Three coastal escapes for a winter weekend getaway

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Dreaming of long days spent relaxing at the beach, sipping on cocktails and eating fresh seafood? You don’t need to wait until summer for your next coastal escape.
While the water might be chilly (we’ll leave it to you to decide if you want to dip your toes into the waves), there’s nothing like a quick trip to the coast to make you feel a thousand times more relaxed.
Here are three suggestions for a coastal weekend getaway, all under four hours from Canberra.
Mollymook
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Less than a three-hour drive from Canberra, Mollymook is ideal for those seeking a relaxed yet chic location to kick back.
Where to eat and drink
Rick Stein at Bannisters is a must when visiting Mollymook and for good reason. Serving fresh, local seafood with panoramic and breathtaking ocean views, booking a table here should be at the top of any foodie’s bucket list. After more casual fare? The Pool Bar at Bannisters has the same stunning outlook and offers classic cocktails and mouthwatering gourmet light bites – including pizzas, and truffle fries – which are all best enjoyed poolside.
But for foodies out there seeking an unforgettable experience, The Jackson Ranch by Bannisters pop-up restaurant is back at Bawley Point during August and September. And yes, it’s worth the trip. Open for lunch on both Saturday and Sunday and dinner every Saturday evening between the until Sunday 29 September, the restaurant offers la carte dining and a fully licensed bar, with curated wine and cocktail list. Featuring seasonal local produce by The Jackson Ranch’s exclusive events catering team, the menu includes options like Pansotti of sweetcorn with Spencer Gulf Prawns, a succulent charcoal striploin served with oxheart tomato and a paprika dressing and a chocolate torte that will have you licking the plate clean.
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Want to make the most of your trip? On select dates you will also have the option of joining a Floral Masterclass held by local floriculturist Fred Made. For just $75 per person, along with the masterclass the ticket price includes a vase, the florals and a glass of bubbles. With a strong focus on local, seasonal, consciously grown flowers, it’s a beautiful experience pre-or post meal – and because we’ve done it ourselves, we can comfirm it’s also lots of fun.
Need more recommendations? Gwylo* is an Asian fusion restaurant serving street eats and drinks that will look epic on the ‘gram while Cupitt’s Estate offers both a fine dining paddock-to-plate restaurant experience and casual dining day and night.
*Editor’s note: Gwylo is closed for the month of August.
Where to stay
If you want to treat yourself, perched on top of a stunning Mollymook headland, Bannisters by the Sea is perfect for relaxing in luxury. Who doesn’t love an infinity pool? But just 400 metres from Mollymook Beach and 2.9 km from Ulladulla Harbour Beach, you’ll find Mollymook Beach Waterfront – beautiful luxury accommodation that offers ocean frontage, perfect for a coastal getaway.
Finally, Motel Molly offers south coast charm with a cool twist. Enjoy their Moroccan-inspired décor, and luxe rooms, just metres from Mollymook’s famous beach. Need we say more?
What to do
With beautiful beaches, reconnecting with nature has never been so easy. Mollymook Beach stretches for 2 km and is ideal for picnics or relaxing in the sand while the Mollymook Golf Club atop the southern headland offers eighteen holes with its very own soundtrack – the crash of the waves.
Spa by the Sea might be attached to Bannisters but it also offers out-of-house guests a chance to treat themselves to some tranquillity. Looking for something more adventurous? Why not book a Wine Knot Tour (see what we did there) to nearby wineries? You’ll be able to immerse yourself in some local award-winning wine and produce and it’s a great day out.
Merimbula
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This is an enchanting little seaside town that will quickly transport you from the hustle and bustle of Canberra’s city. And for those seeking an adventure, there’s plenty of thrills to be discovered…
Where to eat and drink
With aesthetic interiors, sweeping views over Merimbula Lake and a menu packed full of locally sourced produce, Valentina is a must-visit dining destination serving casual, modern Australian cuisine. Soak up the sunset while sipping on a cocktail and snacking on their seasonal menu.
