Avoid the crowds by travelling to one (or all) of these five destinations in the colder months. Each offers a unique winter experience, from desertscapes in the outback to oyster trails and sand dune adventures on the coast.
Apr 2025 -
7
min readMerimbula
Merimbula is famed for its magnificent beaches and waterways but there’s still plenty to do when the weather is cooler. Sample some of the best oysters in the country, feast your eyes on spectacular scenery, beat the winter chill on a bushwalk and spend the evening in a bar that draws people from around the state.
What to do:
Learn to shuck and sample the Sapphire Coast’s famous Sydney rock oysters – which tend to be plumper, brinier and less creamy in winter – during one of Captain Sponges Magical Oyster Tours or plan your own route on the self-guided Sapphire Coast oyster trail. Set your ideal pace along the 3.4-kilometre Merimbula Boardwalk, which weaves around the lake, through mangroves, past oyster farms and eucalypt forest. Join Yandama on Country for an immersive Aboriginal experience to learn about the significance of cultural sites, local ecologies as well as traditional foods and medicines. If you’re in town on the second Sunday of the month, head to Pambula Village Market for local produce, fresh bread and a locally crafted souvenir.
Captain Sponges Magical Oyster Tour, Pambula
Where to dine:
Watch the winter mist rise from the lake as you sip on a hot cuppa at Sunny’s Kiosk. On chilly days, the fireplace is roaring within the 1925-built weatherboard that is Dulcie’s Cottage – a fun-loving bar serving burgers and oysters. Bar Superette is a date night winner with its intimate interior of dark woods, dim lighting, vinyl tunes and an extensive wine list.
Sunny's Kiosk, Merimbula - Credit: Tess Podger
Where to stay:
Whether the ocean is shimmering or a little more on the wild side, you can watch its many moods from the comfort of your clifftop cabin or safari tent at NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort. At secluded Currajong Retreat, snuggle up with your loved one by the log burner of your safari tent or sink into the hot outdoor bath together enveloped by views of the countryside. Feel 1970s nostalgia at Hillcrest Motel, a charming stay at the top of town, with retro-style rooms that can comfortably sleep up to four (you can book interconnecting family rooms that sleep up to six).
Distance from Sydney: six hours.
Currajong Retreat - Credit: TBH Media
Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a whale-watching hotspot during winter. It’s also an ideal time to hit the region’s scenic walking tracks or glide down the soaring sand dunes on a board, quad bike or camel.
What to do:
From May to November, the Port Stephens coastline becomes a ‘humpback highway’ as 40,000 whales make their annual migration. Join a whale-watching cruise with Moonshadow – TQC Cruises or Imagine Cruises; you may also see Australian fur seals and dolphins as you explore the outer islands. Find magazine-cover coastal scenery as your climb the 161-metre Tomaree Head Summit, which is part of the 27-kilometre Tomaree Coastal Walk that fringes the shore from Shoal Bay to Anna Bay.
Imagine Cruises, Nelson Bay
Get your heart pumping at the colossal, ever-changing Stockton Sand Dunes and Worimi Conservation area with Sand Dune Adventures. The team runs a sand boarding and quad bike tour that also offers an insight into local Aboriginal culture. Discover the incredible work being done at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, which cares for sick, injured and orphaned koalas. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the sanctuary from the 225-metre skywalk through the treetops and get involved in the scavenger hunt – great for the little ones.
Sand Dune Adventures, Port Stephens
Where to dine:
Fill up with a shishito scrambled eggs alongside a papaya salad at The Little Nel, a Nelson Bay favourite. Head to seaside Shoal Bay Country Club for a languid lunch on the patio or book a table at the chic Greek diner Atmos. Drinking and dining destination B Farm by Murray’s is home to Murray’s Craft Brewing Co (a distillery and cellar door), a high tea pavilion and farm-to-table dining at Restaurant William. But, if you’re after more chilled vibes, roll out a rug on the grass and graze on a B Farm picnic hamper alongside live music.
Out on the balcony at the Shoal Bay Country Club - Credit: Shoal Bay Country Club
Where to stay:
Tiny homes are made for snug winter escapes, and B Farm’s Sally the Skywatcher nails the brief with a private Swedish-style bathhouse. Multi-generational families can hole up The Ambers, which sleeps 22 guests and comes with a media room, tennis court, pool and waterslide. Settle in by the outdoor bar and firepit (bring some marshmallows to roast under starry skies). At pet-friendly BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Soldiers Point, there’s year-round fun for the family with an indoor heated pool and splash park, as well as a ten-pin bowling alley and bike track. Soldiers Point is also known for its memorable sunsets.
Distance from Sydney: two hours.
The Ambers, Port Stephens - Credit: Nat Spada Photography
Broken Hill
When the swelter of summer is gone and the days are crisp and clear, head to this famous outback town for action-packed days, red desert scenery and clear starry nights.
What to do:
Gain an understanding of how vast and beautiful our outback is with a scenic flight over Kati-Thanda Lake Eyre and Wilpena Pound with H&A Air. Nearby Silverton was a filming location for the classic Mad Max 2 – explore this former silver mining outpost by camelback with Silverton Outback Camels. Time your visit to The Living Desert and Sculpture Park, to coincide with sunset so you can experience the sky’s magic along the 900-metre trail of the outdoor sculpture gallery. Winter usually provides better stargazing conditions, so rug up under a blanket for an evening with Outback Astronomy.
