Weekend Warrior Series: Coastal NSW
The Shoalhaven Region in Southern NSW encompasses numerous charming
seaside towns. It is a nature and adventure lovers paradise, with crystal clear
waters and beautiful countryside scenery. And for the foodies - the scene here
is thriving with an impressive range of renowned restaurants. This weekend, we
explored the beachside paradise of Mollymook and historic, rural Milton.
Travel Time: 3 hour drive from Sydney
Highlights: Mollymook, Milton, Pigeon House Mountain
Distance Covered: 460km round trip from Sydney to
Mollymook. 45mins from Mollymook to Pigeon House Mountain (4WD recommended).
If you have more time: Drive the coastal road from
Sydney to Wollongong, over Sea Cliff Bridge. Detour to Jervis Bay, Kangaroo Valley
and the Southern Highlands.
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The small coastal community of Mollymook is your perfect
beachside getaway with great surf, beautiful beaches and great seafood. Walk
the 2km of Mollymook beach, with the fine white sands and sparkling waters,
spotting dolphins and whales on their migration along the NSW Coast.
The “Rick Stein effect” has hugely increased the traffic
through Mollymook, after the English celebrity chef opened his restaurant at
luxury hotel Bannisters by the Sea. In turn, quiet idyllic
Milton is also enjoying a revival thanks to the influx of foodie newcomers. Our
favourites were Flour Water Salt and Pilgrim’s Café.
The beauty of this region is that each area has its own special features and spectacular scenery. Leaving the coast of Mollymook and Milton’s 19th century buildings, we headed to Morton National Park. If you’re looking for a good hike up a forested mountain with epic panoramic views, Pigeon House Mountain is the one for you. You’ll hike through forest, heathland and sandstone in some steep uphill sections, before negotiating a series of ladders which take you higher and higher until you reach the summit. From the top you can see over the whole region’s cliffs and gorges and even as far as Jervis Bay if it’s clear enough. To get to Morton National Park, the roads are a combination of both sealed and unsealed roads and while it is navigable in a 2WD, we struggled in the Corolla, and if it had been raining we would have been in serious trouble.
So for the quintessential
Australian weekend getaway nestled between beach and countryside, get yourself
down to this laidback region on the New South Wales coast.
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This weekend away was thanks to Australian Traveller Magazine and Bannisters Hotels Mollymook.
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