The New South Wales South Coast is known for its foodie and drinks experiences. Here, you can sample oysters straight from their source, do a cheese tasting with the makers themselves and shop at markets that sell only items from producers within a 250km radius.
The South Coast is also home to fine dining restaurants, multiple hatted restaurants, and quintessential Aussie pubs where you can tuck into hearty feeds, often overlooking the water. On the drinks experiences front, you can attend workshops learning what goes into making a spirit and embark on beer tastings by local breweries.
Ahead, we share some of the best NSW Far South Coast food and drink experiences. The region runs from Berry to the NSW-Victoria border and encompasses Shoalhaven City, Eurodaballa Shire and Bega Valley Shire.
Make Your Own Gin at North of Eden
Craft distillery North of Eden lies a 10-minute drive from the town of Bega. Everything at this Stony Creek distillery is made by hand – even the Portuguese copper still is manually operated and heated with a live fire. All the ingredients infused in the gin are either grown on-site or foraged. Join a three-hour workshop where you can create your own gin at the Gin School.
Sample Oysters Fresh in Pambula Â
Some of Australia’s best oysters come from the town of Tathra on the Far South Coast, but a little further south, in the town of Pambula, you can join a boat tour and taste them fresh from the water. Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours cruises Pambula Lake on an oversized oyster punt, letting its guests sample oysters while giving them a crash course in oyster husbandry.
Taste Ice Cream at Bodalla Dairy Shed
Bodalla Dairy’s small-batch milk is hand-bottled at low temperatures to keep the beneficial bacteria alive. The family-run company makes cheese and ice cream, often with a native twist. Stop by its refurbished Dairy Shed to try a scoop of the Kakadu plum and rum ice cream or join the daily cheese tasting and try varieties infused with smoked gum leaf, Tasmanian pepperberry and other local ingredients.
Eat a Burger at Dulcie’s Cottage
Dulcie’s Cottage in Merimbula is where you’ll find some of the most iconic South Coast food, made in a 1920s original weatherboard home. Today, the cottage seats diners inside its eclectic fit-out and in its outdoor area, and they can tuck into burgers ranging from fish to shroom, as well as Merimbula oysters, drizzled in lemon and nuoc cham dressing. The venue is 18+ from 8pm.
Sip Fruity Cocktails at Quarterdeck
Quarterdeck is an institution restaurant in Narooma, offering a tiki-style experience. Now owned by Sydney-based hospitality group Merivale, it serves the likes of banana daiquiris, pina coladas and mai tais, with a seafood-heavy menu. Merivale also owns nearby fish and chips spot The Inlet and Cantonese cuisine restaurant Queen Chow where you can try dim sum platters, as well as rock lobster with XO sauce.
Shop at Bega Produce Markets
Bega Produce Markets is every Friday from 8am to 1pm in Littleton Gardens. Incredibly, the markets only sell items from small producers within a 250km radius. You’ll find baked goods and sourdough, seedlings and seeds, seasonal produce, flowers, preserves and crafts. Shop for goodies to take home to the soundtrack of live music.
Another market option is Bermagui Growers and Makers Market, which falls on Thursdays. These markets also show off the area’s produce, often alongside freshly baked pies, local spirits, pantry goods and flowers. Aside from these two markets, the area also hosts monthly and season-based markets – you can check the market schedules here.
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