The town of Merimbula, on the NSW Sapphire coast, is most famous for one thing. OYSTERS! Find out more about them and where to eat the best oysters around Merimbula.
Where is Merimbula?
Merimbula is located in New South Wales on The Sapphire Coast. It covers around 90 km of the NSW coastline and stretches from Bermagui to Eden.
Merimbula is 75 km from the Victorian Border and approximately 7 hours drive from Melbourne. From Merimbula, you can reach Sydney in 6 hours drive, and Canberra in 3 hours drive.
The small Merimbula Airport has local and charter flights operating across regional cities as well as Melbourne and Sydney (just one 1 hour flight time).
A Merimbula local specialty
If fresh oysters are your thing, Merimbula, is one of the best places to get the freshest Sydney Rock Oysters in New South Wales. Take a walk along the famous Merimbula Boardwalk, and all along the water on Merimbula Lake you can see kilometres of oyster farms!
Oysters is serious business here. The Sapphire Coast is in fact an area that produces some of the best oysters in Australia! 5 major estuaries are dotted along the coast, including Merimbula Lake, and they produce millions of oysters annually.
Sydney Rock Oysters vs Pacific Oysters
The variety that is most popular in the region is the Sydney Rock Oysters, which can be found across all of the eastern coastline.
They vary slightly from the equally as popular Pacific Oysters, which are found in cooler waters like in Tasmania. The main thing that is noticeable is the size, the Sydney Rock Oysters are a little smaller.
Flavour wise, Sydney Rock Oysters are slightly saltier, whether Pacific oysters have more of a creamier texture. One thing for sure though, equally as delicious when you can get them so fresh!
Pricing of Oysters in the Merimbula area
In Merimbula and surrounding towns like Pambula, you will see several places selling oysters. Oysters are seasonal, with the peak supply is usually from October to June. A heads up – as there is lots of competition selling oysters you could be fooled by some of the cheap prices you see at the door.
Here is one thing to look out for. The cheapest ones usually mean the oysters are very small (cocktail size). The oysters are generally priced according to size (small/cocktail, medium or large/premium) or for being unshucked or opened.
Expect to pay at least 20 AUD per dozen for opened medium-sized oysters. Premium, larger size oysters are usually sold at 30 AUD + per dozen.
Merimbula Oysters: Where to buy
All of the Sapphire coast has a number of farms dotted along it, you can even do a self guided tour of the most popular ones if you travel along the Oyster Trail.
Some popular spots to buy fresh Oysters to takeaway and eat in around Merimbula are:
- Mckay Oysters (102 Arthur Kaine Dr, Pambula, Open 9am-5pm everyday), priced from 12 AUD per dozen for cocktail oysters, Take away.
- Broadway Oysters – Pambula Lake, Shed 1/52 Landing Rd, Broadwater, Open 9 am – 4 pm Mon to Sat. Priced from 17 AUD per dozen for cocktail oysters. Also offer tours of the Oyster Farm Tours and small group as well as private dining experiences to learn more about the Oysters and how to shuck them. Eat in and take away.
- Sunny’s Kiosk – 68 Lakewood Dr, Merimbula. Open 8 am – 2 pm Thu to Mon, changes seasonally. Located at the end of the iconic Merimbula Boardwalk and perched on a picturesque location on the lake. Eat in.
- The Oyster Barn / Merimbula Gourmet Oysters – 49 Oyster Trak, Millingandi, is Open 10 am – 3 pm Wed to Sat. Priced from 20 AUD per dozen. Eat in and take away.
Want to read more about Merimbula?
Learn more about Merimbula in my other informative posts on the Top Attractions in Merimbula and Things to do with Kids around Merimbula.
Need somewhere to stay in Merimbula? You can read my review of Coast Resort Merimbula HERE.
