The NSW coast isn’t just for summer – you’ll return here no matter the season.
The towns scattered along NSW’s coastline beckon for return visits year-round. Nudge the nose of your car out of the driveway in spring to find the air filled with the fragrance of blooming wattle and glossy foliage everywhere. The sun is warm enough for boardies in Australia well before the summer holidays hit – and with fewer crowds, you can really get a feel for the rhythm of some of our laid-back communities. There’s the produce, too: farm stalls stacked with buckets of broad beans and blueberries, and seafood best enjoyed by the ocean.
Iconic views await on the NSW coast. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This is the version of the coast that inspires second, third and fourth visits, not just a hot lap in January. Stay in a retro motel in Merimbula. Catch a gig at Wombarra Bowlo. Ride a wave near Coffs. Whichever adventure you choose, these are the destinations that make for repeat weekenders.
Thirroul & Greater Wollongong
Grab a board and hit the waves. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The days start slow and stay that way in the vibey village of Thirroul, found at the base of Bulli Pass on the Illawarra coast. Kick off with a few lazy laps in Thirroul Pool before treating yourself to a salted chocolate caramel cloud at Bread, Espresso &, a surrogate living space for sea-changers.
On weekends, enjoy a seafood lunch at South Sailor or find out why Rosie’s Fish & Chips in Coledale has a cult following. The Wombarra Bowlo always has a good line-up or see what’s playing at Anita’s Theatre, the picture palace with a storied history that dates back to 1913.
Treat yourself to a salted chocolate caramel cloud at Thirroul’s Bread, Expresso &. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Bóveda serves up tasty tequila and Mexican bites. (Credit: Lumiere Creative)
The boutique stay Surfside 22.
Inside you’ll find retro touches and modern comforts.
For date night, book Bóveda, the tequila bar housed in Thirroul’s former Commonwealth Bank (which was also the neighbourhood post office). Follow the road further south to find Wollongong Botanic Garden and Wollongong Art Gallery. When it’s time to turn in, head to Surfside 22, the city’s Palm Springs-inspired motel.
For more off-the-beaten-path appeal in NSW’s Illawarra region, visit Shell Cove – be sure to head to Waterfront Tavern for a standout seafood platter while staring at the horizon, which draws a thin black line between sea and sky.
Merimbula
Take an oyster tour on Merimbula Lake. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Days blur beautifully when your Sapphire Coast holiday rituals revolve around Merimbula’s dynamic dining scene. Daily practice begins with a dawn surf, followed by coffee at The Eddy. If the surf’s flat, hire a stand-up paddleboard from Mitchies Jetty, or join a cruise up the estuary to enjoy oysters pulled straight from the leases with Merimbula Oyster Tours. Alternatively, take a guided hike with Sapphire Coast Guiding Co, or lure your mates to Metro Merimbula for a brew with a view.
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Farm tours offer the
freshest oysters. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf Restaurant serves fresh seafood by the water. (Credit: Destination NSW)
End the evening with cocktails at Dulcie’s Cottage before retreating to your room at the retro-chic Hillcrest Merimbula. This is undeniably one of the best spots on the coast to settle in for a long weekend escape – just don’t forget to grab a cheeky dozen oysters at Wheelers Seafood Restaurant as you head out of town.
Yamba
Settle in for lazy beach days.
Water views at The
Surf Yamba. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Check into The Surf Yamba. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Perched on Yamba’s famous headland, overlooking Main Beach, The Surf Yamba offers a relaxed coastal-chic Australian vibe, with a unique curved exterior, plunge pool and rooftop terraces. The newly built 12-room hideaway has a neutral colour palette offset with natural timber and terrazzo, as well as bespoke handmade furniture from Scandinavian-inspired Muuto.
Dine at Yum Yum Angourie Cafe & General Store. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Paddle on the Clarence River with Kayak Yamba. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Take a tour of the mighty Clarence River with Yamba Kayak, explore the town by bike or catch a wave in Angourie, where the swell wraps in clean lines around the point. Cap off your coastal escape with a meal at Muse, Beachwood Cafe, Paradiso or El Ocaso.
Ballina
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Ballina’s nine-metre Big Prawn. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
The Coastal
Recreation Path winds
its way from Ballina to
Lennox Head. (Credit: Ballina Shire Council)
Grab dinner at Shaws
Bay Hotel. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Ballina boasts a nine-metre-high prawn that’s emblematic of the region’s laid-back Aussie charm. Consider the roadside ‘big thing’ as your cue to pick up a bucket of prawns from Northern Rivers Seafood to enjoy after a walk along the Coastal Recreation Path between Ballina and Lennox Head. The water beckons from the boardwalk: paddleboard in Shaws Bay or swim in the tannin-rich, cola-coloured waters of Lennox’s Lake Ainsworth.
Inland, hike to Killen Falls near Tintenbar; it’s just a 330-metre stroll and rocky downhill scramble from the car park. While in the hinterland, explore the trendy village of Alstonville to browse shops, such as Buckley’s Chance, and pick up a pretty pastry from HOME, before visiting the iconic Federal Hotel.
Stock up on fresh food at The Ballina Farmers & Producers Market. (Credit: Ballina Shire Council)
The region is known as a hub for creatives, so get hands-on in a class with potter Brooke Clunie at Red Door Studio. Afterwards, check out the Ballina Farmers & Producers Market and pick up provisions for a picnic at Pop Denison Park.
Explore by horseback with HWH Stables. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Connect further with Country on a stand-up paddleboard tour with Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours, or explore the estuaries by kayak with C-Change Adventures. For breathtaking coastal views, stroll Look At Me Now Headland at Emerald Beach; you might even catch the tail end of the humpback migration (you can also try your luck whale-spotting on a Jetty Dive Centre cruise).
Stef & Co sits on The Promenade in Coffs Harbour. (Credit: Destination NSW)
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Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
The Artesian Spa Capital of Australia offers the perfect destination to escape the grind and reset.
The world moves more slowly in Moree, and that’s how it should be. Here, country charm and heritage buildings fill the town’s wide streets. While the surrounding farmland mixes with lush riverways to create a fascinating landscape.
But the biggest pull? Moree is known as the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia. It’s truly a place to slow down and disconnect, all an easy train ride from Sydney.
Soak in Moree’s artesian water
Dive in to Moree’s artesian waters.
Moree is not your typical wellness retreat, replacing pretence with casual and easy. Blessed to be sitting above the Great Artesian Basin, it feeds the town (and surrounding villages) with hot, mineral-rich water. Loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphur, this water is believed to help with skin health, joint function and tissue repair.
And the town’s crown jewel, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, has reopened after extensive upgrades. This state-of-the-art aquatic centre offers accessible facilities with multiple artesian baths of varying temperatures between 38 and 41°C.
Feel like exploring a little further? About an hour’s drive from Moree, the village of Boomi also offers public access to this same artesian water. Pop into Boomi Artesian Pool to make the most of a 25-metre cold pool, a wading pool and a hot artesian spa pool.
Just an hour west of Boomi, you’ll also find Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, another relaxing place to rejuvenate for the afternoon in the mineral-rich water.
Moree’s best stays
Stay right by Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.
There are several motels within walking distance of the aquatic centre, so you linger longer in its therapeutic waters. A day pass not enough? Really soak in the benefits of Moree at three local stays with their own artesian baths.
Gwydir Thermal Pools Resort boasts five artesian pools for motel and caravan park guests, ranging in soothing temperatures from 34 to 39 degrees. And that includes a 25-metre lap pool.
The Phoenix, Artesian Spa Resort & Accommodation features outdoor artesian thermal pools and six indoor artesian spas, all 34 to 42°C, plus regular pools for guests staying in their accommodations.
While the Artesian Spa Motel matches 46 comfortable budget rooms set across five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access (for guests) to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.
Moree’s location at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways makes it the ideal resting place for those road tripping through country NSW. With plenty of accommodation options, including farm stays, quaint bed and breakfasts and affordable motels.
Delving into nature around Moree
Find plenty of natural beauty in and around Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Beyond the baths, find calm in Moree’s nature. Soak up the impressive Gwydir River from the peaceful Tareelaroi Weir Recreation Area. Popular with locals, this scenic spot is perfect for fishing, kayaking and picnics. Delve into local history at the Terry Hie Hie Picnic Area – a significant Gamilaroi cultural site. The picnic area is still used today as a ceremonial gathering ground, with educational signage sharing the history of the Gamilaroi People and the mission which used to reside here in the early 20th Century. Follow the Yana-y Warruwi Walking Track to explore the area’s box pine forest.
Combine nature and culture at the Jellicoe Park Open Spaces Aboriginal Art Trail along the scenic Mehi River Walk. Find artworks from local Indigenous artists across a range of different mediums, like carved logs, engraved and painted sandstone and scar tree paintings.
A taste of Moree
Sit down for a tasty meal after a game of golf. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Taste the best of local cafes as you wander past the Art Deco architecture of Moree’s tree-lined main streets. Join the locals each morning at Brooker Trading Co as they line up for their morning java. Stay for classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and Dutch pancakes, or arrive later in the day for a hearty lunch menu. Inside a gorgeous Art Deco building, 61 Balo is another tasty breakfast option, with pet-friendly service. The recently renovated Cafe Omega is another popular stop for fresh, hearty meals – the chicken burger is a particular crowd pleaser – all served with a smile.
Get inspired as you wander the CBD’s Mural Trail, stopping at some of Moree’s six art galleries along the way. Bank Art Museum is a must-see, housed in the town’s heritage bank building and home to a collection of First Nations art, plus a changing calendar of touring exhibitions.
Step inside the gorgeous Bank Art Museum Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Get active with a round on the beautiful riverside course at Moree Golf Club (and refuel afterwards at the delicious onsite restaurant) or a game of bowls at Moree Services Club’s state-of-the-art facility. Visit on the last weekend of September to join (or watch) Run the Plains, Moree’s annual two-day running festival.
Known as ‘white gold’ country, Moree is Australia’s most productive agricultural region. Visit from April to September to join a cotton farm tour and get to know one of Moree’s major exports.
However long you choose to stay, there’s plenty to soak in around Moree.
