Isola Riva, ForsterCredit: Destination NSW
Bartender creating a cocktail at Isola Riva, Forster.
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From beach swims that will invigorate you to walks through rainforest where you can feel stress melt away, the blissful Barrington Coast has all the ingredients for a re-energising escape, just three hours’ drive north of Sydney. But here you can pair soul-stirring scenery with gourmet indulgence, with community-minded producers, promising wineries and local delicacies offering a whole new taste of the region. Take a bite and discover why this corner of New South Wales is the gourmet getaway your taste buds never knew they craved.
Connect with locals on a food trail adventure
At the heart of the Barrington Coast’s gourmet scene is a network of producers whose passion for sustainable farming matches their community spirit. Deepen your culinary experience by meeting some of these local characters, who open their farms, vineyards and businesses to the public twice annually as part of the Great Lakes Food Trail. Learn sustainable farming secrets during a chat with farmer Steve Attkins of Great Lakes Paddocks in Wootton, which produces Angus beef and boutique wine, and gain a new appreciation for organic sourdough after snacking on Lara and Kieren Weber’s heavenly version at Palms Artisan Bakery in Charlotte Bay.
Make meaningful connections with local producers throughout the year by creating your own food trail. Find out what makes Andrew and Emma Yeo’s lamb so tasty by immersing yourself in farm life on a private agricultural educational tour at the couple’s Yeo Farm in Bulahdelah.
And if the mere mention of cheese makes you salivate, don’t miss a visit to Burraduc Buffalo farm in Bungwahl, near Myall Lake. Here Andrei and Elena Swegen transform fresh milk from their herd into artisan yoghurts and cheeses so delicious you may cry happy tears, particularly the award-winning buffalo mozzarella, which Elena studied how to produce in Campania, Italy. The farm also produces buffalo sausages and other melt-in-your-mouth meats.
Isola Riva, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at waterside restaurant and bar Isola Riva, Forster.
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Isola Riva, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at waterside restaurant and bar Isola Riva, Forster.
Forster Beach, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a sunny day at Forster Beach, Forster.
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Forster Beach, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a sunny day at Forster Beach, Forster.
Discover an emerging artisan drinks scene
You’ll taste the love that goes into every local drop and you’ll feel like you’re blazing a trail around a wine region your friends haven’t discovered yet.
With sunny days and mild winters, this stretch of coast has an ideal climate for growing verdelho, chambourcin and dolcetto grapes, all of which you can savour at Old Inn Road Vineyard. Visit the boutique winery during Great Lakes Food Trail events, or soak up the community atmosphere while tasting its wine at local markets including the Nabiac Farmers Market, The Thursday Produce Market in Taree, Forster Farmers Market and Gloucester Markets, where Old Inn Road’s family owners host stalls.
Indulge in a wine and cheese flight at Great Lakes Paddocks’ cellar door and you’ll come away with an appreciation of how artisan produce elevates the flavours of local wines on your palate. Relax into the magical hinterland setting as you chat with locals.
If the way to your heart is through craft beer, then make your way to the region’s only microbrewery, The Coastal Brewing Co, in the picturesque town of Forster. Each beer’s name pays tribute to the local region: the refreshing fizz of the Cellito IPA will transport you to the local beach of the same name in Pacific Palms, while the Barrell Aged Pelican Porter will remind you of the majestic birds often seen congregating at local boat ramps, hoping for a snack.
Linger over a meal by the water
Savour fantastic food along with one of the region’s most breathtaking settings by scheduling a meal by the idyllic river system linking the holiday hubs of Forster and Tuncurry.
Feel soothed by the azure blues of Wallis Creek as you long-lunch with a cocktail in hand at Mediterranean-inspired Isola Riva, set in a historic boatshed overlooking the water in Forster. Delight in the satisfying crunch of whiting fritti to start, and feel yourself smile as you take your first bite of the housemade tiramisu.
Across the river in Tuncurry, surrender to the romantic vibe at Thirty Three Degrees, a more recent addition to the region’s culinary scene that specialises in premium Sydney rock oysters. Experience the buzz of intercepting the freshest local seafood at Wallis Lake Fisherman’s Co-op, just up the road, before the day’s catch is trucked down to Sydney, or indulge a favourite childhood memory by ordering it cooked to go at the co-op’s recently opened Fish Shack, and having a picnic meal by the water.
Known for its flavour-packed Asian fusion dishes that will make your mouth sing, Forster’s Spice Monkey also has a prime riverside location. Grab a table on the terrace and let the calming colours of the sunset wash over you as the dusk sky explodes into ribbons of pink, mirrored by the river below. From here it’s just a short stroll to the boutique Dorsal Hotel, where you can wake up with the sun in its ocean-facing rooms, refreshed and ready for another day of indulgence on the Barrington Coast.
Isola Riva, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Cocktails available on the menu at waterside restaurant and bar Isola Riva, Forster.
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Isola Riva, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Cocktails available on the menu at waterside restaurant and bar Isola Riva, Forster.
