Friday 22 November: This weekend there’s so much to do in Jervis Bay, and we have stacks of ideas for you. But first, some good news for frustrated soft plastics hoarders. In a new trial for the South Coast, Shoalhaven will have a drop-off day for soft plastics in February, 12 February 2025 at two locations, Ulladulla waste depot and Nowra waste depot, both 8am-4pm. So don’t lose heart, keep stuffing those soft plastics into a sack!
Spirited Festival
Enjoy fine spirits, great food and casual party atmosphere at the Spirits of Jervis Bay Festival this Saturday 23 November in Huskisson.
Scroll right down for our resident gin expert’s recommendations for must-try gins on the day!
From midday till 8pm, White Sands Park next to the Husky Pub will transform into a celebration of hand crafted spirits of the South Coast – think gin, whiskey, rum and vodka. Paired with culinary creations, cocktail demonstrations, live music and great weather (the forecast is pretty good), it’s a great way to spend time with friends. We will be there, and so will our staff writer, Ben and his delicious chutneys, jams and spicy salts – look for the White Feather stall. Take advantage of a free shuttle bus, running between Nowra bus terminal stand 1 and the event from 10am-10pm, plus evening drop offs to Vincentia and Sanctuary Point. Festival tickets $20+bf available online.
Vincentia Community Day
A showcase of the seaside village is on this Sunday 24 November at the Burton Street shopping village. Vincentia Connect is an initiative of the community group, Vincentia Matters, aimed at bringing the local community together to browse around 30 stalls, hear interesting and entertaining talks, meet local artists in a pop-up gallery, plus loads of live music and activities for the kids, 11am-4pm. Read more about program for the day in our story.
Van Gogh Doco
Husky Pictures presents Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers, a documentary exploring the artist’s years in the south of France, where he revolutionised his style. Van Gogh became consumed with a passion for storytelling in his art, turning the world around him into vibrant, idealised spaces and symbolic characters. Tickets at the box office in the foyer, showing this Sunday 24 November and Wednesday 27 November. Find out what else is showing at our local movie house.
Markets of the South Coast
The Nowra Showground Market is on Saturday 23 November in the pavilion from 8am-1.30pm, with plenty of handmade and homegrown goodies for sale.
The Nowra CWA is hosting an indoor market on Saturday as well, at 39 Berry Street Nowra, 8am-1pm, and there is bound to be a scone or two to be had. Support this great organisation helping women and kids in regional and rural Australia.
The Berry Village Markets happens on Sunday 24 November at the Berry Bowlo, 10am-3pm, always packed with wonderful stalls, from fresh produce to crafts and everything in between.
Jaden Spence at Sushi Martini Club
Sushi Martini Club, in Jervis Bay Coffee Co on Owen Street Huskisson, is pumping up your Friday nights with a sensational program of live music for the summer. This Friday 22 November, it’s the smooth duo of Jaden Spence and Tucu, with uplifting lyrics and rhythmic, atmospheric soundscapes. Perfectly paired with chef Egi’s sushi – stay tuned for some exciting menu changes from the Blue Nami chef next week.
Bottomless Pasta
Chef Nitesh at Pasta Buoy has tempted our tastebuds with a preview of this Sunday’s Bottomless Brunch, $89pp. This is a brunch experience that’s bursting with flavour, flair and fun on the shores of Jervis Bay in Huskisson.
It starts with a whipped ricotta topping on a tomato/prosciutto bruschetta finished with a dusting of sun-dried tomato powder, and it just keeps getting better. Their Alla Vodka sauce is pure indulgence and the pasta bowl is topped with gooey burrata and crunchy pangrattato. Sweeten the deal with a crème brulee infused with fresh vanilla and crowned with a medley of berries. The caramelised sugar topping? It’s the perfect crack to end your Sunday feast on a high note.
Pair all this with bottomless Vodka Cosmo and Capriosca drinks and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a brunch to remember. Whether it’s a catch-up with friends, a celebration, or just because.
Wednesday Special: If you can’t get enough pasta – and honestly, who can? – then Pasta Buoy’s $15 Wednesday special is for you, from 3-8pm and three to choose from. Take the night off.
Sunday Sessions
So much wonderful live music around this Sunday 24 November! As well as two stages at Vincentia’s community day featuring local acts all day, here’s some more great ideas where you can sit back with a drink and enjoy the afternoon.
Cambewarra Estate in Bangalee is a picturesque winery, restaurant, art gallery and host of Taylah Larsen, a vibrant young local singer songwriter who mixes styles including pop, rock, country, R&B, jazz and blues with her powerful vocals. Book a table for lunch and hear Taylah from 12-3pm.
Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla’s Sunday session at lunchtime will feature All the Fuss in the Wine Garden. This local 5-piece is popular for their neo-soul, funk and blues grooves.
