Merimbula

Merimbula can be found roughly halfway between Melbourne and Sydney on the Far South Coast of New South Wales.

It's dotted with charming towns and villages set on the sparkling ocean, beside glassy lakes or tucked into the gentle hinterland. Drink craft beer themed for the Roaring 20s, pluck fresh oysters straight from the water and look out for migrating whales.

Where to eat

Merimbula locals Kirsty Pongratz and Mitchell Nadin have transformed a charming 1920s house into the region’s trendiest cafe and bar, Dulcie’s Cottage. Pongratz’s husband is Sydney hospitality icon Jason Scott of the Swillhouse Group, who brings a bit of big city cool to this little country cottage. Expect classic American style burgers (cooked in a restored 1950s caravan parked in the courtyard) and plenty of fresh local oysters.

After an early morning swim, refuel at the Bar Beach Kiosk. This tiny wooden shack serves up great coffee, superfood bowls, salads and housemade muffins right on the edge of Bar Beach.

If you’re looking for a cafe dedicated to local, healthy fare, then you’ll love Toast Eden Cafe. Offering up Eden’s finest fresh produce, the food is delicious, nutritious and pesticide-free. It’s dog-friendly and you can sit street-side with your dog or enjoy a more relaxed experience in the secluded back garden.

The craft beer revolution arrived on the Sapphire Coast with the opening of Longstocking Brewery in Pambula at the start of 2016. The brewery is open Wednesday to Sunday with a revolving door of beers on tap. Sit down for lunch with a schooner and a plate of fresh oysters or a woodfired pizza.

Where to play

The Sapphire Coast is one of Australia’s kitesurfing hubs, thanks to its long beaches, calm water and reliable winds. Try it yourself or take a coffee to the beach and watch the pros soar above and across the waves like they are dancing.

Discover a colourful array of sea creatures at Merimbula Aquarium, located on a horizontal rock shelf that juts out to sea. An exciting range of tours is also available, from fishing charters to whale-watching cruises, diving and snorkelling.

Sample oysters at their absolute freshest on Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours, where the captain himself will pull oysters straight from Pambula Lake. You’ll also learn about the process of oyster farming and see how they are harvested.

The port of Eden was the centre of Australia’s whaling industry for more than a century. Local legend has it that a pod of killer whales used to help the whalers in their hunt, driving frightened humpbacks into Twofold Bay. Today, the Killer Whale Trail self drive tour visits five significant historic sites along the coast. Interpretive signs have been set up at each point: scan with your smartphone for more information. From September to November, you will see humpbacks migrating along the coast.

Where to stay

You can see the ocean from almost every corner of the NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort. After a major refurbishment, facilities now include a heated pool, water park, jumping pillow, tennis court, sand volleyball court, games room, kids’ club, bikes and go karts. This 4.5 star park has a huge range of accommodation options, from a beach house and clifftop bungalows to condos, spa villas, cabins and units, as well as powered and unpowered sites. The park is also pet friendly, so it’s a great option if you’re travelling with furry family members.