If you are looking for a unique way to discover Jervis Bay, try this: a 10-course degustation with carefully selected paired drinks, spread at intervals along the powdery white sands.
Billed as a Coastal Forage, this has to be the ultimate moving feast in one of the best locations on earth. Each of the 10 stations will feature local chefs and local produce, as much as possible. From fresh seafood to mouth-watering bbq, the trail promises new culinary delights every 500 metres or so.
We spoke to organiser Amanda Fry from Experience Nature, who has run similar events in Kangaroo Valley in the past and is excited to bring the concept to a new location. While the event is not laid out in minute detail – Amanda believes in the pleasure of the reveal for guests as they make their way along the course – she has let us in on a few tidbits to whet the appetite.
The experience begins at the Moona Moona Creek reserve, where small groups start off in their time slot along a 2-3 hour journey that takes in the sands and pathways to Plantation Point. The groups of up to 20 guests have staggered start times to ensure the food stations can serve each small group with the freshness and attention you would expect in a restaurant, albeit in a much more unusual environment.
Amanda says the journey is designed to introduce guests to new flavours and new ideas, with each of the 10 stations featuring a combination of partners from food and beverage to create the “course”.
“Essentially it’s a walking lunch,” says Amanda. “Because of the time of year, there will be a combination of hot and cold dishes, some stations have bbqs. The groups of 20 are staggered so the chefs batch cook as they go.” The 10 stations are around 500m apart, over a total distance of 8km.
There will be Appellation oysters freshly shucked, matched with a glass of sparkling, and dishes from big names in the region such as Bangalay Dining, Old Salt Distillery and Blackhen Dining.
“We spend a lot of time matching and designing the menu,” says Amanda. “We don’t share the full menu till the guests arrive on the day. It’s nice for them to have a reveal.”
As well as the feast, there are other little touches that will make this a special experience. Boats from Jervis Bay Wild will be waiting at the “finish line” at Plantation Point to ferry diners back to the Moona Moona Creek carpark.
Some other locals are hopping on board for the occasion, such as the glamping experts, Paperbark Camp who are offering an accommodation special for the weekend (coupon FORAGELUNCH).
Tickets for Saturday 14 September are now on sale, and tickets for Sunday 15 September will follow, $225pp. Start times are every 15 minutes from 10am-3pm.