Jervis Bay Brewing Co in Huskisson industrial zone puts on fabulous afternoon Sunday sessions, and singer songwriter Ness Quinn is hands-down one of the favourites.
Bannisters Pavilion rooftop bar in Mollymook this Sunday from 5pm, listen to Jacob Woods and soak up the coastal vibes of this gorgeous bar.
Flamin Galah in the Huskisson industrial zone is hosting the sensational Martini Henrys, playing live from 5.30pm. The self-proclaimed ‘alternative acoustic duo’ will be the perfect accompaniment to a new, limited release Earl Grey Lemon Sour.
Women’s Art on Show
Meroogal – the historic home in Nowra that was owned by four generations of women from the same family – is open for tours including the 39 works in the Women’s Art Prize that was announced recently. Book a free tour online, they run on the hour.
Next Weekend
Nature & Nurture: Music for the Soul is a concert performed by the Milton Ulladulla String Orchestra (aka MUSO) on Sunday 1 December at the Ulladulla Civic Centre at 3pm. Hear these talented local musicians in an exciting program including the Toy Symphony – featuring the musical sounds of birds and frogs – and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. Tickets are by donation online.
Coal Coast Record Fair comes to Jervis Bay Brewing Co next Saturday 30 November from midday to 4.30pm. Crate-dig through thousands of new, old, collectable and obscure vinyl records from all genres, rock, pop, hip hop, soul, funk, metal, electronic. Plus great food and drinks, as you expect at this Huskisson industrial zone favourite.
Ben’s Must-try Gin Recommendations at the Spirits of Jervis Bay
Saturday at White Sands Park is shaping up to be another spectacular event put on by the team at Huskisson Hotel for the Spirits of Jervis Bay Festival.
The festival, running from 12-8pm, is bringing together some of the best local and slightly further afield distilleries in one location. The Shoalhaven is represented by all three local distilleries, Old Salt, Tara and Jervis Bay Distilling. You can read about Old Salt and Tara by clicking here. For just $20 entry you can enjoy a plethora of distilled beverage choices with tasters, cocktails and takeaway bottle options. With 16 distilleries on show, this one of the most concentrated gatherings of some of the most skillful artisans in distilled drinks in one location.
The must try gins from our local area are:
Old Salt Classic Gin
This is Terry and Michelle’s twist on a contemporary London dry style with a big bold hit of the juniper balanced out by lavender grown in the restaurant’s own garden!
Tara Blooming Gin
The stunning rich red hue of this liquid comes from fresh rhubarb sourced and grown specifically for this special drop. You will get back palette notes of sweet strawberry and balanced beautifully by the tartness you come to expect from rhubarb.
Jervis Bay Distilling Coastal Gin
Combining the quintessential gin flavours from juniper with coastal botanicals of salt bush and oyster shell. Don’t knock the oyster shell in a gin until you try it! It works three ways, it adds a subtle saltiness from its time in the ocean, but the calcium rich shells provide a creamier mouthfeel on the palette making it a truly unique experience, as well as using a by-product to make something special – something that this writer enjoys doing through the White Feather brand.
Other must try gins at the festival include the ‘Five Islands’ tea infused gin by South Coast Distillery, the ‘Fig Gin’ by Banks and Solander and the ‘Christmas Gin’ by Unexpected Guest.
It’s not all gin (fun) and games. There are some seriously good food trucks popping up to support the event. You know when Huskisson Hotel puts on an event, they pull out all the stops. There will be delicious pizza from local legends Peter and Eva. Pasta Buoy are also there with a 1kg pasta challenge that is sure to test the stomach, not one for the faint hearted. Espresso Boy doughnuts will also be providing some of the sweet treat offerings. Jervis Bay Coffee Co will be there serving their top notch coffee. There are other cuisines to enjoy such as smoked BBQ from Phantom BBQ, burgers, dumplings and Indonesian cuisine. There is something for every taste.
To top it off there is live music all day to keep that vibe going and allow you to relax in the beautiful surrounds of the place we love to live in! Plus there is a chance for education! That’s right, you could learn something if you aren’t careful by attending some of the masterclasses that are on offer!
Ben from Tara Distillery is doing a history and demonstration masterclass. He has an amazing working
knowledge of the history of distilling in the Shoalhaven Region. Ben is an extremely engaging
speaker and his passion for the topic shines through.
Jervis Bay Distilling Co are also doing a masterclass. If you follow their social media, you will know they are always creating cocktails that showcase their excellent gin and vodka range. This is the best way to get tips on how to jazz up your weekend beverage game.
The espresso martini is a modern classic, so a masterclass on the perfect espresso martini is a no brainer in this setting and who better than Jervis Bay Coffee Co to show us how to make one!
Other entertainment on the day includes lawn games, mini-golf and a demonstration by South Coast Tipis. Bring a picnic blanket, make a base on the grass and slowly sample all the amazing options, and maybe a bottle to take home!
– Ben Weldon
