Chasing Status Points

Garry and I have just spent a glorious weekend on the South Coast. Regular readers will recall that pre-COVID we regularly attended the Narooma Oyster Festival in May each year. We'd normally base ourselves at a friend’s house in Central Tilba. However, thanks to the pandemic it’s been four years since our last visit.

Sadly, our extended group missed this year’s oyster festival. As a result, after a little diary shuffling, we all agreed to meet up for an extended break in Tilba last weekend. Getting there is normally a 5.5 hour drive from Sydney. However, this year we tried something new. Garry is currently chasing the status points required to renew his Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyer status. He needs just 15 more to secure it for another year.

After crunching some numbers, we decided to skip the drive to Tilba and flew with Qantas to Merimbula, which is located about 60 minutes south of Tilba. This 1:15-hour flight gave Garry a total of 20 points thus securing another year of Platinum privileges. We also had the perfect solution in place for our ground transport needs.

Rob and Jen, two Sydney friends who’ve always joined us for the oyster festival recently relocated to Tura Beach on the outskirts of Merimbula. As a result, shortly after lunch on Friday, they collected us from the airport and drove us directly to Tilba. The hour-long road trip gave everyone plenty of time to catch up on post-pandemic events and renew our friendship.

Our group of six then enjoyed a superb weekend filled with sunshine, great wine, and plenty of laughter. Garry and I managed the entertainment on Friday. We took advantage of our frequent flyer status and literally filled a suitcase with wine and goodies for an enormous charcuterie board heaving with meats, cheeses, and anti-pasta nibbles. 

Saturday dawned warm and sunny. We spent the afternoon walking the Bellbrook Loop Track, a 2km circuit that takes you around a bush-clad valley out the back of Tilba. Our hosts Liz and Eric then surprised us with a mini picnic at a hilltop table halfway around the track.

Saturday night saw us feasting at Queen Chow in Narooma. We’ve previously dined at this restaurant’s main inner Sydney venue. I’m pleased to report that its South Coast outpost is just as good.

After a leisurely start to the day, Sunday afternoon was spent enjoying more wine and dozens of freshly shucked oysters at The Oyster Farmers Daughter. This tiny outdoor venue sits on the shores of Barlows Bay, inland from Narooma. The food was excellent, and the venue’s serene aquatic landscape was good for the soul. Afterward, we ventured out to the headlands to watch the town’s seal colony frolic and loll around in the sun.

We then returned to Tura Beach with Rob and Jen to spend a night at their new beachside home. On Monday morning, Jen took us for a tour of the local coast before heading for the airport. We walked along the headlands at the picturesque Short Point Beach, stopped at Bar Beach, and finally walked along the coast to the mouth of the Pambula River. Without a doubt, the morning’s highlight was watching a large pod of dolphins surfing and playing along the shore at Short Point Beach.

Shortly before 2pm, we boarded our flight back to Sydney and we were back in the office by 3:45pm. Garry and I both agree that, despite a one-hour delay on the way down, the flights to and from Merimbula were a great way to travel. Merimbula Airport is also newly upgraded and is an easy-to-access facility. In fact, much of the town’s infrastructure looked surprisingly new and well-maintained. There’s clearly been a lot of investment in the area over recent years.

Unfortunately, the trip offered up one final surprise. On Monday evening a dose of diarrhea kicked in and duly kept me entertained for the next 24 hours. I suspect a slightly dodgy oyster may have been behind my bathroom antics. While inconvenient, there is a silver lining. I've been on a diet for the last couple of months so a little diarrhea has helped keep off any weight I've regained during such an indulgent weekend.

Back to Tilba

Regular readers will recall that Garry and I ventured south this time last year to experience the Narooma Oyster Festival.  Elizabeth and Eric, last year’s hosts, invited us to return again this year.  Garry and I happily accepted and this time we scheduled a four-day weekend to get the most from our time away.  Narooma is located more than five hours drive south of Sydney so a half day is lost with travel in each direction.

We left home shortly after 7:30am. We stopped for a hearty breakfast in Berry.  While there we took some time out to visit one of our long-standing and loyal customers. We stopped again at Burrill Lake for Garry to reminisce about the childhood Summers he spent here annually for almost twenty years.  We finally made it to Tilba shortly before 2:00pm.

The Oyster Festival was as much fun again as it had been last year.  We also took a drive out the Narooma heads where we were delighted to witness a pod of dolphins making their way out to sea.  The New Zealand Fur Seals were also out in full force and we witnessed the passage of more than one enormous stingray.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen such large rays in my entire life.

Our second full day was spent enjoying a leisurely lunch at Mimosa Winery near Bermagui.  The winery is set in a sun-drenched valley filled with grazing mobs of kangaroos.  Afterwards, we stopped in Bermagui for one of its famous gelatos and walk along the fishing wharf.  Once again we were delighted by the antics of two enormous stingrays gliding and weaving their way around the wharf piers.

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.