A weekend down the coast
Having an extended weekend, thanks to Australia Day, we were heading down the coast. We were off to find out the answer to the question, what to do in Mollymook in Summer. Driving down the Princes Highway, and towards the historic NSW town of Milton, the devastation caused by the recent bushfires is evident everywhere.
From the illegible road signs, melted by the ferocious heat of the fires, to the forest of blackened trees, a lot of which have had to be chopped down due to the danger of them falling across the busy highway. It is hard to imagine the fear that homeowners in the area must have felt as the fire raged closer and closer to their properties.
I am glad to report that as of the time of writing, the bushfire danger has eased, and locals are returning to their properties, to assess the damage. Harder to assess is the unseen damage to the numbers of local wildlife that call this area home.
Holiday Here This Year
Now, more than ever, our regional communities need support. Many local businesses rely on tourists visiting the area, and the drop off in numbers recently has been nothing short of a catastrophe. A movement has started up under the hashtag #holidayherethisyear. This is exactly what we were doing over the long Australia Day weekend, taking an extra day so we had 3 nights to spend in the Shoalhaven region.
Some 3 and a half hours from Sydney, the little town of Mollymook hugs the southern NSW coast. It is the place that Rick Stein says makes him “feel 10 years younger” each time he arrives. And it is here in Mollymook that he chose to open his first Australian restaurant. More on that later.
Where to stay in Mollymook
We were to spend our 3 nights at the Bannisters Pavilion hotel (bannisters.com.au/mollymook ), one of two Bannisters hotels, within 800 yards of each other. Quite why there is two, so close to each other, and no other hotels is rather curious. They certainly have the market covered. And with no pubs in Mollymook, at least what we could find, the only drinking options seem to be in the bars of the respective hotels. Somewhere, I can hear the sound of tills ringing.
Bannisters Pavilion, spread over two levels, is very light and airy. Rooms open up to small balconies, with the the rooms at the back getting the better deal, facing all the eucalyptus trees, and none of the traffic. For an expensive hotel, I was very disappointed to find the only option for coffee in the room was those little sachets of instant, that you see in very dated motels, and Travelodges. In a coffee obsessed nation I found this a little short sighted. Definite points dropped there.
In the morning we made our way up to the pool area which is where the breakfast was served. The included breakfast was a wide selection, continental buffet style. As this was turning into something of a foodie weekend, it was a pleasant change to eat a little lighter, and a little healthier at breakfast. Plates of fresh fruit, delicious homemade granola, and yoghurt made for a good start to the day. Oh, and I finally got a real coffee, the usual strong latte to kick start my engine.
The food theme continued at dinner, at the hotel’s “Rooftop Bar and Grill.” I was told that the prawn linguine was up there with the best ever. Perhaps THE best ever. By this point much wine had been drunk so I made a note to ask again in the morning. My chicken schnitzel was the size of a small boat, which in case you’re in any doubt, is a good thing in my book.
Returning again for dinner, on our final night, Victoria stuck to the script, and ordered the prawn linguine once more. I went for the burger. Again, top marks. Pink patty. Melted cheese. Messy to eat. Ticks all my boxes.
The hotel was very popular with families. The sheer number of small people I saw filled me with dread. However, as the pool area was quite small, I think most decided the beach was the best option. That left us in relative serenity to chill in the pool, and lounge the afternoon away with a cold drink, and our books.
Things To Do in Mollymook in Summer – Dining
Rick Stein first visited this beautiful area on a trip in the 1960s, and with his wife Sarah having connections to the area, they opened up the first Rick Stein Australian restaurant in Mollymook in 2009. Visiting for dinner on a busy Saturday night we got to experience why this restaurant remains so popular. Being so close to the ocean, the menu is very heavily weighted towards the excellent produce freshly caught in the waters nearby. But the menu does also have a steak option should you decide that you can only each so much seafood in one weekend.
Our entrees were Hervey Bay scallops in the shell, and a dish of sashimi, which included tuna, salmon, and swordfish. Main course saw me having a fragrant, flavourful, and quite spicy salmon Sri Lankan curry, with pilau rice and a small naan bread. Victoria had a delicious fish pie. If only we were staying an extra day then I could have come back and tried the perennial favourite, fish and chips, which are served with mushy peas. As it should be.
Australia Day, which fell on the Sunday, saw us heading out to Cupitt’s (cupitt.com.au) winery. And what a good decision that was. Of the many things to do in Mollymook, this is another of my recommendations. Set in a beautiful location, with sweeping views across the hills of Milton, we had a lunch reservation in the restaurant. On site there is also a cellar door, a brewery (making excellent pale ale), a fromagerie, and large picnic areas.
Lunch was an “Australia Day special”, costing $85 each for 3 courses, with $5 of every meal going to a local charity. Providing the entertainment out in the picnic areas was a local band, Soul Tonic. The entertainment was part of a ticketed event, with all proceeds going to the same charity. A definite feel good afternoon. The food in the restaurant was excellent, and was complemented by a bottle of Cupitt’s own Pinot Gris. Suitably stuffed, and with an elegant sufficiency, we made the short drive back to Bannisters Pavilion.
Things to Do in Mollymook in Summer – Spa Day
In a list of relaxing things to do to start your day, surely a spa morning would be right up there. An hour of pure relaxation, being gently pummeled, making you forget all your worries, and that you have only managed to have one coffee so far.
The spa is located at the sister hotel, Bannisters by the Sea. A short stroll from the Pavilion, the spa was just the ticket for my tired, and tense muscles. It is easy to forget how working at a laptop all day can affect both your posture, and the muscles around your shoulders. The next hour was spent having this tension slowly teased out of my body. The facial, and hot oil head massage was a great way to finish.
Things To Do in Mollymook in Summer – The Local Area
Just 5kms back up the Princes Highway, the historic town of Milton is well worth a visit. Park up, and spend the afternoon browsing the boutiques, local craft shops, and the very good food and drink options. Be strong, drive straight past the Heritage Bakery without stopping, and save your appetite for something a little more adventurous than a meat pie. Even if said pies are delicious.
We had lunch at Annabels cafe which had much more of a country town feel than some of the more, hipper looking cafes. There is a reason this area of the South Coast is saturated with visitors from Sydney, and the number of establishments that cater to this market is high. Annabels was a little more down to earth, serving “proper grub” and a delicious mango smoothie.
Holiday on your doorstep
What the weekend highlighted, without any doubt, is that we don’t always have to get on a plane to take a holiday. Putting aside the concerns for the environment, just don’t tell Greta Thunberg I said that, and the associated carbon footprint of flying, there are a multitude of other reasons to holiday at home. Local businesses need as much tourism as possible if they are going to recover from the devastation of the bush fires. And the beautiful places, quiet beaches, and world class food available to us here in the lucky country made a holiday at home a no brainer.
The only question remaining is, where next?
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