Spice Monkey, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ordering drinks at the bar at Spice Monkey, Forster.
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Spice Monkey, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ordering drinks at the bar at Spice Monkey, Forster.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, CorowaCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa.
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Feast on the riches of one of Australia’s most important food bowls on a road trip through the Murray, named after the mighty river that flows through this southwest area of New South Wales. Float down the river on a historic paddlesteamer wine cruise, stop by farm gates to sample incredible fresh produce, and dine at chic restaurants and bars in this unique culinary playground.
Take the back roads for gourmet treats
Head off the beaten path along The Backroads Trail, a 250km driving route that passes through the small pastoral towns of Barham, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin on the upper reaches of the Murray River. Sink your teeth into fresh olives, avocados, free-range pork, honey and citrus fruit from farm gates along its loops and trails, and taste the region’s wines at vineyards such as Restdown Wines. While you’re at this winery, venture out along the Restdown Wetland Walk to encounter Aboriginal cooking hearths and an old sheep camp.
Cruise along to The Old School Winery & Meadery in Womboota to pick up wine, pottery and honey mead. Or seek out Ivy Joyce in Barham to indulge in a warm space, offering local produce from farms for a truly paddock to plate experience in the heart of Murray River country. For more snacks and meaty fare such as British-style pork pies and sausages, head to Pacdon Park’s factory shop in Moama.
You can work up an appetite as you build your own itinerary on the theme of food, paddocks and produce, and find suggested routes and maps to Murray River farm gates, at the Echuca Moama Visitor Centre.
Wine and dine along the river
Embark on a wine tour by water in Moama, where the first steamboats made their way up the Murray in 1853. Take a Murray River Paddlesteamers Wharf to Winery Cruise from the town to Morrisons Riverview Winery for a leisurely lunch. Or drive along the river, stopping in at Three Black Sheep for risotto and woodfired pizzas, and tasting crisp dry whites and full-flavoured reds at St Anne’s Vineyards, where you can nibble on a cheese platter overlooking a scenic lake.
Head east along the riverside roads to rest and recharge in the town of Tocumwal, known for its riverside beaches, golf courses, glider flying and iconic Big Murray Cod statue. Start the following day with a solid foundation of breakfast pizza (topped with bacon, eggs and a hash brown) at The Old Bank and indulge in a scoop of ice-cream or sorbet from Tocumwal Ice Creamery – flavours include rocky road, green apple or macadamia. If you’re in town on a Saturday, pick up honey, fruit, vegetables, olive oil, dressings and other condiments made by local producers at the Tocumwal Foreshore Markets.
Continue your odyssey along the river to Corowa, the birthplace of Australian Federation. Immerse in the town’s rich turn-of-the-20th-century colonial heritage as you make your way to the former 1920s flour mill housing Corowa Distilling Co. Here you can book a whisky tasting and behind-the-scenes tour and buy locally made chocolates and sweets from sister shop Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. Work off an indulgent afternoon with a walk along the river before settling into the stylish Circa 1936 hotel, which is housed in an Art Deco former bank on the main street of Corowa.
Celebrate regional ingredients in Albury
From Corowa, follow the Riverina Highway eastward to the city of Albury, a food, wine and culture hub. Taste how seasonality and locality are expressed at The Proprietor, a former butcher shop turned cafe offering brunch treats such as fruit toast with Beechworth honey and whipped ricotta, and banana waffles with Gundowring vanilla ice-cream. Or try the all-day breakfast offering at Mr Benedict, from cheesy bacon waffle with popcorn chicken to one of its signature eggs benedicts, including one with cider-braised ham hock.
At The River Deck restaurant, local ingredients are celebrated alongside stunning river views, and dishes may include chicken Caesar salad with Milawa eggs or beef brisket braised in coffee by Albury roaster The Brothers Cup. At tiny and elegant Bistro Selle, complement warm Gooramadda olives with a buttery Australian chardonnay and fresh market fish. Yardbird offers a bold-flavoured menu featuring dishes like scorched Albacore tuna, along with meats grilled in a Spanish woodfired oven.
In between meals, stroll along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk and take in the contemporary artworks by Aboriginal artists that line the Wagirra Trail. Meander through the Murray Art Museum Albury’s contemporary photographic collection, Aboriginal art and works by renowned Australian artist Sir Russell Drysdale. Afterwards, order lunch or dinner at the museum’s excellent Canvas Eatery – try the saltbush lamb rump or one of their Neapolitan-style pizzas.
The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
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The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota Credit: Destination NSW
Couple taste tasting mead at The Old School Winery & Meadery, Womboota
Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
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Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available from Morrison's Riverview Winery and Restaurant, Moama.
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
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Corowa Whisky & Chocolate, Corowa Credit: Destination NSW
Corowa Whisky & Chocolate located in a 1920âs old flour mill in Corowa.
Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.
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Canvas Eatery, Albury Credit: Destination NSW
Food and wine available at Canvas Eatery in Albury.