Forget the Blue Mountains – this is New South Wales’ best kept secret
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CNA Lifestyle
Forget the Blue Mountains – this is New S Wales' best kept secret
Sydney-siders accept long known the charms of the Southern Highlands. They only haven't told you near it.
Welcome to Shoalhaven. (Photo: Bangalay Luxury Villas)
26 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 02:08AM)
The Blue Mountains are lovely, but when folks from Sydney want an idyllic weekend escape, they caput away from the tourist path – 100km south to the Southern Highlands. That's a 90-minute bulldoze out of the city to get to a picturesque region lush with magnificent waterfalls and national parks, charming towns and heritage villages, white sand beaches, and enough of places to shop, consume and drink in between.
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The eat and drink part is primal since the Southern Highlands was never a dining destination until several years ago when escalating property prices in Sydney and the frenzy of big city life collection notable chefs, producers, and entrepreneurs to the highland life. With them emerged an exciting, nascent gourmet scene that has reinvigorated the region.
And we're not talking small-town, run-of-the-mill restaurants. In chichi Australian fashion, the Southern Highlands' eateries are mostly photograph spread-gorgeous, farm-to-fork-focused, and housed in historical buildings bathed in sunny, natural light.
EAT, DRINK, Savor LOCAL
On newspaper, the mix sounds incongruent. In the flesh, it is a beautifully harmonised space that pays homage to all things local.
The Press Shop's caput chef Nathan West moved to the Southland Highlands from Sydney almost three years ago and has made it a point to focus solely on produce from around the area.
Organic vegetables are forepart and centre on his menu, with the likes of crisp baby purple daikons and Badger Flame beets tossed with local sheep's milk curd, and utterly delicious pillows of seared gnocchi served on a silky bed of Jerusalem artichoke puree.
"Everything on the plate comes from no further than half an hour from where we sit now," said West. And happily, this impeccable freshness is axiomatic in every mouthful.
FOODIE HAVEN
Further out, the historic beachside town of Berry has go a flake of a sleeper foodie hit. Well-nigh visitors come for the pristine beaches and sprawling mountains, but stay for the bevy of great cafes and restaurants.
Among them is Queen Street Eating house, a lovely white-washed establishment whose card draws inspiration from French bistro classics, simply given a fresh due south declension spin.
That means imaginative takes on classics like tuna tartare served with celeriac remoulade, potato crisps and shaved cured egg yolk, and coq au vin cooked in white vino with a mustard emulsion.
A few doors down is The Famous Berry Donut Van, whose name is no hyperbole. For the last 55 years, it has commanded queues down the block as people wait patiently for their freshly-fried fluffy donuts sprinkled with a light dusting of cinnamon saccharide.
Have it from us, there is no overstating how good these warm donuts are.
A 20-minute drive away in the town of Nowra, Wharf Road Restaurant and Bar serves upwards ravishing views of the Shoalhaven River from the celebrated infinite that in one case served as the Harbour Main's residence. On the menu are dishes made with produce from nearby farms.
Call back crisp zucchini flowers with preserved lemon and yellowish chilli mayo, Angus scotch fillet with porcini jus and confit potatoes, and Berrima Bay infant octopus with silver beet, almonds and ink mayo.
Time FOR A TIPPLE
Naturally, there are vineyards to stroll into and wine tastings to be enjoyed. The Southern Highlands provides ideal terroir for growing infrequent Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay grapes, leading the area to get one of Australia's fastest growing vino regions.
It is enough to inspire a motion to this attracting sliver of paradise.
While driving through the Highlands, make stops at Tertini Wines in Mittagong, the acclaimed Collangatta Manor in Collangatta, and Bendooley Estate in Berrima. The latter boasts the added attraction of the atmospheric Berkelouw Book Barn, which purveys rare, 2d-hand and new books.
STAY IN STYLE
Where once accommodations in the region were dominated by grand, bucolic estates, the influx of young families and entrepreneurs has ushered more contemporary options.
At the top of the pile is the stunning Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven, subconscious abroad in the coastal Bangalay Sand Forest. Each of the 16 villas were designed to follow the flow of the sea cakewalk during the summer and faces the sprawling golf course or splendidly manicured garden.
The holding is a great base of operations from which to discover a slice of the skilful Highland life every bit locals stream into its restaurant for breakfast and coffee earlier or later on a spot of surfing on the beach that fronts information technology.
It is enough to inspire a move to this alluring sliver of paradise.
CNA Lifestyle was in New South Wales at the invitation of Destination NSW.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/travel/new-south-wales-southern-highlands-226816
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