A Midwinter escape to Mollymook: three days by the sea
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It’s that time of the year again, my fellow Canberrans. It’s cold and dreary, and many of us are in desperate need of some sunshine.
The frost got the better of us, and my colleague Georgie and I packed the car and drove down the mountain to Mollymook, two and a half hours down the Kings Highway. Close enough for a quick getaway, but also far enough to feel like you’ve left the cold (and work) behind.
Where we stayed
Where you stay can make or break a trip. The right spot shapes the feel of your holiday. Even if you’re only in your accommodation for a short time, you need to be able to unwind and recharge.
We based ourselves at Dolphins Motel, a retro-styled stay with 10 rooms and one generous apartment, all just a short stroll from the beach and a five-minute drive from award-winning bars and restaurants.
With their in-built cafe Dolly’s, you can order breakfast in bed and enjoy hotcakes and a cappuccino from the comfort of your room, or venture out for a stroll along the beach and enjoy the sunrise – we did both!
Where we ate
Dinner at Gwylo on the first evening set the tone for the trip. Asian street food, an excellent playlist featuring Pete Townshend classics as well as current pop bangers, and cocktails almost too pretty to drink…almost. The char siu pork bao bun with hoi sin and cucumber pickle disappeared fast, and the 48-hour chuck eye with pickled onion and chilli crunch was worth the drive alone.
Milk HAUS in nearby Milton is a must-stop. A wholefood eatery run by owners Kitty and Nat, it feels less like a restaurant and more like a long, unhurried afternoon at a friend’s farmhouse. There was a true sense of community at MilkHAUS, both Kitty and Nat greeting the customers warmly, the regulars moving to their favourite tables, and the smell of fresh ingredients and warm comfort food wafting from the kitchen.
A highlight for me was the lamb mezza, slow-cooked for sixteen hours and piled with cashew hummus, sumac onion and toasted flatbread. The fennel jam and burrata on sourdough was also divine. If you can stay long enough to wander through the farm, take a look at their veggie garden, and visit some of the local creators and businesses nestled in the grounds.
Last but certainly not least, we dined at Rick Stein at Bannisters. Perched high on the headland with ocean views, it was the perfect place to finish off our trip. The signature fish pie lived up to its name, and our waiter Ed attended to our every need. I’m still dreaming about the Banoffee trifle we had for dessert.
What we did
We ate, we shopped and we strolled. Long walks along the beach in the morning, lazy afternoons by the pool, and a slow wander through the boutiques of Milton and Ulladulla. We stopped at vintage stores like the Wilde Merchant, perused the shelves of Pipi’s Boutique, and got our steps up taking in the sunrise along the beach.
If we’d had more time we might’ve taken a yoga or Pilates class or taken a bike ride along one of the many tracks near Dolphins (and with Dolphins’ dog-friendly room, next time we might take our pets with us!).
If you’re after a winter reset that doesn’t require a passport, Mollymook makes a very good case for itself. Sun-soaked days, long lazy lunches, and just enough distance from Canberra to feel like a proper escape, without needing more than a weekend to get there and back.
The Dolphins Motel at Mollymook has bikes on hand for guests to use on nearby tracks and trails.
A snap from the beach, just five minutes stroll from The Dolphins Motel.
