Tilba Surprise

Our new business manager is already making a huge difference.  With another person involved in the business we finally have a little flexibility in scheduling time away from the office.  Last weekend Garry and I took a day off to enjoy a three-day weekend in Central Tilba.  Friends invited us to join them for the annual Narooma Oyster Festival while enjoying the comforts of their spacious holiday home on the outskirts of Central Tilba.

Tilba proved to be a wonderful surprise.  This village of fewer than 300 people is protected by the National Trust.  As a result, it’s historical country cottage buildings and picturesque village atmosphere has been carefully preserved.  The town is filled with all manner of adorable tourist stores including a traditional candy shop, cheese factory, art galleries and a double-storey pub with a classic balcony façade.

The locals also maintain flower gardens, herb gardens and orchards that give the entire village a postcard-perfect look and feel.  It’s no wonder the Australian edition of River Cottage was filmed here for four years from 2013 to 2016.

It took us almost five hours to drive 370kms down the south coast on Friday morning. We left home shortly after 7am, stopping briefly in Milton for a hearty vegetarian breakfast at Pilgrims, before finally arriving shortly after noon.  We couldn’t have picked a better weekend.  The weather was warm and sunny for the entire trip. 

The festival the following morning was a bustling affair with plenty of oysters, live music, local artisan stalls and country food stalls.  Afterwards we visited the ocean mouth of the Wagonga Inlet to watch sea lions frolicking and relaxing on the local breakwater’s rocks.  Our final day in Tilba was spent walking the shore around the delightfully scenic and picturesque Mystery Bay; located a short 10-minute drive from Tilba.

We then finished our weekend with a late Fish & Chips lunch on the waterfront at Bateman's Bay before heading home via the inland route of Crookwell and Goulburn. We arrived home shortly before 8pm on Sunday feeling wonderfully refreshed. Tilba proved well worth the drive.  We hope to return again before the year ends.