With summer well and truly here, you might be craving a bit of sea air. From Wollongong to Eden, here are the culinary must-dos, adventurous activities, remote getaways and cultural moments to keep you busy 'till March, or whenever the sun stops shining.
ADVENTURE
Sail Jervis Bay: Sign up for a Jervis Bay sailing trip with Women Want Adventure this February. From a sleek catamaran, spot dolphins, enjoy a healthy feed, and swim at pristine spots.
Sail the pristine waters of Jervis Bay.Credit:Mitch Cox
Dive with seals: Explore an underwater world of soft coral, tropical fish and cheeky fur seals at Montague Island in Narooma. Underwater Safaris leads dives in the island's sheltered bays for people of all ages and levels of experience.
Stay in a lighthouse: Trial remote living with a getaway to Green Cape lightstation in Eden or Montague Island lighthouse in Narooma.
Sunrise at Green Cape Light Station.Credit:Tim the Yowie Man
Go berry picking: Prepare for a summer of smoothies and forage for blueberries on Clyde River Berry Farm's 10-acre orchard.
Hike the light to light: This underrated multi-day trek near Eden is a wildlife haven. By night, stay at one of the campsites along the way. By day, hike through bushland and rocky platforms while spying seals, dolphins, and whales with their calves.
Seals spotted on the light to light walk in Ben Boyd National Park.Credit:Serena Coady
Compete in a triathlon: Farewell the indulgent festive season by training for the 2019 Big Husky Triathlon. The new course includes a 1.9-kilometre ocean swim, a 90-kilometre cycle and a 21.1-kilometre run on February 22-24 in Jervis Bay.
Swim at Nethercote Falls: Take a dip at Eden's hidden gem of waterholes, jump rocks and networks of falls to climb.
South coast swimming hole Nethercote Falls.Credit:Serena Coady
Climb Pigeon House: Earn an afternoon dip at Ulladulla by conquering the nearby Pigeon House Mountain. The challenging hike culminates in 360-degree views of the mountains, wilderness and sea.
Marvel at the Pinnacles: Stroll through gullies for a glimpse of the Pinnacles, dramatic multi-coloured cliffs formed by sand and clay near Eden.
The Pinnacles rock formation in Ben Boyd National Park.Credit:Serena Coady
FOOD
Go raw: If your idea of raw vegan food begins and ends with salad, broaden those horizons. Spend a weekend at the Back 2 Earth organic farm stay in Berry, sampling their locally-sourced meals of colourful cannelloni, raw sushi, fermented cashew cheese, and creamy zucchini noodles.
Dine in the trees: Spend a night under the stars at Paperbark Camp and treat yourself to a meal at Gunyah, a restaurant elevated in the trees.
Smell the sourdough: The insta-worthy Honorbread bakery is a must-visit for organic sourdough bread of the rye, fig and walnut and baguette variety, plus a range of Tilba cheeses and yoghurt. Stop by after a dip in the Bermagui Blue Pool.
Eat seasonally: In the hills near Mollymook is a vintage cheese factory converted to a quaint wholefoods cafe called Milk Haus. Their seasonal menu of meals like ricotta pancakes and eggplant caponata is created with fresh produce from local growers.
Scoff a veggie burger: Order a vegetarian and vegan spread at Pilgrim's, Huskisson or Milton. The Huskission venue boasts harbour views and a menu of hearty burgers, fresh juices and melt-in-your-mouth toasted sandwiches.
Feast at Bannisters: Unwind on the Mollymook cliffs and enjoy Rick Stein at Bannisters’ fresh seafood creations.
Bannisters by the Sea Hotel in Mollymook.Credit:Bannisters
DRINK
Sink a cool one: Enjoy a froth at Pambula's Longstocking Brewery, which brews ales, lagers and ciders. Come Friday and Saturday night there's live music and wood-fired pizza.
Coffee with a view: Venture to one of the most scenic coffee spots on the south coast, Bar Beach kiosk. Perk up with a flat white and a vanilla french toast while enjoying a panoramic view of Merimbula's dreamiest beach.
Paint and booze: Paint your own masterpiece while knocking back a few wines at Paint Pinot’s sessions in Huskisson and Wollongong.
MARKETS
Stroll the night markets: If live music, amusement rides and 30 food trucks and street food stalls are your bag, hit up international food festival Aussie Night Markets in Nowra on the weekend of January 12-13.
Pick a picnic: Bring your picnic rug to the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum for the summer twilight markets. On the first Saturday of the month, unwind with live music, a fresh feed and a selection of locally made wares.
Experience the foodie fair: Drop by EAT Merimbula, a gourmet foodie event held on the foreshore of Fishpen. Local chefs and restaurateurs will gather to create bespoke dishes using produce from the Sapphire Coast region.
Shop local: Gather your weekly feed from a selection of seasonal produce including fruit, vegetables, honey, wine, sourdough and street food from the Berry farmers' market, held each Thursday afternoon.
Eat organic: On January 26, visit the Nethercote market, for an array of stalls selling bao buns, kombucha, kimchi, Greek soul food, muesli and nuts.
CULTURE
Appreciate art: Tour the historical Meroogal house in Kiama where the work of 35 New South Wales artists is being exhibited as part of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize. There's also an opportunity to flex those creative muscles and interact with the outdoor 'water picnic' installation.
Learn the stories of creation: Explore Yuin country – the Narooma/Tilba region – with Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness. During the multi-day experience, connect with Indigenous creation tales through walks, performance, storytelling and local food.
Lose yourself in Tilba Tilba: Explore the cheese factory, tea rooms, historical walks and gardens of the charming mountain village with the two names.
Get artsy: Perched by the Kiama coastline is The Little Blowhole art bar, a new tapas and wine bar with an ever-changing art collection.
Revamp your wares: Bring your own wooden furniture to This Old House in Berry for a five-hour workshop on the basics of furniture painting. Experiment with rustic chalk-based paints, decorative glazes and protective waxes.
RELAXATION
Calm the kids: For something different these school holidays, take the little ones to Soul Tribe Studio’s kids’ yoga in Batemans Bay.
Order a hut: With Hyams Beach Hampers you can choose a styled tent to be set up for you on a Jervis Bay beach of your choosing. You can also order a hamper of locally-sourced preserves, wines, cheeses, and bread. There are even sunset and proposal packages for the die-hard romantics.
Stretch under the sun: Lose yourself in a downward dog during an outdoor yoga session in the Jervis Bay area.
Source: Read Full Article