Where to dine:
Escape the crisp morning air with a coffee and B&E roll at Silly Goat Cafe. Later, indulge in a vanilla malt or creamy chocolate milkshake made with handmade syrups at local institution Bell’s Milk Bar. As a setting for the iconic film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Palace Hotel might be the most famous pub in town, but the 1886-built newly refurbished The Broken Hill Pub is also a great spot for classic pub food and live music on weekends.
Silly Goat Cafe, Broken Hill
Where to stay:
Whether you’re towing a caravan or seeking a comfy self-contained apartment, check out Broken Hill Outback Resort just outside of town. Sit under the outdoor heaters on the verandah to soak up views of the rugged Barrier Ranges. In town, a 1911 church, presbytery and cottage have been converted into self-contained accommodation at Broken Hill Outback Church Stay, with old stone walls, original heritage features and fireplaces ideal for winter hibernating.
Distance from Sydney: 12.5 hours.
Broken Hill Outback Resort - Credit: Scott Smith | Out of the Ordinary Outback
Coffs Harbour
As a rare Eco-certified destination, Coffs Harbour’s nature takes centre-stage. Winter is a cooler time to explore both the rainforest and the sea, all of it complemented by a thriving, sustainability-focused food and wine scene.
What to do:
Warm up on wintery days with a glass of red wine and plate of baked camembert on a deck surrounded by vineyards at Raleigh Winery in the Bellinger Valley. In Coffs Harbour, Bite Food Tours can introduce you to the town’s food, art and culture on a guided walking tour that visits local eateries and farmers markets, providing insights, stories and tastes along the way. In the Solitary Islands Marine Park you can join a Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tour to learn Gumbaynggirr stories and language as you stand-up paddle board through this thriving marine sanctuary.
Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, Coffs Harbour
Here, you’re also well placed to observe the humpback highway from the sea with a Jetty Dive Centre whale swim. Only possible in August and September, the experience puts you in the front seat for the majestic migration (while observing approved regulations of distance). Or, for warmer endeavours, you can wander the miniature Dutch village, watch a live clog-making demonstration and enjoy Dutch pancakes at The Clog Barn, a local institution that has been entertaining visitors since the 80s.
Humpback whale off Coffs Harbour coast - Credit: Coffs Coast
Where to dine:
Aanuka Beach House has tropical beach vibes all year round. Linger over the bottomless brunch on Saturdays. Embrace the region’s sustainability and local philosophy with a paddock-to-plate meal at Three Blue Ducks Bellingen, set on a six-hectare property with views of Dorrigo Mountain. Nearby, Bruno’s diners are kept toasty with a fireplace and fire-grilled Mediterranean dishes.
Credit: Bruno's Mediterranean Kitchen
Where to stay:
Wake up to mountain views, misty countryside and dew-blanketed grass at The Lodge Bellingen, which comprises 27 luxe hotel rooms, two glamping tents and a two-bedroom retreat (plus on-site restaurant Three Blue Ducks). Pacific Bay Resort has an array of different room types on a sprawling property that stretches from the ocean to the hinterland, and features a nine-hole golf course and a day spa.
Distance from Sydney: eight and a half hours.
The Lodge Bellingen - Credit: BVL Partnership Pty Ltd
Shoalhaven
Known for its 100 kilometres of coastline bordering rolling hinterland, Shoalhaven is a region rich in wildlife, culture and culinary experiences.
What to do:
A bushwalk is a beautiful way to discover the Shoalhaven’s brilliant white beaches and rainforests. Take your pick from the 2.5-kilometre White Sands Walk in Jervis Bay National Park or the 9.5-kilometre Three Views Walking track near charming Kangaroo Valley, where winter wildflowers may be blooming. When you’ve completed the track, be immersed in the art of beekeeping on a private Bees and Honey Apiary Group Tour with Bay and Bush Jervis Bay.
The Apiary - Credit: NC Farm Bureau, Mark Stebnicki | Copyright Pexels
Jervis Bay Wild operates whale-watching cruises during winter as well as another opportunity to swim with these giants of the sea. Whale swim tours run all winter and into October. Or stay dry on a guided kayak tour along serene Currambene Creek. Art lovers will no doubt have Bundanon on their list – the architecturally striking former home of Arthur Boyd is a lauded art museum and sits a 1,000-hectare sanctuary. Join an art class or book in for a weekend of calm and creativity.
The Bridge at Bundanon - Credit: Zan Wimberley | Bundanon
Where to dine:
In the idyllic country village of Berry, the scent of freshly baked bread and pastries fills the air at its many acclaimed bakeries – try quaint Milkwood Bakery for particularly good sausage rolls and pies. In Nowra, Blak Cede is a one-of-a-kind, Aboriginal women-led cafe and social enterprise that’s won awards for its coffee. It has a strong local following thanks to the great service and a menu peppered with native ingredients. In the coastal town of Gerringong, The Hill Bar & Kitchen is warmed by a fireplace and has views over quiet Werri Beach.
Blak Cede Gunyah Café and Shop - Credit: Smiling Sun | Blak Cede
Where to stay:
Check into one of the luxurious villas that look out to the undulating Budawang Ranges on Cupitt’s Estate farm located between Milton and Mollymook Beach. Alternatively, The Drawing Rooms of Berry is a country estate with four standalone lodges that feel like home, each with a fireplace and verandah. You’ll also find Motel Molly, an old motel turned retro chic stay, which has suites and apartments that can sleep six. Or pitch a tent and sleep among nature at sheltered Honeymoon Bay falling asleep to the sounds of waves and wake to birdsong.
Distance from Sydney: two and a half hours.
Cupitt's Estate Villas, Ulladulla
