Eastwood's Deli and Cooking School, BermaguiCredit: Destination NSW
Ingredient preparation at Eastwood's Deli and Cooking School, Bermagui.
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There’s no shortage of remarkable local produce in Eurobodalla and the Sapphire Coast, from Tathra’s highly acclaimed oysters to ice-cream made with native Australian ingredients at Bodalla’s micro dairy. This idyllic stretch of coastline south of Sydney has plenty of idyllic locations for you to enjoy this food, too, from beachfronts to rustic farms.
Bodalla Dairy
The small-batch milk at Bodalla Dairy is hand-bottled at low temperatures to keep the beneficial bacteria active. This old-fashioned “living milk” reflects the grassy pastures where the farm’s small herd is kept — the famous dairy town of Bodalla, a 4.5-hour drive from Sydney. This family-run company also produces cheese and ice-cream, often with a bush-tucker twist. Stop by the refurbished Dairy Shed for ice-cream flavoured with native Australian ingredients: try a scoop of the Kakadu plum, lemon myrtle and wattleseed and coffee flavours. There are classic options, too, like vanilla and chocolate. You can stay overnight at this micro dairy’s guest rooms, too. Also appealing: the daily tastings of the boutique cheese infused with smoked gum leaf, Tasmanian pepperberry and other native foods, while kids will love the regular animal-feeding sessions.
Oysters
Discover the location of some of Australia’s best oysters in Tathra, a 5.5-hour drive from Sydney. Tathra Oysters has collected more than 200 awards since 1988 and the producer has been recognised for offering the country’s top oysters in 29 competitions. These molluscs are grown in the waters of Nelson Lake in the Mimosa Rocks National Park and you can sample them in Tathra Oysters’s store in town. Other reasons to visit? Tathra is a thriving, close-knit community with wide, clear beaches and the oldest deep-water timber wharf on the Australian East Coast. Further south in Pambula, you can join a tour with Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours to cruise picturesque Pambula Lake aboard an oversized oyster punt, sampling oysters fresh from the water while getting a crash course in oyster husbandry.
Bodalla Dairy Shed Credit: Kerrie-Anne Benton; Eurobodalla Coast Tourism
Outdoor dining at Bodalla Dairy Shed, Eurobodalla, South Coast
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Bodalla Dairy Shed Credit: Kerrie-Anne Benton; Eurobodalla Coast Tourism
Outdoor dining at Bodalla Dairy Shed, Eurobodalla, South Coast
Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour, Pambula River Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tour with Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tours on Pambula River, Pambula.
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Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour, Pambula River Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tour with Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tours on Pambula River, Pambula.
Cooking schools
Why settle for dinner on a plate when you can enjoy the hands-on appeal of cooking classes? You can make sausages with locally sourced produce or try cheesemaking at all levels (from beginner-friendly ricotta and beyond) at Stroudover Cottage in Bemboka, inland from Bega. Or learn from MasterChef judge and River Cottage Australia guest star Nelleke Gorton by signing up for Nelleke’s Culinary Adventures in Tanja, north of Tathra. Her workshops on international flatbreads, advanced creative pastry and “cakes men like” take place in her own country kitchen. At Eastwood's Deli and Cooking School in Bermagui, between Narooma and Tathra, kids can learn how to create pizza, gnocchi and sushi from scratch, while adults can master canapés, Spanish staples and how to cook for their valentine.
Waterside dining
There are coastal dining options to suit all tastes in this region. Keep it casual, low-key and breezy by grabbing takeaway fish and chips from Beach Break and claiming a sandy spot at nearby Tathra Beach to savour this seaside staple with ocean views. Or step it up with Il Passaggio restaurant, which sits on Fisherman’s Wharf in Bermagui. Its modern Italian menu makes local produce shine, whether it’s the cherries in the vanilla panna cotta with blackberry compote, Montague Island kingfish served with lemon yoghurt and tomatoes from nearby Coolagolite or regionally grown zucchinis in the risotto with goat’s cheese.
Tathra Oysters, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer at Tathra Oysters in the Nelsons Lake estuary where their award-winning Sydney Rock Oysters are grown.
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Tathra Oysters, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer at Tathra Oysters in the Nelsons Lake estuary where their award-winning Sydney Rock Oysters are grown.
