A string of artisanal foodie experiences and spellbinding nature immersions beckons from NSW’s Sapphire Coast.
Forget dogs in tuckerboxes or big merinos – the best pit-stop on a road trip from Sydney along the south coast of NSW dazzles with irresistible foodie adventures and spectacular natural beauty. Located roughly 380 kilometres south of Sydney, the Sapphire Coast unfurls from the historic town of Bermagui down just beyond the Sydney Rock Oyster haven of Pambula. Grabbing my husband for back-to-back indulgence enveloped in unspoiled coastal wilderness, I comb the highlights across five nights. Pack your comfiest elasticated pants to dive into my Sapphire Coast foodie itinerary.
Day 1: Bermagui for ocean bathing and a sauna
Bermagui Blue Pool is a must-visit. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Hit the Princes Highway out of Sydney in search of Bermagui, about five hours south of the big smoke, where road trips should be celebrated in the shimmering Bermagui Blue Pool. If it’s sunny, finding a car park atop the flight of stairs down to the ocean pool will require patience, but do persist because crystal-clear conditions overlook frothy waves.
For lunch, hit Bermagui Fisherman’s Wharf on Lamont Street for fish and chips from its ground floor takeaway shop, Blue Wave Seafood. It would be un-Australian to skip chasing their wild-caught fish, oysters and scallops with a golden-crust pineapple fritter as fishing trawlers and yachts bob just metres away.
An even better treat? Walking 10 minutes along Lamont Street to Horseshoe Bay where Good Sauna’s handcrafted mobile timber sauna typically sits on the grass. A splash of self-care with surf views feels completely surreal, so I recommend enquiring ahead to ensure you don’t miss out. It opens Friday to Sunday when it’s in town, with prices starting from $25 per person for 25 minutes.
Check in for the night at BIG4 Wallaga Lake Holiday Park, which is within easy walking distance of Camel Rock, a jaw-dropping natural sea stack of 470-million-year-old turbidite rocks that resemble a camel rising from the sand.
Bermagui has no shortage of incredible beaches to explore. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The night sky about Camel Rock. (Credit: Destination NSW)
A lookout that takes in Camel Rock, Horse Head Rock and Pebby Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Peaceful scenes at Wallaga Lake in Bermagui. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Day 2: Bermagui to Murrah for a cult bakery, surfing and fine dining
Lean into a holiday breakfast with a Swedish-inspired Kardemummabullar bun from Honorbread bakery on Bunga Street. The doughy, cardamom-spiced bestseller is glazed to sticky-finger perfection and pairs sensationally with Single O coffee.
Don’t leave without a famed Country Loaf sourdough because you’ll work up quite the appetite back at that ancient pile of rocks with Camel Rock Surf School. The surroundings are entirely unique, so get amongst it from $70 for two hours.
If you’re in town between June and November, whale watching with Sapphire Coastal Adventures, which departs from Bermagui Wharf, is a no-brainer. The crew guarantee you’ll catch a cartwheel amid Australia’s annual Humpback Highway migration and two-hour tours start from $85 per person.
Get out on the water with Sapphire Coastal Adventures. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Grab your bags and hit the Bermagui to Tathra coastal drive to soak up the horizon before finding Murrah’s Mimosa Wines, where you should most certainly stay overnight. Located 16 kilometres south of Bermagui, it’s a 200-acre property with powered glamping lodges. Additionally, the on-site restaurant offers a seasonally charged three-course set menu crafted by Michelin-starred chef Matteo Ponti.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Day 3: Murrah to Tanja for kayaking and organic produce
Hike, canoe or camp in Mimosa National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Wake to birdsong before hopping back on the coastal drive to Tanja Lagoon Camp. The day is young, but I recommend getting to this wonderful site, located about 16 kilometres from Mimosa Wines, as soon as possible to take advantage of its on-site activities. From bushwalks through Mimosa Rocks National Park to canoeing and kayaking out to an idyllic sand bar, the campsite encourages beautiful slow living.
Before the sun sets, drive inland about 21 kilometres to stock up at Bega’s 1,000-item-strong Candelo Bulk Wholefoods Co-op. Pick from the Bello Beef range and other sustainably sourced fish and meats to cook back in your eco cabin. After dinner, stargazing around the campfire is a must, as is sleeping in the next morning with a pre-ordered breakfast hamper arranged by the camp.
Day 4: Tanja to Tathra via Bega for cheese and artisanal drinks
Stock up on fine foods at Bega Cheese Heritage Centre. (Credit: Tourism Australia)
Taste buds need more love? Pop the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre into Maps. Located about 24 kilometres southwest of Tanja Lagoon Camp, the touristy drawcard offers platters and milkshakes as well as insight into one of Australia’s iconic brands. When in the Sapphire Coast, I say.
North of Eden Artisan Distillery is next on your to-do list, located just over 10 kilometres from Bega. The spirit specialists run their own Gin School led by local botanists, so check out the website for upcoming dates.
Wind down to Tathra, where you’ll spend the night at Tathra Beach Eco Camp, one of the region’s most outstanding stays — but not before pub grub and craft beer at Tathra Hotel, where the Humpback Brewery operates a microbrewery in a former pokies room.
Settle in for an experience at North of Eden Artisan Distillery. (Credit: Destination NSW)
North of Eden is just 10 kilometres outside of Bega. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Day 5: Tathra to Merimbula for trendy dining and cold plunges
Soak up that stunning coastline along the Wharf to Wharf Walk, which journeys from Tathra Wharf to Merimbula Wharf across 27 kilometres. You’ll sweep in serene beaches and plenty of Bournda National Park where birdwatching and secret swimming spots await.
The Wharf to Wharf Walk from Tathra to Merimbula. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Contrast therapy (jumping between cold plunges and saunas) at Safir House in Merimbula will recharge your batteries, and if you book ahead, there are also massages to snap up. A quick duck into Bar Superette on Market Street is also advised, as small bites are harmoniously accompanied by excellent wines. My favourite part? It’s a wine store, so you can take your favourite drop home with you.
Leave with your own collection of wines. (Credit: Supplied)
Tasty snacks served at Bar Superette. (Credit: Supplied)
Sweat it out at Safir House. (Credit: Destination NSW)
For a heartier feed, and some of the best dining in town, dinner at a Japanese-inspired izakaya in the middle of Merimbula is the norm. Umiko on Market Street opens from Tuesday to Saturday and rolls out authentic flavours to adoring crowds.
Finish the day connected entirely to nature by pitching a tent at Jigamy Farm Campground. It’s a serene stay set against Pambula Lake, which is exactly where your sojourn continues for one final morning.
Day 6: Pambula for oysters
Don’t skip town before trying Pambula’s Broadwater Oysters. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Go out with a bang by topping an almost-week-long adventure off in Pambula with the region’s headline attraction: oysters. Whether you’re enjoying a (few) dozen Sydney Rock by the lake at Broadwater Oysters, or shucking your own straight out of the water with Captain Sponge Magical Oyster Tours, the famed morsels are the ultimate way to cheers any visit to this charming part of the world.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.
By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.
From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.
This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.
1. Share in ghostly tales
Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)
If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.
You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.
2. Wander art installations
See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)
Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.
For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.
3. Learn through lasers
Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)
Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.
The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.
4. Light up the lake
Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)
Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.
You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.
5. Be captivated by local culture
Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)
Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.
Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.
6. Discover a winter glow
See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)
Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.
Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.
Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.
