[image]
[title]Reconnect with your favourite peeps over a glass of wine, a memorable meal in a special spot, or by plunging your hands into the earth or the ocean to gather your own mouthwatering morsels. Turn an ordinary weekend into a high-flying adventure thanks to a seaplane ride, taste your way around the foodie nerve centre of the Central West, or meander along the South Coast, exploring its oyster trail, sipping its wines and staying at a fabulous retro motel.
Find more NSW travel ideas here.
Pick your trip:
WEEKEND AWAY
Berowra Waters Inn | Photograph: Supplied/Berowra Waters Inn
A high-flying weekend of Sydney feasting
We all know Sydney is a show-off. Admire the Emerald City’s ridiculous beauty by grabbing your favourite dining companion to share some high-fives and eye-boggles while flying from the harbour to a far-flung, bucket-list restaurant. Sydney Seaplanes departs from Rose Bay in the eastern suburbs, buzzing landmarks such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the scalloped northern beaches leading to Pittwater to reach some of Sydney’s most exclusive restaurants. Among those eateries is Berowra Waters Inn on the Hawkesbury River. The riverfront restaurant, accessible only by boat or seaplane, is surrounded by towering eucalypts within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Take a seat and be lavished with a six-course degustation – think scallops, prawns, Wagyu and native nougat with apricots. Courses can be paired with drops from the 100 percent Australian wine list – clink glasses with your fellow foodie and congratulate yourselves on taking a flying leap into such a delicious experience. Still hungry? Here are Sydney’s best restaurants right now.
Borrodell Vineyard Canobolas | Photograph: Destination NSW
A delicious four-day jaunt around the Central West
The NSW Central West is a hot-to-trot foodie spot – but rug up if you’re heading to this elevated region beyond the Blue Mountains. The cool-climate wine region is known for crisp weather that encourages conversation and connection in front of cosy fireplaces, and its haute dining scene. The number of cellar doors and eateries is dizzying but simplify things by jumping on one of Country Food Trails’ five tours. Founder Nicole Farrell knows Orange intimately. The only hard decision is choosing between her Farm Trail, Wine Trail, Village Trail, Tasting Trail (a walking tour that combines history with an Indigenous food experience) or a custom tour. Stellar wineries suit every interest. Take in sweeping views from Borrodell Estate perched on the flanks of Mount Canobolas, pat the resident wine pony at Heifer Station or deepen your knowledge at Printhie’s Sparkling Masterclass that includes a guided vineyard tour, a tasting of the award-winning Swift range and three-course al fresco lunch. More deliciousness awaits at Mudgee, home to winery-based destination restaurant the Zin House that’s made an art out of the long lunch. In Bathurst, stay over so you can work through the seriously good cocktail list at Americana-style eatery Dogwood BX. Owner Evan Stanley was once named Time Out Melbourne’s Bartender of the Year.
Photograph: Destination NSW
A lip-smacking one-week odyssey along the South Coast
The South Coast is big on joyful nostalgia – after all, it’s home to a string of newly hip retro motels such as the Berry View, Motel Molly and Hillcrest Merimbula. They make great bases for diving into the long trail of deliciousness connecting Sydney to the state’s southern border.
For starters, hit Darkes Glenbernie Orchard in the Illawarra hinterland to pick your own fruit (November to April) or to stock up on cider, honey and mead year-round to enjoy on your pit stops. If you venture south via the Southern Highlands, consider a foodie adventure. One of Stefano Marvello’s most popular Italian Cooking Experiences involves grape-stomping at Berrima’s Tractorless Vineyards followed by a guided wine tasting and two-course lunch that’s cooked among the vines.
Developing a taste for photogenic wineries by now? Feel the sunshine on your face by sitting outside at Coolangatta’s elevated Mountain Ridge Wines (also EV-friendly with a free solar-powered “servo”). Book a table – or stay overnight – at Cupitt’s Estate, an Ulladulla winery that’s also a fromagerie, restaurant and brewery.
Explore the 300km-long oyster trail that flourishes thanks to the region’s pristine rivers and lakes. The flavoursome Sydney rock oyster is the specialty although some places also farm a native flat oyster. Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours will take you out onto Pambula Lake with a charismatic oyster farmer or visit nearby Broadwater Oysters, a working oyster farm and shucking school.
Finally, congratulate yourselves on tracking down fave local eateries such as Mollymook’s Gwylo (which includes next-level veg options such as kung pao jackfruit and Mittagong mushroom larb), South Nowra’s Old Salt Distillery (unlike most industrial-estate drinking dens, this one takes food seriously) and the Milton Hotel. Woodfired scallops with kombu butter and ponzu, anyone?