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Bordered by historical volcano Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) on one edge, the Pacific Ocean on one other facet, and an estuary teeming with oysters on one other, the small far South Coast NSW city of Narooma is quick turning into a preferred getaway for Sydneysiders – helped partly by the work of Justin Hemmes’s hospitality empire Merivale, which has picked up a number of venues within the city during the last couple of years.
Right here’s the place to eat and drink, and what to see and do in Narooma.
Eat and drink
Quarterdeck
For greater than 20 years, tiki-inspired bar Quarterdeck has sat proper on the water at Wagonga Inlet. It’s not a stretch to name it an area establishment – and whereas it was taken over by Merivale in 2021, the hospitality group solely gave it a light-weight refresh, sustaining its seaside allure. Cocktails listed below are rum-heavy, and the record takes in classics like Banana Daquiris, Pina Coladas and Mai Tais. The menu is by Merivale government chef Jordan Toft (Mimi’s, Bert’s), who has packed the menu with loads of seafood, in addition to dishes impressed by Latin America: local-fish ceviche, yellowfin tuna tostadas, tacos stuffed with battered whiting, and grilled corn topped with chilli salt and shavings of cheese. It’s the right spot for parking up because the solar goes down.
merivale.com/quarterdeck-narooma
This 12 months, present them a dinner to recollect with a Broadsheet Reward Card.
Salt
One other smack-on-the-water venue is tiny cafe Salt. On a deck overlooking pristine Wagonga Inlet and its vibrant boats, it’s a tranquil spot to begin a weekend morning. Dishes listed below are made utilizing native produce, and house-made preserves, ferments and pickles. Tuck into classics just like the bacon and egg roll, which is made with all regionally sourced bread, bacon and eggs, in addition to lashings of house-made slow-cooked tomato relish. The espresso beans are from close by Guerilla Espresso roasters.
saltofthecoast.com.au
Queen Chow
With so many Sydneysiders making their approach to Narooma for holidays, it solely is smart to offer them a slice of dwelling whereas they’re there. Enter Queen Chow, the favored Cantonese restaurant in Enmore and Manly, which has now additionally arrange in Narooma’s Whale Inn. There you’ll discover Queen Chow classics similar to its dim sum platters, wonderful fried rice, and salt and pepper squid, alongside Narooma-only specials like native rock oysters and sashimi, and native rock lobster or mussels with XO sauce.
And it’s at all times a good suggestion to go to the next-door Ocean Lounge for a pre-dinner drink: nab a wicker chair for views throughout the inlet out to the ocean, and lightweight and recent drinks just like the fluffy Chow Bitter #2 (gin, peach and rhubarb) and Mango Sticky Rice Margarita (tequila, Velvet Falernum, mango, white rice and lime).
merivale.com/queen-chow-narooma
Lynch’s
This 1895-built watering hole is an actual charmer – and although Merivale took it over a short time again, past its menus, it’s barely been touched. Its blue picket facade is basic old-world Australian boozer, and the fridges behind the bar are so outdated they’ve picket doorways. Nonetheless, it makes a imply Negroni. And also you’ll discover comparatively few nation Aussie pubs of its ilk serving native oysters, pasta alla norma and hearty fish pies.
merivale.com/lynchs-narooma
Do and see
Narooma Oyster Competition
Narooma Oyster Competition is a bit more high-octane than different meals occasions: through the 2022 competition, a world champion oyster shucker, Irishman Stephen Nolan, arrived by leaping from a seaplane. Hundreds of punters collect on the competition annually to down oysters – from Sydney rock oysters to Pacific oysters, and large oysters the dimensions of two arms – in addition to cheese from native dairies, regionally produced gin, wines and extra. It’s a beautiful celebration of the local people – which punches above its weight within the meals stakes – and, after all, of oysters. This 12 months’s fest takes place on Could 3 and 4, 2024.
naroomaoysterfestival.com
Oyster farm excursions
A competition dedicated to oysters not sufficient bivalve for you? Narooma and its surrounds are well-known for oyster rising, and native firm Out of the Blue will punt you round its oyster farms on Wagonga Inlet (and allow you to attempt a number of shucked beauties). You’ll see how oysters are grown, hear what makes Sydney rock oysters so distinctive, and study how the crew revived its leases following bushfires and floods. Excursions run for as much as two hours and embrace loads of tastings.
outoftheblueoysters.com.au
Southbound Escapes e-bike excursions
Narooma is a magnificence – and one of the best ways to see it up shut is on an e-bike tour (a low-effort approach to get round in case you’ve thrown down one too many oysters or Lynch’s Negronis). Cycle to Bar Rock Lookout the place you’ll get an eyeful of Baranguba (Montague Island) off the Narooma seashore. A spotlight is the breakwall close to Australia Rock, which is dwelling to a colony of seals who stay unfazed by the human gaze as onlookers watch them take in the solar. Southbound Escapes’ proprietor and director Sally Bouckley is a educated information, who simply weaves the world’s Indigenous historical past in with details about native wildlife and landmarks. She’ll let you know all about Gulaga, a sacred landmark for the native Yuin Aboriginal folks; formed like a pregnant girl mendacity on her facet, she’s generally known as Mom Mountain, and is a crucial place for girls, a spot for ceremony, childbirth and storytelling.
southboundescapes.com.au
This text was first revealed on December 19, 2022 and up to date on January 5, 2024 to mirror new info.
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