The Sapphire Coast's your Oyster

The humble oyster might not look like much, but this culinary delicacy is renowned for sending otherwise sensible foodies into a mollusk-inspired madness. And as luck would have it, some of the world’s finest oysters are grown near Reflections Holidays on the NSW South Coast.

Whether you like them ala naturale or sizzled and grilled with complementing ingredients, the oyster is a flavour sensation - a unique blend of salt and cream with a sweet aftertaste – and described by many as ‘the taste of the sea’.

Sampling local produce is all part of the fun of a NSW holiday. The Oyster Trail along the Sapphire Coast is the perfect paddock-to-plate affair for oyster fans. From Bermagui and Pambula to Wonboyn Lake near Eden, this self-drive trail takes in the very best of the region’s thriving oyster industry.

Slurp back fresh oysters by the lakeside edge, washed down with a bottle of a local wine. Dine in fine restaurants and devour their oyster creations. Take an oyster farm tour, chat to the growers about their craft, and learn how to shuck a few yourself.

If too much oyster is never enough, this trail is the gastronomic journey for you. And at the end of the day when you’re stuffed to bursting, you can rest your head at our South Coast NSW holiday parks, each perfectly positioned along the length of the route.

Bermagui oysters galore

Our Reflections Holiday Parks Bermagui is at the northern entrance of the Sapphire Coast and is the perfect place to start your oyster extravaganza. Kick off with a meal at the acclaimed il Passaggio Italian restaurant, just down the road from the park at the Bermagui Fishermen’s Wharf.

Why il Passaggio? Because here you can enjoy oysters from Wapengo Rocks, the first oyster farm in Australia to be certified organic. Just 30 minutes south of Bermagui, Wapengo Lake is one of the most pristine estuaries in NSW. Native rock oysters have grown here for thousands of years and have been farmed since the late 1880s, so they clearly know a thing or two about these tasty titbits.

Partake in Pambula

Further south on the Oyster Trail is Pambula, home to Reflections Pambula and some of the finest Sydney Rock Oysters you could ever hope to feast on.

Oyster aficionados won’t want to miss Captain Sponge’s Magical Oyster Tours. Cruise the beautiful Pambula river estuary on board an oversized oyster punt. Learn all about oyster farming, sample oysters straight from the lake, and discover the unique geological features of this fascinating area.

Another Pambula pit-stop for oyster fans is Broadwater Oysters, a working oyster shed on the shores of the beautiful Pambula Lake. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters by the water’s edge or take a box back to your tent or cabin for an oyster-filled feast.

The oysters of Eden

If you’re staying at Reflections Holiday Parks Eden then be sure to visit Wonboyn Lake, a remote and untouched Sydney Rock Oyster producing estuary just 30 minutes south of Eden.

Kel and Caroline Henry from Wonboyn Rock Oysters have been farming these pristine waters for over 25 years, and their Sydney Rock Oysters have won multiple awards for their quality.

Described as ‘creamy and sweet with a mild aftertaste’, a visit to their shed in Myrtle Cove to pick up some oyster treats is clearly a ‘must-do’ for all oyster gourmands.

Feeling hungry?

If all this talk of oysters is making your mouth water, then you should plan your trip along the Sapphire Coast and make your way along the Oyster Trail. We’ll take care of your accommodation. You bring the lemons.

All images supplied by Destination NSW.