Its time to say GoodBye

Sadly we must end our blog here. Throughout the past 2 months, we each have been posting a food journey from Northern NSW all the way south to Batemans Bay. Our posts described some of the NSW East Coasts finest food establishments as well as some extra activities sprinkled in.

Here's the final video of blog turned into vlog! Hope you enjoyed our journey through the coast !

Isabella:

• Opening Blogpost
• Port Macquarie
• Manly

Afia:

• Byron
• Forster
• Wollongong

Lauryn:

• Ballina
• Nelsons Bay
• Wollongong Part 2

Mikail:

• Coffs
• Newcastle
• Gerroa

Nireeksha:

• Coffs
• Central Coast
• Batemans Bay

As for the vlog, we all contributed into the video with our individual thoughts with reviews and pictures of our favourite places. Finally Lauryn edited the video and I am Afia signing off from here!

See you somewhere near the coast! Good Bye!

Batemans Bay

Batemans Bay is a beautiful coastal destination where you can experience different cuisines and expand your tasting palette. The stunning beaches and charming surroundings will entice your appetite and draw you to different eateries in the area. 

Source:https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/batemans-bay-and-eurobodalla/batemans-bay

1. Kohli's Waterfront Indian Restaurant

One option to surely try out is Kohli's Waterfront Indian Restaurant. This scenic spot allows you to feast on delicious Indian food while enjoying the spectacular sea side views of the Bay. The selection of food is impressive and gives customers a welcome change in flavour and taste.  

Source: https://www.thefork.com.au/restaurant/kohlis-indian-restaurant-nowra

Opening hours for this Indian place are:

Lunch: Thursday-Sunday 12pm - 2:30pm
Dinner: Tuesday-Sunday from 5pm


With options for take away, dine in and alcohol.

Price:

$-$$

2. Starfish Deli Restaurant

For the Asian food and seafood lovers, this place will satisfy your cravings. This restaurant is on the higher end of one's budget but is a sure treat to be seized.  There is a broad selection of food that crosses cultures and will provide you with a beautiful view of the Bay during the daytime.  

Source: http://starfishdeli.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Starfish-6208-e1489011789309.jpg

Price:

$$-$$$

By Nireeksha D'Souza

References: 

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurants-g255316-Batemans_Bay_Eurobodalla_New_South_Wales.html

https://kohlis.com.au/welcome-to-kohlis-batemans-bay

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g255316-d1754442-Reviews-Starfish_Deli-Batemans_Bay_Eurobodalla_New_South_Wales.html

http://starfishdeli.com.au/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral

Gerroa

Gerroa

Seven Mile Beach

Seven Mile Beach is a wide, long and clean beach, with strong historical reference. Great for walking or riding your bike.FUN FACT: In 1933 Seven Mile Beach was used by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as the runway for the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand.

 

Saddleback Mountain

Looking to get elevated? Well, Saddleback Mountain would be for you. located near Kiama in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The mountain rises to about 600 metres above sea level on the Illawarra escarpment and has views of Noorinan Mountain and Barren Grounds Plateau to the west and south to Coolangatta Mountain and north over Lake Illawarra. truly a worthwhile place to soak up the view.

Crooked River Wines Cellar Door

A spectacular setting with views overlooking the vineyard, Crooked River Restaurant is the perfect location to scratch that foodie itch. offering an inspiring menu that showcases creativity. The Head Chef, Dane Tobias, has a massive focus on sourcing all local produce. He has trained alongside celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein in Britain.

So if you have a hankering to burn through your dosh on exquisite and exceptional food and wine Crooked River Restaurant would fit the bill.

source: https://www.crookedriverwines.com/gerringong-restaurant/

Food: 9/10
Price: $$$

By Mikail Tarpis

Wollongong: Part 2

We couldn't help but stick around for an extra day to explore all that the Gong has to offer. This stunning location on NSW's south coast makes for a great getaway spot, with plenty of delicious dining options!

During our travels we took some time to check out the natural beauty of North Wollongong beach. With stunning crystal blue waters and white sand, it was the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy week of travel.

Source: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/wollongong-and-surrounds/wollongong/

After a full morning of sun, sand and surf, we were starving and ready for a late lunch! Our location of choice was 'Pepe's on the Beach' - a super cool little breakfast-lunch spot with 2 storey ocean views! We took advantage of the spacious, open air deck, which allowed us to enjoy our meal with a lovely afternoon sea breeze.

The menu offered a range of cuisines, ranging from Australian to Vietnamese and even some Mexican options. The food was delicious and left everyone feeling extremely satisfied! The 'Cold Seafood Share Plate' was delicious and enjoyed by all, as well as the side of sweet potato fries which were crispy and cooked to perfection!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pepesonthebeach/
(both images)




The restaurant also had a small bar on the bottom floor, where we hung out for a few hours after our meal. The casual, laid back vibe of the bar made for a very relaxing time, complimented
nicely by the live acoustic music which began later in the afternoon. We enjoyed a few delicious cocktails each all while watching the sun set. A wonderful ending to a fantastic final day spent in Wollongong!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pepesonthebeach/

Overall
Price: $$-$$$
Quality: 9.5/10

Author: Lauryn Brown

Wollongong: Part 1

Wollongong has such a wide range of choices that we had to mention the place twice with different choices!

