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GT hits the road for a weekend escape, exploring the best regional Australia has to offer. Here, we head down to the NSW Far South Coast, also known as the Sapphire Coast, to check out Mossy Point, Narooma and Batemans Bay.
Accommodation in Mossy Point
Poolside at Oaks Ranch
The only issue you’ll have setting up base camp at the beautiful The Oaks Ranch is that it can be incredibly hard to leave. The umbrella-lined magnesium pool is a serious foil in any plans to explore nearby beaches, bushwalks and dining spots. The luxe accommodation is well located in Mossy Point, providing easy access to Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma. Beyond the luxe linen furnishings, and calm, considered interiors, you can enjoy delicious dining at in-house restaurant Arlo, kangaroo-spotting on the golf course, and meeting the ranch’s two resident donkeys Gloria and Esteban.
Snapper ceviche and Yellowfin tuna tostada at Quarterdeck
NSW South Coast restaurants
Cast back a few years and the 100-kilometre stretch between Batemans Bay and Narooma could only be described (lovingly) as sleepy. Not anymore. These days the coastal paradise buzzes with life, thanks to the mass migration of 2020 and 2021 that turned coastal towns into culinary talent incubators. Of course Merivale deserves much of the credit for making Narooma happen. The hospitality empire has transformed multiple local institutions into city-slick venues including Queen Chow at The Whale Inn, and Quarterdeck, a go-to for cocktails with a view. Locally owned and run, The Oyster Farmers Daughter is a boutique food trailer on Wagonga Inlet with mismatched furniture and sun umbrellas creating a laidback atmosphere, where delicious food – including incredible oysters – are served from a shipping container kitchen. In Batemans Bay, at the Quays Hotel, The Sandbar marries South Coast produce with French techniques and Japanese flair.
Things to do on the NSW South Coast
Seals in the sun at Barunguba (Montague Island).
The local beaches are the main drawcard here, including Broulee Beach, Tomakin Beach, and more. Or you can stroll the sandy track of Burrewarra Point Banksia Walk through the forest and past an old World War II bunker. Better yet, catch the coastline from the air in a Moruya Seaplane. Golfers will be tempted to spend the day on the 9-hole golf course on Oaks Ranch, while Mogo Wildlife Park is a magnet for families, just 10 minutes away. You can also charter a boat to Barunguba (Montague Island), known for seal sightings and Little Penguins.
