10 must-try foodie experiences on the South Coast

Get streetwise at Steamers

Head to City Beach in Wollongong and celebrate street food from around the world at the award-winning Steamers Bar and Grill. Its winter menu is rustic, hearty and gamey (try the Tuscan goat pie or the braised rabbit gnocchi), and the fireplace, lanterns and Edison globes infuse the indoor dining area with a cosy, magical charm. If you prefer to dine al fresco, don’t let the cool season put you off: on the beachside balcony, heat lamps (and blankets, if you need them) keep the chill at bay.

Steamers Bar and Grill, Wollongong

Make the most of a market

It’s all about keeping it local at Kiama Farmers’ Market, which turns Coronation Park in pretty coastal Kiama into a slice of fresh foodie heaven every Wednesday afternoon. When the bell rings (at 2pm in winter; 3pm during daylight saving) the stalls open, and you’ll find everything from award-winning cheese and artisan gelato from The Pines micro-dairy to free-range eggs from a farm in Jamberoo and sourdough bread from Flour Water Salt. Stock up on gourmet goodies, treat yourself to some empanadas, or maybe doughnuts and a hot chocolate, and grab a seat in the sun to watch the passing parade. Other local favourites to check out include SAGE Farmers Market at Moruya, Tilba Market and Berry Farmers’ Market.

Kiama Farmers' Market

See Rick’s cooler side

No food-focused trip to the South Coast is complete without a visit to Rick Stein at Bannisters Mollymook, which not only produces some of the best seafood on the coast but comes with views to match (on a headland overlooking the glittering Pacific). Head to the Pool Bar for a sunset cocktail outside or by the fire, before settling in for dinner in the restaurant, where the vibe is intimate and warm. The menu, which changes daily, depending on what the local fishermen have caught, is five-star seafood bliss. Think coconut chilli prawns and kingfish steak with salsa verde.

Rick Stein at Bannisters, Mollymook

Eat well at Eschalot

Seasonal produce is the star of the show at the renowned Eschalot in the Southern Highlands. Settle into the warm embrace of this heritage-listed sandstone cottage in the heart of historic Berrima, where head chef Matty Roberts draws on his kitchen garden and the best local fare to offer some remarkable dishes matched with a comprehensive range of wines. Sit back and order a feast from the winter menu, with dishes such as dukkha-crusted lamb shoulder with tahini dressing, or paella-stuffed bullhorn peppers with Veracruz sauce.

Eschalot, Berrima

Hit the oyster trail

The South Coast is Australia’s Oyster Coast and it’s fair to say molluscs are a pretty big deal down here. In the heart of the action is Eurobodalla, where you can slurp oysters freshly shucked from Jim Wild’s Oysters at Greenwell Point (tours are also available). Get active and try them just-plucked on a Clyde River Oyster Kayaking Tour or "on the water" with Captain Sponge; relax and enjoy them at Wheelers in Pambula (which hosts a daily alfresco oyster bar); or savour them from farm gate to your plate at Pearly Oyster Bar and Farm or dine with a million dollar view at The Farm Gate and Oyster Shed on Wray Street, both in Batemans Bay.

Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour, Pambula River on The Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail

Indulge in some dairy

Healthy, contented cows graze over the South Coast’s fertile fields, in turn producing some of the state’s tastiest dairy products. Drop in to award-winning fromagerie Bodalla Dairy Shed for freshly churned ice-cream, plus cheeses infused with native wattleseed and saltbush; stop past Tilba Dairy in Central Tilba for vintage smoked cheddar or mountain ash camembert; and don’t forget the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, where you can take away signature Strong and Bitey, or linger over a cheese-fuelled lunch in the cafe.

Tilba Dairy, Tilba - Credit: Tilba Dairy

Go behind-the-scenes at a working farm

Visiting a working farm is one of the best ways to learn where your food comes from. Kiama offers many such opportunities. You can stay overnight in cottages, collecting eggs and plucking vegetables, at Jamberoo Valley Farm. If you don’t want to check in, Buena Vista Farm offers daytime tours to meet resident animals and discover how fruit and veggies are grown, plus hands-on cooking classes on topics like cheese making, baking and fermenting. Another worthwhile visit is The Pines artisan micro-dairy. The family-run farm makes a range of award-winning milks and cheeses and you can enjoy a delicious gelato while you tour their facility.

Jamberoo Valley Farm Stay and Cottages, Jamberoo

Dine on native Australian ingredients

The applauded Bangalay Dining in Shoalhaven Heads is renowned for its use of native Australian ingredients, including lemon myrtle and bunya nut. Try the multicourse tasting menu, packed with delicious bites like South Coast oysters with fingerlime, Aquana Murray cod with wattle seed oil, and pork neck with elderflower. If you can’t tear yourself away, check in to one of the self-contained villas. 

Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads

Sip on a glass of wine

The Shoalhaven Coast is known for producing a diverse range of varietals – from chardonnay to shiraz – and features more than a dozen cellar doors. Between Ulladulla and Milton you’ll find Cupitt's Winery, which not only bottles standout wines but also hosts an on-site craft brewery, restaurant, cheesemaking operation and accommodation (and funky Sunday sessions). Occupying historic buildings once comprising a dairy farm, Silos Estate in Berry is as in-demand for its wines as for its wide-eyed alpacas and guest cottages. Nearby is Two Figs Winery, with views over the beaches of Shoalhaven Heads, and just east lies Coolangatta Estate, which also features a restaurant and cottages for overnight stays. 

Cupitt's Winery, Ulladulla

Treat yourself at the tavern

Cantilevered over the water, with huge glass windows offering views of boats bobbing in the marina, The Waterfront Tavern at Shell Cove will have you lingering over a seafood platter, beef ragu or lamb shanks long after the sun has set. With a fireplace and an impressive list of cocktails on offer, you’ll be warmed up in no time. The tavern is part of Shellharbour’s newest waterfront dining precinct The Waterfront Shell Cove, which offers a sparkling selection of new eateries to explore. 

Waterfront Tavern Shell Cove, Shellharbour - Credit: Eddie Hu Captured, Tourism Shellharbour