For those looking for a more casual dining destination that serves flavoursome food, Merimbula Aquarium & Wharf Restaurant has everything from house-made cakes to fresh and locally sourced seafood. Offering spectacular 180-degree ocean views and with the bonus of being built right above the aquarium, it has something everyone will enjoy.
Nothing goes together like beach days and Mexican (even in the winter), so a stop at Santa Fe to try their collection of modern and classic Mexican food. Finally, Wheeler’s Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar is a must-try – and who could say no to relaxing with a dozen of their finest and a glass of Sparkling at the Oyster Bar?
Where to stay
Head back in time with The Old School Bed and Breakfast. While it might not be in central Merimbula, it’s in a prime location to explore the whole region – and we promise the heritage five-star accommodation will offer an elegant and unique coastal escape.
Adventure seekers can’t go past camping at Potoroo Palace, a not-for-profit native animal sanctuary running captive breeding programs for endangered species. Offering BBQ and picnic facilities, as well as an onsite café, there are also complimentary Educational Talks held twice daily, a Potoroo Palace train and nutritional pellets to purchase to hand-feed the free-roaming kangaroos and emus.
Have some kids with plenty of energy to burn? Tween Waters Merimbula might be the place for you. With options ranging from cosy cabins to spacious villas, caravan sites, and a motel, there’s something for every kind of holiday goer. And with Merimbula Beach, a pool, a splash park, and a bouncy pillow all close by, they’ll be entertained for hours.
What to do
From strolling along Merimbula Main Beach and Bar Beach to having a BBQ in Spencer Park (because it might be winter, but it’ll be much warmer than Canberra) there’s plenty to choose from. Don’t skip TopFun and Magic Mountain for a few days filled with fun or stop in at the local cinema – The Picture Show Man – for a cosy escape.
Bermagui
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Home to stunning beaches, ocean pools, and coastal walks, when the temperature turns cold you shouldn’t cross Bermagui off your list.
Where to eat and drink
In the morning, head to Honorbread for exceptional sourdough, croissants or Swedish cinnamon or cardamom buns. Be warned – they sell out fast!
Boneless on Bermagui’s main street serves up innovative and delicious brunch and lunch that will have you rethinking the concept of vegetarian food while Bermi’s Beachside Cafe offers stacks of pancakes with lashings of bacon and maple syrup.
For dinner, head to the Bermagui Beach Hotel, where chic renovations have made way for a relaxed restaurant that serves a mouth-watering mix of fresh seafood and elevated pub favourites or cross the river to dine at Octopii, whose Mediterranean flavours showcase Bermagui’s phenomenal seafood perfectly.
Of course, seafood is sometimes best served simply, so if it’s fish and chips you’re after, head to the Bermagui Fishermans Wharf to order some of the best on the coast from Blue Wave Seafood. Fancy a sweet treat? Pop two shopfronts along to the Bermagui Gelati Clinic (yes, that’s its name) for a cold scoop (or three!).
Where to stay
Mimosa Wines, a family-owned vineyard, cellar door and restaurant in nearby Murrah, has two charming cottages across the vineyard from its restaurant; The Farmstead can sleep nine and The Vineyard Cottage sleeps four.
What to do
Beautiful beaches abound on the Sapphire Coast, but for a particularly memorable swimming or snorkelling experience, Bermagui’s Blue Pool is a natural rock pool that lies at the base of a dramatic rocky cliff face, accessible by a set of well-maintained stairs, with a carpark, shower and toilets at the top.
There’s also Horseshoe Bay (a wide, sandy beach), Bruce Steer Pool (a long and narrow netted beach that’s protected from the wind by cliffs and a seawall) and the gorgeous Bermagui River, perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking.
Bermagui’s main street holds plenty of shopping opportunities too, from the fabulously retro Strangers in Paradise, where you can browse vintage records and antique furniture, to Mermaids of Bermagui and Boho Republic.
Feature image: The Pool Bar at Bannister by the Sea. Supplied.