Rough seas and grey skies may have made the beach a less than inviting prospect during these summer holidays, but fortunately one of my favourite pastimes has been completely unaffected by the weather.
Eating out.
I tend to judge my holiday experiences on the quality of the cafés and restaurants I find enroute or at my destination.
For example, having recently discovered the delights of the exceptional Long Track Pantry at Jugiong on my way home from Victoria, I find myself thinking of excuses for another drive along the Hume Hwy.
The problem for visitors is finding out about the hidden gems before you go home.
I am forever indebted to a friend who recommended The Star of Greece restaurant at Port Willunga in McLaren Vale before a trip to South Australia a few years back.
The result was an amazing lunch in what looked like a run-down old boat shed overlooking the sea. I wouldn’t have looked twice at the joint if I hadn’t been given the tip.
Here on the coast we are spoilt for choice when it comes to quality restaurants and cafés, so here are some tips for visitors from a Kiama resident on places to try down my way before you head home.
Breakfast: At the risk of upsetting my fellow regulars who don’t want the secret to get out, I’d have to say the Minnamurra General Store Café is exceptional. Try the Rangoon Special, but their scrambled eggs are also five star.
Morning tea: Addison St in Shellharbour Village is building a reputation as the Eat Street of the region. For a relaxing cuppa with a home-made cake, head for the charming garden at the historic Whitehouse Café.
Lunch: Take a drive into the country up Macquarie Pass or Jamberoo Pass to the Burrawang Village Hotel, just west of Robertson, and find out why it has been named the state’s best pub.
The view from the beer garden over rolling green fields looks like it’s been taken straight out of the movie Babe (which it is) and the food is pretty good too. Try the scotch fillet steak sandwich.
If you’d prefer to stick to the coast, try Gerroa’s Blue Swimmer at Seahaven.
This quaint little café has a fabulous menu. Everything is fresh and delicious, but the duck is my favourite.
A little further down the coast at Shoalhaven Heads, Coolangatta Estate serves great food at lunch and dinner to match its exceptional wines.
The regional lunch plate is a house speciality, and goes perfectly with Coolangatta’s award-winning semillon.
Dinner: Just head back to Addison St. Shellharbour Village has it all, from traditional takeaway fish and chips that you can eat in the park overlooking the boat harbour to an upmarket seafood restaurant, and from decent Aussie pub grub in the beer garden at the Ocean Beach Hotel to a range of international restaurants including Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian.
My favourites are Relish on Addison - sublime stuffed zucchini flowers in season - Tandoori Junction for authentic Indian dishes or Andaman Thai.
But a word of warning. Today is a public holiday and some of these destinations may not be open, so I’d strongly advise you check first. Restaurateurs deserve a break too, so I hope they can find somewhere nice to eat out.
Nick Hartgerink is a former Mercury editor who now runs his own media consultancy.
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