This year a five-day break over Easter provides the perfect opportunity to take a short trip down the coast
Mike Fairbairn
With Easter just around the corner, Sydneysiders can make the most of their holidays this year and take off to the South Coast to soak up the last rays of the Autumn sun.
The south coast is the gateway to luxury and adventure, it is also on Sydney’s doorstep. It is the coast of procrastination and between Sydney and Tuross Heads there is a variety of different things to do, see, eat and drink.
The stunning Tuross Heads sits just four and a half hours south of Sydney, but it feels like the other side of the country.
The south coast has everything at any level of luxury, and all that is needed is a car and a sense of adventure.
Where to start
The south coast has it all so pack whatever it is you want to do and you will find a place to do it.
If you don’t have a giant 4×4 don’t worry, it isn’t needed to conquer the south coast. There are some beaches further south you won’t be able to reach without a 4×4 but those beaches are exemptions.
While you might not need to worry about the vehicle, the level of luxury is something everyone will want to consider. If a really lean holiday with more cash to spend on good food and wine is the option, then a tent or even a mattress in the back of a bigger car is all that is needed. There are countless holiday parks that provide powered sites for camping gear, as well as toilets and hot showers.
However, if something a bit more permanent to sleep in is required then these same holiday parks have some pretty amazing villa accommodation. Most of these parks have some of the best real estate in town, so for holiday park prices you can enjoy some pretty spectacular accommodation. Bed and Breakfast style accommodation is also easy to come by down the coast, there are some hidden gems in almost every town.
Where to go
Gerroa
Gerroa is a stunning seaside town, perched on a hill overlooking Seven Mile Beach. Only two hours south of Sydney, visitors can choose from a range of accomodation options. Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park offers fantastic facilities for all budgets, from luxury cabins to a beachside camping site, families and couples have immediate access to one of the states best beaches.
However, lazing about in the southern sun can certainly work up an appetite. The Gerroa Fishermans Club offers uninterrupted views of the ocean and a menu specialising in the best seafood the south has to offer. For breakfast the Blue Swimmer offers everything from berry organic toast to smoaked ocean trout with crushed potato, spinich and poached eggs.
Jervis Bay National Park
Barely 30 minutes from the famous Hyams Beach lies Jervis Bay National Park. The park provides access to Cave Beach, an isolated south coast beauty. While camping is the go at Cave Beach, the secluded area provides toilets and hot showers.
However, make sure you take a detour on your way to Cave Beach and follow the signs to Jim Wilds Oysters, near Greenwell Point. The oyster industry is thriving on the south coast and Jim, a legendary oyster farmer and world champion shucker, will provide you with a table on the water and a tray of the freshest and most delicious oysters around.
South Durras
Further south lies a cluster of small towns. If you plan to head past Cave Beach the picturesque town of Milton is a must. Fresh produce cafes, award-winning bakeries and a famous vegetarian restaurant offer a wealth of dining options. After enjoying a hearty feast in Milton continue driving past Ulladulla to South Durras.
South Durras is where you will find Murramarang Resort, which boasts some amazing seaside villas as well as camping spots. The beach at South Durras features stunning tidal rock pools and kangaroos graze lazily by the waters edge. Campsites equipped with kitchens, hot water and toilets back on to the Murramarang National Park, providing direct access to some of the best beaches in NSW.
Tuross Heads
It would be hard to find a more idyllic coastal location than Tuross Heads. Set on a spectacular headland, the town is bracketed by beautiful ocean beaches on one side and, on the other, by a network of tidal lakes that offer exceptional fishing and boating.
Go kayaking on Tuross Lake or follow the Tuross Head forshore cycle path around Coila Lake, past the ocean front and on to the Tuross River.
The fishing is phenomenal and a south coast sunset is an experience not to be missed.