one of the South Coast’s best kept secrets, 5 minute drive from the Mimosa Winery. This secluded private lodge located in the Indigo Retreat Estate is the ultimate boutique accommodation designed to make the most of the beautiful property and surrounding area and is a place to be close to nature. Soak in the private heated night lit horizon pool overlooking the forest in summer or relax by the indoor Jetmaster wood fire in winter. The king bed Master Suite features a downstairs dressing room, rainwater shower and Japanese bath. Each bedroom is uniquely styled. The open plan living room area is adorned with stunning local artworks filled with light and views from all angles. The adjoining kitchen is fully equipped and stocked with the basics needed for your stay. There are plenty of outdoor areas for entertaining including a vast fire pit and outdoor pizza oven. For nature lovers you may spot the occasional wallaby or kangaroo down by the dam. Harvest your own herbs from the private herb garden.
Visit Tathra and the Humpback Brewery
The stunning coastal drive from Indigo Retreat to Tathra, 25 minute drive, follows the stunning Bega Valley. This beautiful seaside town is a great place to explore. Visit the historic Tathra Wharf, the only deep-sea timber wharf on the East coast of Australia built in 1862. From here follow the Tathra Headland Walk , 300 m, which follows the stunning coastline along as series of boardwalks, walking paths as well as an elevated viewing platform. The historic Tathra Hotel is a great place to stop for a tasting beer flight of their Humpback Brewery craft beer range made on the premises. The views from the hotel are quite spectacular especially from the outside deck. Depart Tathra for Merimbula, 25 mintues.
Dinner at Valentina’s Restaurant in Merimbula
Valentina’s Restaurant in Merimbula is a one hatted restaurant with stunning views over the ocean. With an exciting cosmopolitan vibe this restaurant is well worth the drive. After dinner return to your accommodation which is a 50 minute drive.
DAY 6 MONDAY
Enjoy Bermagui
We have left today free to explore Bermagui which is a haven for foodies, 10 minute drive.
We suggest the first stop to be Honor Bread. This bakery makes the most delicious sourdough breads and pastries as well as great coffee and is a great place to pick up a take away breakfast to enjoy at one of the many waterfront picnic tables.
One of the best and most unique experiences to do in Bermagui is a guided kayak tour of the Bermagui River with Navigate Expeditions. It starts early at 7.30 am which gives you just enough time to pick up your Honor Bread breakfast and make your way for the tour.
After your kayak tour stop at the Fishermans Wharf Marina where the local fishing boats off load their catch ready for Sydney Markets, and for those with a sweet tooth try Bermagui Gelato Clinic homemade ice creams. Pick up some fresh local seafood from the Bluewave Seafood.
From here make your way to the Il Passagio Provodore which is a local deli which features lots of local produce including the amazing Mountain View tomatoes. There are numerous different restaurants along the seafront for lunch including Bermagui Beach Hotel and Bermagui Beachside Café.
After lunch make your way to the Blue Pool one of the iconic places to visit in Bermagui. Marvel at the view from the lookout views along the spectacular coastline.
Enjoy dinner at your accommodation with some of the goodies you have picked up from Bermagui Today.