September 10, 2020 | 5 minute read
The South Coast is already known for its pristine beaches, lush rolling hills, magnificent national parks and fascinating heritage, but its best-kept secret is the region’s outstanding fresh food produce and elegant, cool-climate wines. Stretching from the Illawarra and Kiama to the Eurobodalla towns of Batemans Bay, Moruya and Eden, visitors can enjoy freshly shucked oysters, artisan cheeses, pasture-raised produce, sweet treats, and boutique, award-winning wines.
With so much to see and do and only a short drive from Sydney, it’s easy to turn a day trip into a sublimely indulgent short break. Create your own food and wine trail as you sample limited-release varietals from innovative winemakers. Or, satisfy your appetite at one of the many incredible restaurants or cafes, all influenced by local freshness and ingredients sourced from the crystal-clear waters and rich volcanic soils.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or a taste for the savoury – don't forget to bring your picnic basket and esky because your taste buds are in for a treat!
* At the time of writing, activities and places mentioned in this guide are at varying stages of recovery from COVID-19. Please check government and business websites for specific details on opening times and any restrictions before you travel.
If a more hands-on approach is your style, you can pick your own fruit straight from the bushes at Clyde River Berry Farm, or have a go harvesting your own chestnuts and walnuts at Sassafras Nuts located at Sassafras in the Budawang Ranges.
The Bodalla Dairy Shed's famous cheese is made with unhomogenised milk, and behind the dairy is a working farm where you can meet the cheesemakers and watch calves being fed.
Kangaroo Valley Olives sell handpicked, naturally processed olives direct to the public and you can pick up smoked seafood products from the popular Eden Smokehouse, including naturally smoked Atlantic salmon.
The South Coast is renowned for its oysters and you can find out why with a plate of succulent local gems at the Pearly Oyster Bar in Batemans Bay and Wheelers Seafood Restaurant in Pambula.
Wondering where to get a caffeine fix? Hyper Hyper in Nowra is a Shoalhaven coffee institution specialising in authentic 50’s, flavoursome mid/northern Italian style espresso.
Further down the coast you’ll find Two Figs, a boutique winery and vineyard sitting atop one of Mount Coolangatta’s foothills. Learn firsthand about the winemaking process at Cupitt's Winery where you can savour the distinctiveness of old world quality with cool-climate varietals, influenced by traditional French and Italian methods.
So, what are you waiting for? The South Coast of NSW is a delicious destination. With stunning coastal vistas and verdant hills as a backdrop, embark into a world of scrumptious markets, craft wines, acclaimed restaurants, local fish and chips, and hand-picked strawberries.