A Road Trip Down the South Coast of Australia

O ur daughter moved back to Australia at the end of 2019, just in time for bush fires and covid lockdown, and though she's been to visit us a few times, we were finally able to go visit her last November. The first time she lived there we had a wonderful visit to the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania. This time we decided to do a road trip from Sydney down the southern coast of New South Wales to Batemans Bay. We wanted to see more of this large country and have a chill vibe for our road trip. And that's exactly what we got! Come along to drive the coast of Australia and visit the cute little Batemans Bay!

Berry Donut Van

Our first stop was the iconic Berry Donut Van. Located in the town of Berry, this van has been serving their signature hot, cinnamon sugar donuts for over 5 decades. After traveling around the country of Australia, the owners decided on this NSW town and began making donuts in 1974. They are open 7 days per week and it was the perfect first stop on our road trip. Hot and fresh donuts to go? Most definitely!

Two Figs Winery

Two Figs Winery, located 12 km from Berry in Back Forest, is such a little gem. It was a perfect stop with beautiful views - it's perched on the top of a hill - a friendly wine pourer and there was a car club here when we arrived so we got to take a little walk around their classic cars. We enjoyed a glass of wine outside on the patio - that's really the best, isn't it? - overlooking the Shoalhaven River. (By the way, winery tasting rooms in Australia are called Cellar Doors)

Oysters in Batemans Bay

Our daughters favorite food is oysters so it only made sense that we would be partaking of some of the best oysters in Australia while we were there. The New South Wales South Coast is renowned for its oysters and it's one of the few places that you can sample all 3 found in the state - Sydney rock oysters, Pacific oysters and the rare Angasi. There is a yearly oyster fest held in Narooma and in Batemans Bay you can even take a kayak and oyster taking tour.

  

On the north bank of the Clyde River, you can get oysters from the Oyster Shed - which is exactly what we did and then enjoyed them at a picnic table right in town on a sunny - and windy - day.

The riverwalk in Batemans Bay

Lilli Pilli Beach

We spent a couple hours at this horseshoe shaped beach - considered one of the most beautiful in the Eurobodalla region - that was just down the road from our rental house. We were there on a weekday in Spring so there were no crowds, it was perfect weather and the sunshine and golden sands were fantastic. If you go, there is free public parking and a short path to the beach. 

Australia has a plethora of gorgeous beaches!

Thanksgiving Dinner

We were in Australia over the American Thanksgiving holiday and I decided I wanted to cook a Thanksgiving meal. We headed to the local Woolie's (Woolworth grocery chain) and purchased all the fixins for a Thanksgiving dinner. We managed to score a turkey breast, got potatoes for mashed potatoes and everything we needed for the stuffing - except for the ground sausage. We asked the butcher at the store and he said "Nah, mate, I don't have any of that." So we got some sausages and just made them into loose meat to add to the stuffing. Voila! A Thanksgiving dinner at a beach house on the coast of Australia!

Not pretty but it did taste good

Board games for the holidy

Christmas cookie decorating contest

Clyde River Cruise

One of the more touristy things to do in Batemans Bay is take a boat cruise down the Clyde River. This three hour lunch cruise leaves from the Boatshed in Batemans Bay, makes a brief stop in Nelligan (about 30 minutes) to tour some local historical sites - famous outlaws were apprehended here in the 1860's - and then returns back to Batemans Bay. Lunch, which is included in your fare, includes fish, chips and salad, complimentary tea and coffee plus an open bar that you can treat yourself to an adult beverage if you'd like. 

Our boat

The Clyde River is very popular for houseboating

The boat has beautifully refurbished interiors, comfortable dining tables (you're assigned a table) and an open deck up top to view the waterway. In all honesty, since we went on a weekday lunch cruise, it was full of senior citizens or "pensioners" if you prefer. Still fun. And it was the best Fish n Chips I've ever had - so incredibly fresh! But the 3 hours seemed a bit long without too many sites even though the captain kept a running commentary to keep us entertained. 

The most interesting part were the huge jellyfish you could see in the river.  Called Jelly Blubber, they are the most common jellyfish found in Eastern Australia. And according to our captain, they're virtually harmless - their stings cause redness and itchiness only. It was truly wild seeing them floating in the river - there were hundreds! 

Broulee Brewhouse

Broulee Brewhouse is part of the South Coast Ale Trail and is located in the small coastal town of Broulee behind the dunes of North Broulee Beach - about a 20 minute drive from our rental house. It has a great outdoor space with live music most nights. We ordered beverages and food, enjoying both, at an outdoor table. After that we had to stop at the beautiful North Broulee Beach - another one of the South Coasts beautiful beaches. (Broulee Brewhouse has a red Bedford truck that is up for hire for events and goes to local festivals in case you're in the area!)

Moruya

We decided it was a good day for a day out a little further down the coast so we drove to the town of Moruya. Moruya is a small town of about 5,000 people and is known for its granite quarries - the granite from here was used for the Sydney Harbor Bridge pylons.

A blue collar worker is called a Tradie in Australia

We had hoped for an outdoor patio for lunch but it was a bit drizzly so we settled on the Tukka Licenced Cafe. Set in an old Bank of New South Wales, the food was fantastic and the setting was cool so we called it a win. Then it was time for a wander around town and a little retail therapy. There were several cute shops and when the sun decided to make an appearance we headed over to the cool Quantum Brewery.

 Housed in the Old Moruya Cheese Factory, there is beer (brewed here), food, gardens and even accommodations. We enjoyed a beverage by the fireplace and played a board game which was the perfect end to our day trip to Moruya.

Crooked River Wines

Our last stop on our road trip was on our way back north, about an hour south of Sydney. Crooked River Wines is a family owned and operated winery in the town of Gerringong. Known for their beautiful views as well as their wines, you can sit inside for a tasting or meal or outside as a picnic enjoying the scenery. Unfortunately for us, it was a bit of a dreary and grey day so our views were a bit less than. But we still enjoyed a glass of wine outside and it made for a perfect stop to break up the trip before the last push back to Sydney.

Where We Stayed

We rented a waterfront house in Malua Bay, just south of Batemans Bay, on Air BnB. It turned out to be a fantastic choice with large windows looking out on the water, a washer & dryer, and a small beach within walking distance. It was perfect for the four of us - and I had one of my favorite moments of the trip here. We were walking out to the car in the driveway and a man wearing a safari hat came up and said "G'day, I'm your gardener and I'm here to cut the lawn." It was so Australian and I only regret that I didn't ask to get a photo with him. We laughed about it all week!

Other beach houses in the area

Any time I get to visit and be with my kids is a good time. And getting to visit my daughter in Australia is just a bit of icing on the cake. I loved seeing the small towns, the drive and just a bit of every day life. I can't wait to plan our next visit!

How about you? Have you been to Australia? And down the South Coast?

Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand!