8 Cafes In Merimbula & Beyond To Start The Day At

Wake up to the fact it’s easy to find a caffeine fix with our guide to the best Merimbula cafes.

Take the time to stop at a Merimbula cafe and you’ll quickly discover the rhythm of the NSW South Coast town. From the casual kiosks that won’t judge you if you walk in barefoot from the beach to the cafes selling nourishing brekkie bowls. Here is our guide to the best cafes in Merimbula and beyond.

1. MorMors

Best for: The full eggs benny with two poached eggs, spinach, and hollandaise

This buzzy cafe serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with highlights including doorstop-sized burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, Swiss cheese, spinach, charred corn, capsicum, red onion, and coriander salsa.

a spread of food and drinks on the table at MorMors, Merimbula — MorMors brunch menu is overflowing with generously sized brunch options.

MorMors  is in Merimbula Plaza and spills out onto a leafy courtyard perfect for ONA coffee and catch-ups. Enjoy a fresh juice and corn fritters or an all-day burger with the lot. Open 8am–2pm, seven days a week.

the outdoor setting at MorMors, Merimbula — The leafy courtyard is an ideal spot to sit with a cup of ONA coffee on a sunny day.

Address: The Plaza, Shop 15, 20-22 Market St, Merimbula

2. Bar Beach Kiosk

Best for: A big-arse Bar Beach burger

Customers at Bar Beach Kiosk are encouraged to be chilled thanks to the vibes being put down by the staff.

the beachfront view at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — Embrace the sunny vibes of this seasonal cafe during the warmer months. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Sit here long enough and you are bound to meet all manner of sea-changers, from corporate casualties to ageing surfers lured by great waves for long-boarders. Sit at the bar overlooking the break if you’re in the mood to mingle.

a woman ordering a drink at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — Strike up a conversation with locals during your visit. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Alternatively, lounge on the lawn beside laid-back locals over a lunch of smashed peas and whipped feta on Wheatley Lane sourdough. The seasonal cafe is open six days a week between the September school holidays and June long weekend.

the al fresco dining at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — The kiosk’s lawn is a great place to sit and watch the waves roll in as you sip your morning coffee. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Address: Lake St, Merimbula

3. Nourish

Best for: Soups and salads

This Merimbula stalwart does what it says on the tin. Nourish  will awaken your appreciation for the art of making coffee with alt milk as the line-up of quality lactose-free liquids here is impressive. Enjoy a creamy oat milk latte or a super-food smoothie before perusing the shelves stocked with everything from Pukka tea to sugars and spices and soothing ministrations using turmeric and medicinal mushrooms. The rustic wholefoods cafe also sells racks of upcycled fashion. Open Mon-Sat 8–2pm; Sun 8–1pm

Address: The Promenade, Shop 7/4 Market St, Merimbula

4. Toast Cafe, Pambula

Best for: The sweet potato fritters

Toast Cafe is a perennial Pambula fave that lures diners with elevated brunch favourites that suggest a good time. Plates like the Mexican sweet salad with roasted sweet potato, peppers, black beans, quinoa, corn, feta, guac, tortilla crisps, and a coriander lime dressing. Or the sausage and egg panini with caramelised onion jam.

coffee and brunch menu at Toast Café, Pambula — Take your pick from the brunch favourites. (Image: David Rogers Photography)

There’s an unhurried vibe out the back on the verandah, which is prettied up with flowerpots and a beautiful garden streaked with sunlight. Order an iced latte and a pastry to go.

people dining at the garden-like setting of Toast Café, Pambula — Linger over brunch on the verandah. (Image: David Rogers Photography)

Address: 3/25 Quondola St, Pambula

5. Cranky cafe

Best for: The Philly cheese steak served on a squishy bun

Main Beach Merimbula is where the locals hang out to power up post-kitesurf. It’s not just because the lattes are rich and creamy. Or that the cheeseburgers have a bit of heft and are on a house-made milk bun. Cranky Cafe is a suburban go-to because the staff dispense food and drink with a smile. The cafe is popular with local holidaymakers staying in Merimbula who converge here for ready-made take-home meals.

Address: 33 Ocean Drive, Merimbula

6. Waterfront Cafe

Best for: A big breakfast of house-made ham-hocked beans with the lot

When looking for the best things to do in Merimbula it’s best to follow the locals who mob Main Beach each morning. Follow their lead and start your morning with a swim or a surf followed by breakfast by the water’s edge at the Waterfront Café . The corner cafe showcases the importance of community in a small country town where locals gather for coffee, breakfast and a catch-up. It’s a welcoming cafe near to a quirky pocket of shops and the hip strip of Merimbula’s best bars and restaurants.

Address: Shops 1 & 2 Corner Beach & Market St, Merimbula

7. Wild Orchid Cafe, Tathra

Best for: Avo on sourdough and the crumbed chicken burger

Tathra is just a 20-minute drive from Merimbula and well worth including in a NSW South Coast road trip itinerary. The locals pack in tighter than anchovies in a tin at Wild Orchid Tathra where the customers come in early for breakfast and stay late for BYO lunch. The cafe tweaks its hours over winter and summer to suit the seasons. You’d be remiss not to order the avocado feta with pepitas and black sesame on sourdough. Spice fiends should order it showered in an extra abundance of chilli flakes and wait for the kick to blow their head off.

Address: 1/29 Andy Poole Drive, Tathra

8. Wild Rye’s Baking Co., Pambula

Best for:  The beef curry pie is one of the best in Australia

When is a meat pie worth a six-hour drive? When it’s baked fresh in flaky pastry using the very best seasonal ingredients each day. Your dog’s eye (pie) is not going to transport well back to Sydney so find a spot on a park bench and scarf it down.

bread on display at Wild Rye’s Baking Co. in Pambula — Stock up on freshly baked bread and don’t forget to try the pies.

Then get back in the Wild Rye’s Baking Co queue to inhale the extraordinary aromas and figure out whether you’re going to go sweet or savoury. You’ll find artisan baked goods with unique flavour combinations and specialty blends of freshly roasted coffee, too.

making bread at Wild Rye’s Baking Co. in Pambula — Wild Rye’s Baking Co. is a proud purveyor of fine artisan breads.

Address: 26 Quondola St, Pambula

For more insider tips and expert advice to help you plan your next beachside escape, read our guide to visiting Merimbula.

NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.

Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.

Winter on the NSW South Coast

Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.

Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.

two people standing in front of kiama blowhole — See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)

Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.

Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the new south wales south coast — Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery . Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.

Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda , and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey ‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.

End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines .

The Sebel Kiama exterior — Sleep by the harbour.

Winter on the Mid-North Coast

A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.

First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.

Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, winter on the New South Wales coast — Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)

Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk , one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.

Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines , where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.

port macquarie koala hospital — Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala . Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.

Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.

At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie , right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.

bed at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie — Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

Winter on the Central Coast

On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.

The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk , an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.

Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.

a humpback whale breaching on the central coast — Spot migrating humpback whales. (Image: Destination NSW)

Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park . Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast , a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery , where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.

Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm . Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.

woman holding a pearl at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)

As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal , which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.

Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores , between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.

restaurant at Pullman Magenta Shores central coast — Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

Winter in Wollongong

Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.

If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.

Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.

monk teaching tai chi at Nan Tien Temple — Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch . Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.

The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong . A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery , which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.

monkey at Symbio Wildlife Park — Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)

As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen . It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.

Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach , right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.

Winter on the New South Wales coast starts with a cosy place to stay. Start planning your adventure at all.com.

8 of the best cafes in Merimbula and beyond to start the day