Where to eat oysters along NSW's South Coast

Not far from Nowra, at this farm and oyster shack you can dine riverside, overlooking the very same waters that provided your meal. Jim and wife Robyn have been growing oysters for more than 40 years, and serving them to local and international visitors along with a yarn and shucking good show (Jim, who favours colourful Hawaiian shirts, is a former world champion oyster shucker). They serve rock and Pacific oysters, both raw and cooked, as well as locally-caught prawns. Find out more here.

Get a close-up view of a working oyster farm from the water during this two-hour kayak tour along the Clyde River estuary in Bateman’s Bay. You’ll paddle past racks of growing oysters and stop at the Oyster Shed on Wray Street to meet the farmers, learn how the bivalves are grown, and then sample some freshly shucked ones — all while floating on the water. The tours run daily with a minimum of four participants, and cost $99 per person. Find out more here. 

Sample Narooma’s briny bivalves at this family owned and operated business. Owner Ben McCulloch has been fishing in the Eurobodalla for more than 20 years and knows the ins and outs of the South Coast waters well. Originally housed in a boatshed by the water, Narooma Bridge Seafoods is now found opposite the Big4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park. The team sources fresh Wagonga Inlet oysters from local farmers and they are freshly shucked each day. Plus, they also sell unopened oysters by the dozen or in bags, if you’re keen to shuck at home. As well as oysters, the team sells fresh Eastern rock lobsters and a whole range of fish. Find out more here.

Shane Buckley's award-winning, certified organic rock oysters are grown in a pristine lake in Mimosa Rocks National Park on the far south coast. They’re usually supplied directly to restaurants but call ahead and you can visit Shane at the farm shed to get the good stuff straight from the source. His harvesting season usually runs from October through July. Find out more here.

Visit the retail store from November to June to buy award-winning Sydney rock oysters, also grown in Mimosa Rocks National Park. These are the same oysters served at Bennelong, Saint Peter, Cafe Sydney and Rockpool Bar and Grill – only fresher and at a fraction of the price. Find out more here.

Found on the south coast of New South Wales, Narooma is an idyllic coastal town boasting azure waters, brilliant rock formations, and playful seals. It’s also one of the best places to grow, shuck and gobble up oysters – in particular, the rock oyster. If you’re like us and love all things mollusks, you’ll be stoked to know Narooma hosts an annual festival of oysters – called the Narooma Oyster Festival. Bringing together growers, chefs and oysters lovers from all over New South Wales, this festival is an epic three-day celebration of the rock oyster, the region’s stellar produce and Narooma's pristine natural environment. Find out more here.