Hunter Gatherer Foodie Adventure
a mouth-watering voyage of discovery
Want to shuck an oyster or enjoy locally caught fish and chips paired with cider brewed down the road, overlooking a breathtaking coastal view? Foodies, the Sapphire Coast is the place for you.
A visit to the Sapphire Coast is always a mouth-watering voyage of discovery with our local produce taking centre stage. We've got passionate growers, brewers, farmers and chefs serving up innovative eats from farm gates, cellar doors, bespoke cafes and waterfront restaurants. Did we mention we are home to some of the most awarded oysters in the world? Here’s some ideas for you while you are travelling our stunning coastline.
eden
Visit the main street with it's numerous cafes and eateries where you can enjoy the best of seasonal fare every day proudly grown by local gardeners and farmers, or buy the freshest catch of the day, direct from Eden’s fishing boats at Snug Cove.
Nethercote produce market, only runs four times a year but if you’re a foodie its worth timing your visit for when it’s on. Cheese made with Mystery Bay kelp, the freshest breads, seasonal vegetables and more at this quintessential country market.
Check out
Wonboyn Rock Oysters, a family owned oyster farm on Wonboyn Lake, one of NSW’s most remote and untouched oyster producing estuaries on the NSW coast, where Kel and Caroline have been farming Sydney rock oysters for over 25 years.
Pambula
Start your journey at one of the most famous bakeries on the Sapphire Coast, Wild Ryes. The darling of the local baking scene since 2005, their pies, slices and coffee are legendary.
Try trendy and delicious Toast Pambula or Banksia Restaurant who offer the best in fine dining, ensconced within the old bank building, a local heritage landmark.
Buy the best of seasonal fruit, veg and herbs at Pambula Wholefoods or stroll the other dining options within the town that include Indian and good old simple fare from our traditional milk bar.
After a big day outdoors, you’ll need to sit down with a cool beer or cider and Longstocking Brewery is just the place. This little brewery is big on brewing ales, lagers and ciders that have unique and distinctive flavours. They also serve wood fired pizzas and oysters so bring the kids, bring the dog and settle in for lazy afternoon. If spirits are more you're thing, drop by Nine Circles Distillery for some superb gin and vodka concoctions, made right here in Pambula.
5 minutes south of the town is Pambula Lake, home of
Broadwater Oysters. Drop in, chat to the farmers and pick up a dozen oysters to eat right there. They even have lemons!
merimbula
Drop into Mor Mors or Waterfront for great breakfasts, Valentina for amazing mediterranean fare and lake views, or Dulcie’s Cottage for funky burgers, oysters and tunes.
For a unique dining experience you can’t go past Merimbula Wharf. Serving up the best in local seafood, much of it caught from the actual timber jetty, there’s also an aquarium on the premises, where the occupants are definitely not on the menu.
If you’d rather try your luck at catching your own, head to Spencer Park beach with the kids and your fishing rods or check the moon and the tides for the best time to go prawning in the lake.
On everyone’s list should be a visit to Wheelers Seafood Restaurant, for lunch, dinner or to join the daily tour of their oyster factory. The oysters are harvested directly from Merimbula Lake, around 500 metres up the road, and take probably one of the shortest paddock to plate journeys on our coast.
Merimbula Seaside Market runs from 8am to 12noon on the third Sunday of every month and is located at Ford Park Oval, right beside Main Beach.
Tathra
Heading north to Tathra, the foodie hero of this town is the award winning Tathra Oysters. These beauties are harvested from the pristine waters of Nelson Lake, a thriving, shallow lake around 12 kilometres north of Tathra and set within Mimosa Rocks National Park. The Rodley's family home on the edge of Tathra town is the farm gate for these multi award winners. Their “shellar door” is open December to June.
Try Wild Orchid Café, famous for their cool coastal vibe and wholesome dishes, or Salt Cafe for delicious coffee and baked treats. Don’t miss The Wharf Local at the iconic Tathra Wharf, where you can indulge all your senses, including great food.
Treat the family to wood fired pizzas for dinner at Drift Tathra, or the newly refurbished Tathra Hotel, with its sweeping ocean views and inhouse brewery too.
Millford Acres Farm is located just north of Tathra and offers immersive food experiences on their beautiful farm in Tanja. From Cooking With Fire workshops to long lunch events, artisan gluten free baking classes and passata and pasta making days, their events showcase the incredible bounty grown within the Bega Valley.
bermagui
Bermagui is full of bespoke eateries and it’s the food we want to talk about. Head to Bermi’s famous harbour and stroll the Bermagui Fishermen’s Wharf where you can enjoy good old fish and chips within “coo-ee” of where they were caught. Award winning local restaurant, il Passaggio, and the super cool Har Bar also call the Wharf home.
For those of you who love the pub, you must drop into the Bermagui Beach Hotel. This grand old dame is a great place to sit and admire the bay with a boutique brew or two.
A little out of town check out Mimosa Wines – breathtaking coastal views, seven acres of vines, a hatted restaurant and an architecturally acclaimed venue, make sure a long lunch at Mimosa is on your south coast bucket list.
Market lovers, put the Bermagui Growers and Makers Market on your must do list. This has to be one of the most popular places in Bermagui and runs every Thursday (November to April) come rain, hail or shine. And if you’re not there when the gates open, there’s probably no point. Locals and visitors queue for the best and freshest local produce, ready made meals from artisan producers and more.
Dining in the Hinterland
No Sapphire Coast foodie adventure is complete without exploring the rolling green hills of our hinterland. Candelo is home to the most famous market on the Sapphire Coast (it runs the first Sunday of every month), the Candelo General Store & Cafe and the delicious Wheatley Lane Bread, whilst Cobargo features a selection of tiny cafes and eateries that pack a big punch including Valiant Coffee. Drop into the Cobargo Hotel for a traditional pub lunch or visit the Cobargo General Store and try their famous homemade ice cream.
The Wool Shed is a very special farm-to-table experience in the Towamba Valley that's well worth a country drive. Offering seasonal food events and experiences, their offerings showcase the beautiful produce grown and raised on their working farm. Tickets are limited and book out early.
Last but not least, Bega, the heartland of our shire and the home of Australia’s most famous cheese. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat in one of the town cafes. Or if you’re there on a Friday, visit the Bega Produce Market at Littleton Gardens in the centre of town. But about that cheese – make sure you visit the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre when you’re here, it’s a fascinating insight into the history of the area and some of their most award winning products can’t actually be bought anywhere else.
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