NEW SOUTH WALES
BEST BEACH The Pass, Byron Bay
Whether you’re looking at this slice of paradise from the towering rocky lookout or from the palm-lined fringes, it’s easy to see why people adore this beautiful sandy tract located just down from Byron’s main beach. You’ll often spot dolphins frolicking offshore (if you’re keen to get closer, plenty of kayak and boat tours take you out to sea), and closer into shore, waves welcome everyone from grommets on foamies to surfers on longboards. Pop into The Pass Cafe for a smoothie on the patio, or dress up to dine at Beach Byron Bay, where the menu highlights local, seasonal produce. On the first Sunday of the month, you’ll find the Byron Community Market – try the tempura mushrooms from the FunGuys and Koobideh’s Persian potato cakes and charcoal-grilled lamb wrapped in flatbread.
BEST GELATO Mr Goaty Gelato at Bar Botanica
What started as a gelataria based out of a caravan is now a permanent fixture in the garden of Erina’s Distillery Botanica. Bar Botanica serves scoops of Mr Goaty Gelato, which uses both goat’s and cow’s milk with ingredients plucked straight from the garden. Think macadamia and lemon myrtle or blueberry and lavender, alongside inventive scoops such as sourdough toast with honey, cold-brewed coffee or burnt pineapple Margarita. 25 Portsmouth Rd, Erina, NSW, barbotanica.com.au
BEST WEEKEND ESCAPE Shoalhaven and surrounds
The drive south of Sydney, winding through Wollongong and past the stunning vistas of Gerroa, is one of the most scenic strips on the NSW coastline. Adventure-seekers can camp at Termeil Point in Meroo National Park to witness amazing sunsets, while those looking for a little luxury can book a stay at Bannister’s in Mollymook. Both options will serve as a great base to go on day trips during your weekend escape. Head to Milton and stop off at Milk Haus, which offers a seasonal menu, with dishes such as a “dry stew” of crusty bread, poached eggs, chickpeas and wilted silverbeet, sourced straight from the café’s garden. Spend a half-day exploring Bateman’s Bay nearby, and enjoy BYO wine and just-shucked oysters with hot sauce at the Oyster Shed on Wray Street. Or check out Manyana, a sleepy surfing town, with its secluded white-sand beach, bush trails to explore and plenty of native birds in the trees. shoalhaven.com
BEST GELATO Dumbo Gelato
Opened by the crew behind beachside Mexican cantina El Grotto, Dumbo Gelato is a compelling reason to visit the revamped Scarborough Beach. Kane Hipper and Stevie Gale, siblings and Dumbo owners, have a knack for finding the sweet spots where Italian know-how (the pair spent most of June last year studying gelati-making in Bologna) and Aussie culture meet. Their gelati range includes homegrown flavour combinations such as Vegemite and cheese or macadamia and wattleseed; sorbet is made with mulberries, mangoes and other fruit grown by family members; and made-toorder brioche-gelato pies pose a constant threat to summer body regimens. 7/148 The Esplanade, Scarborough, WA, dumbogelato.com
BEST FISH AND CHIPS Kailis Fishmarket Cafe
Featuring seating for more than 500, the rebooted Kailis Fishmarket Cafe might reside at the larger end of the fish-and-chipper spectrum, but the ideas are as big as the space. Here’s the play: Assemble your posse, secure a table(s) in the NYC deli-inspired space or out on the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour boardwalk, then attack the market’s four dedicated counters (fried, raw and grilled, dessert, and a well-stocked bar) with gusto. The sea urchin waffle, meanwhile, has all the makings of a summer hit. 46 Mews Rd, Fremantle, WA, (08) 9335 7755, kailis.com
BEST WEEKEND ESCAPE Margaret River
Three hours by car from Perth – and, from February, four hours by plane from Melbourne – Margaret River is well within striking distance for an extended weekend getaway. While the region’s beaches and wines (everything from benchmark Aussie chardonnays and cabernet to natural drops) continue to lure visitors, the food offering throughout Western Australia’s south-west grows stronger by the month: so much so that even locals have trouble keeping up. Yarri in Dunsborough ticks the boxes for bar, restaurant and tasting room for Snake + Herring wines; Evan Hayter at Arimia Estate continues to lead the region in sustainable dining; while new(ish) arrivals Pizzica and Barnyard 1978 make sating Italian-food cravings easy. The local institutions, meanwhile, continue to keep on keeping on. Chief among them being country pub par excellence Settlers Tavern, pioneering wineries Vasse Felix and Cullen, as well as the Margaret River Farmers’ Market, an essential on Saturday mornings. Luxe-casual Smith’s Beach Resort ticks all the boxes for a summer escape, from the on-site restaurant and deli to the contemporary beach house-style accommodation. margaretriver.com