Tathra Beach, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the Bega River and Tathra Beach, Tathra
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Tathra Beach, Tathra Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the Bega River and Tathra Beach, Tathra
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Margarita Daze, Umina BeachCredit: Destination NSW
Delicious meals on available at Margarita Daze, Umina Beach.
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This small region punches above its weight when it comes to dining out, with a wealth of excellent cafes and restaurants as well as many passionate producers, partly due to the influx in recent years of ex-big city hospitality pros looking for a better work-life balance. Just an hour north of Sydney (or a 30-minute ferry ride from Palm Beach), the Central Coast makes a convenient weekend destination, where you can sip and snack your way through cruisy seaside towns and the buzzy centre of Gosford. From a garden distillery to bright seaside diners, here’s where to dine on the Central Coast.
The Box on the Water, Ettalong Beach
For a memorable meal, have lunch at Ettalong Beach’s restaurant The Box on the Water – with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sea breeze in on warm days as you dine, you’ll feel relaxed immediately. Have a picnic on the sand with an egg and bacon roll or fish and chips from the beach kiosk or dine at the light-filled restaurant for Sydney rock oysters followed by Goan fish curry or Thai-flavoured black mussels, all while enjoying panoramic views of idyllic Broken Bay. Watch the water turn slowly golden on Fridays to Sundays between 3pm and 5.30pm with happy hour drinks and a box of prawns or a cheese plate.
The Boathouse Patonga Hotel
Catch the ferry from Palm Beach and a sea of white umbrellas beckons you as you approach Patonga Wharf. Overlooking the postcard-worthy sleepy bay, Boathouse Patonga Hotel houses a laidback pub serving classics as well as prawn linguine with lumpfish caviar, tiger prawns and oysters – the perfect place to kill a sunny afternoon. If you’re passing through, grab a simple breakfast or takeaway fish and chips from the kiosk, but staying the night is highly recommended. The chic boutique apartments nod to the town’s fishing history with tasteful nautical touches and in-room dining.
The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
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The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
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Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
Distillery Botanica, Erina
Tucked away in a bushy pocket of Erina, a 10-minute drive from Gosford, Distillery Botanica is the birthplace of Moore’s Dry Gin (the first Australian gin to win gold at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition) and Mr Black coffee liqueur, creations of herbalist and distiller Philip Moore. Pop in for a tasting or join a garden and distillery tour that takes you through the unique plants and botanicals grown on site. Stick around for lunch in the onsite cocktail bar, Bar Botanica (there’s live jazz on the weekend) and leave room for a Mr Goaty Gelato, which is churned on site, or an affogato using housemade liqueurs.
Six String Brewing Co, Erina
In walking distance from Distillery Botanica, find independent brewery Six String Brewing Co, a culmination of the owners’ two loves: beer and rock’n’roll. As well as a core range of six ales, lagers and IPAs, Six String produces seasonal one-offs, as well as hard lemonade. Tours are run every Saturday at 11am (bookings essential) where you can get into the nitty gritty of brewing and sample the beers. Beer needs hearty bar food, and the kitchen delivers: burgers are made with wagyu beef and snacks include a basket of wings or loaded fries.
Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
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Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
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Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
Lago Cucina, Budgewoi
Located on level one of the Budgewoi Hotel, Lago Cucina is a chic addition to the sleepy lakeside town. With terrazzo counters, rattan chairs and whitewashed walls, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is Italian at its best. Try dishes that let produce sing such as handmade burrata with cherry tomatoes, zucchini flowers, truffle and mushroom raviolo, and sample local seafood through dishes including crab linguine and calamari fritti. With a selection of woodfired pizzas, a kid’s menu and a bespoke cocktail list, it ticks all the boxes, whether you’re meeting up with friends or bringing the whole family.
Burnt Honey Bakery, Copacabana and Long Jetty
First opening in 2019 in Copacabana, Burnt Honey Bakery quickly gained a cult following due to its wide range of sourdough bread, perfect croissants and community-minded approach. That popularity led them to open Burnt Honey Bakers Pantry at Long Jetty, which sells a curated selection of cookbooks, specialised baking ingredients, tools and pantry goods alongside pastries. Try one of their famous brown sugar cinnamon buns with burnt butter glaze and take home a few loaves of sourdough and a jar of sour cherry and almond biscotti. Keep an eye on their website for pastry masterclasses so you can recreate these delectable treats at home.
Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.
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Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.