Source: https://ywamwollongong.org/about/about-location-2/

This place is great  quick getaway just 1.5 hours drive from Sydney.

After driving through the Sea Cliff Bridge and Bald Hill, you can stop by the Port Kembla beach. On your way back home, you can have an early dinner and head back home.

Just a 15 minutes drive away from the Port Kembla beach is the infamous Bull & Bear Café - restaurant. 

Source: Bullnbear.gong Instagram.

This restaurant is a Spanish spin off with a sophisticated setting. They provide Australian food with a Spanish twist. They have a broad range of dishes like paella to churros to serve you from day till night.

As the name suggests, most of the choices have beef and great beer! But they also have chicken, pork and seafood to choose from. They also offer vegan choices.

Source: Bullnbear.gong Instagram.

Source: Bullnbear.gong Instagram.

Their breakfast menu also makes them a perfect place for brunch after a early morning drive from Sydney and dipping in the port Kembla beach. 

They also offer a great deal of drinks that are carefully curated according to customers liking.

I think the pricing is very logical with the portion sizes, definitely worth it.

Overall:

Price: $-$$

Quality: 9/10

Author: Afia Sultana Khan Asha

Manly

As we continue our travels down the coast, discovering tucked away oasis's we eventually arrive Australia's Premier Seaside Village MANLY! 

Once you are here you will never want to leave, being 15 minutes away from Sydney CBD on the ferry yet having the picturesque views and quiet ambiance of a coastal town. The town is flooded with cafes and restaurants, bars and eateries and a plethora of activities to leave you entertained for weeks. As you can understand, finding my top picks was quite the struggle, however I have chosen to include some that I have tried on countless occasions and have always left with a smile and full stomach. 

Bare Naked Bowls 

Now this is definitely a sore topic for me, as I may or may not have spent hundreds of dollars at this tucked away Acai cafe and sent my bank account into a stressful low yet it is so so worth it. Located in the heart of Manly, Bare Naked Bowls was the first store of the now franchise. The store has won numerous awards and is always placed in the top 5 for Sydney's Acai. 

When visiting I recommend purchasing your favourite coffee with coconut milk alongside the infamous Naked Bowl which includes Organic Acai Berry, Banana, Strawberry, Natural Peanut Butter, Activated Almond Milk topped with Activated Cacao Buckinis, Banana, Blueberry, Organic Hemp Seeds, Raw Almonds, Bush Honey
Price: $
Quality: 8/10

image from:https://www.barenakedbowls.com.au/

Hugo's Manly

For something a little bit more on the expensive side, Hugo's boasts waterfront views, contemporary Italian Cuisine and cutting edge cuisine. The business has also previously won 'Best Pizza in NSW' as well as 'Best Venue in Australia'. Located right next to Max Brennar, the spot is perfect for pizza and maybe a hot chocolate dessert afterwards :)

Enjoy a pizza and cocktail and watch the ferry's as they enter into the jetty or better yet, go on one as well! 

Price: $$$

Quality: 10/10

Image from: https://www.hugos.com.au/

Information from: 

https://www.hugos.com.au/

https://www.barenakedbowls.com.au/

https://www.hellomanly.com.au/

Author: Isabella Hopkins

Central Coast

SIX STRING BREWING

Source: http://sixstringbrewing.com.au/ex2/contact.html

As you travel through the Central coast, another cool place you should be sure to check out is the Six String Brewing Co. This place is rated well on Trip advisor and has an extensive menu for a variety of taster. This is a perfect place for a group of friends to hangout and engage in an experience of great food as well as make memories brewing and enjoying their selection of beer. This place is too cool because it combines a good beer with good guitars.

I recommend that you and your friends experience this spot for a relaxing stop over to unwind and have some home brewed beer and stellar food. Enjoy the rustic ambiance with a couple of your friends and make some memories!

In the evening as it is the time when the ambiance is maximised and your group can safely drink socially. The opening hours are 12-10 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W5gtIS8iIs

AUSTRIAN SCHNITZELHAUS

Next on your list should be... the Austrian Schnitzelhaus @ Erica. The blend of Australian/Austrian/German cuisine will satisfy your appetites. The food provided here will give you a familiar selection of sausages and burgers that will allow you to be comfortable with the menu.

SOURCE: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/central-coast/gosford-area/gosford/restaurants/the-austrian-schnitzelhaus-at-erina

The opening hours are meals around Lunch and Dinner. This place provides customers with German beers and cultural elements. 
FOOD: 9/10 
Price range: $-$$

By Nireeksha D'Souza

References:

https://www.timeout.com/sydney/travel/a-guide-to-eating-and-drinking-on-the-central-coast

http://sixstringbrewing.com.au/ex2/

https://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/nsw/central-coast/erina/restaurant/the-austrian-schnitzelhaus-at-erina

http://www.austrianschnitzelhaus.com.au/