The best of the Sapphire Coast in three days

Morning 

Set off early from Sydney this morning for the five-hour drive to the sparkling Sapphire Coast. The cosy town of Milton is around the halfway point and makes for an ideal breakfast stop. Stretch your legs along the main street, lined with 19th-century shops, houses and pubs. Grab a pie and coffee at the Heritage Bakery, set inside one of the town’s most beautiful historic buildings. 

Heritage Bakery, Milton - Credit: Shoalhaven City Council

Afternoon

Bermagui is the northernmost town on the Sapphire Coast and you should arrive here just after lunch. Head straight for the Blue Pool, one of the most beautiful ocean pools on the NSW coast. Just over 50 metres long and almost 20 metres wide, the water within runs through a kaleidoscope of colours from bright turquoise to deepest cobalt depending on the sun. 

Blue Pool, Bermagui

Refuel at Bermagui Fishermen’s Wharf, where fresh seafood lands on the dock every day. Pick up fish and chips from Blue Wave Seafood and find a scenic spot by the water. Later, check in to your luxe safari tent at Tanja Lagoon Camp set in glorious scenery 35 kilometres further down the coast in the middle of the Sapphire Coast. This is glamping in style, where tents have a lounge and deck, and you’re lulled by the eucalyptus-scented breeze.  

Tanja Lagoon Camp, Kalaru - Credit: David Rogers

Evening 

It’s just 15 minutes’ drive into Tathra from your camp. Join the locals and throw a line in off the heritage-listed Tathra Wharf. You could reel in bream, flathead, snapper, tailor, squid or whiting and there’s a full kitchen in your tent if you want to cook it up. If you don’t have any luck there, the Tathra Hotel has been feeding hungry travellers for more than a century. There are fresh local oysters on the menu as well as fresh fish, burgers, steaks and pub classics. Pair it with a beer from the on-site Humpback Brewery. 

Tathra Wharf, Tathra

Morning 

It’s time to catch one of those sparkling Sapphire Coast waves this morning. Camel Rock Surf School runs group or private lessons right beside Camel Rock, an ancient rock formation that juts out from the ocean just north of Bermagui. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking to level up your skills, the experienced instructors can show you how it’s done. 

Camel Rock Surf School, Wallaga Lake - Credit: Camel Rock Surf School

If you’re not much of a surfer, travel south to Pambula and join Navigate Expeditions for a guided kayak tour on the impossibly blue waters of the Pambula River. The Aboriginal Culture Tour is an immersive experience that combines natural beauty with cultural connection, led by an Indigenous guide who will share their knowledge of ancient traditions, local wildlife and bush foods.

Navigate Expeditions, Pambula

Afternoon

This afternoon, you’ll be staying on dry land to explore some of the lush bushland of the Sapphire Coast. Keen mountain bikers can hit the Tathra Mountain Bike Trails or the Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park. Both have around 50 kilometres of trails for all levels of ability with stunning views of the rugged coastal scenery. Bring your own bike or hire one from The Bike Station in Eden or Cycle n Surf in Merimbula.

Tathra Mountain Bike Trails, Tathra

Alternatively, learn about the region’s Indigenous history on the Bundian Way Story Trail. Running for 1.8 kilometres between Cocora Beach and Quarantine Bay in Eden, it’s part of an ancient 365-kilometre Aboriginal pathway between the Snowy Mountains and the coast. As well as breathtaking views, there are interpretive signs along the way that explain the trail’s cultural significance.

Bundian Way Story Trail, Eden

Evening

After a busy day, take it easy tonight. Pick up some local delicacies, like fresh oysters, Bega cheese and a bottle of wine, and relax over a picnic on your tent’s verandah. The sunsets are reliably spectacular.

Morning 

Oysters grown in the pristine waters of Pambula Lake are considered some of the best in the world. Find out how they’re grown, what makes them so good and how to shuck them straight from the water with Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours. These are the freshest oysters you’ll ever taste. If you want to take a dozen (or two) home with you, Broadwater Oysters’ farm shop is just next door. 

Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour, Pambula

Afternoon

Enjoy a relaxed lunch by the water of Merimbula Lake at Sunny’s Kiosk. This charming boatshed-turned-café has a short but sweet menu of dishes like braised lamb shoulder with grilled parmesan polenta, charred zucchini and butter bean salad, or a crispy Nashville chicken burger. 

Sunny's Kiosk, Merimbula - Credit: Robbie Duncan

Continue on to North of Eden Artisan Distillers. This tiny distillery uses only Australian-grown juniper and ingredients grown or foraged themselves to create award-winning gin. The pretty cellar door is tucked into rolling farmland close to Bega and offers tastings, cocktails and even a Gin School if you want to learn to create your own spirit. 

North of Eden Gin, Stoney Creek

Evening 

It’s fine dining in the vines tonight at Mimosa Wines. The restaurant is set high on a hill overlooking the rolling vineyard and focuses on the best produce from the Sapphire Coast and surrounds. The set three-course menu features dishes like Narooma squid with tom yum, fennel and lime; Tathra Place duck prosciutto with melon; alpine wild boar ragu; and catch of the day fish with laksa oil. Order the matched wine pairing and toast to a successful holiday. 

Mimosa Wines, Bermagui

The Sapphire Coast is around 380 kilometres south of Sydney and the drive takes five hours and 30 minutes. You can also fly into Merimbula Airport and hire a car to explore the area. Find out more ways of getting to the Sapphire Coast here.