Sapphire Coast: The best part of Australia you've never visited

There is a part of Australia that you've probably never visited – and it should be top of your bucket list. It's full of tropical-like beaches, pristine national parks and exceptional hospitality.

Welcome to the Sapphire Coast.

We've all heard of the Sunshine and Gold coasts, but this one is well off the beaten path. You'll find it in the southern reaches of New South Wales, almost on the border with Victoria. The small towns along this stunning coastline pulse with a vibrant dining scene, thanks to an abundance of fresh seafood.

From whale spotting to wineries, the Sapphire Coast is the perfect region to tag onto your next Sydney trip. By doing that, it gives you two very different holidays in one – and here's what you can look forward to

The Sapphire Coast hinterland is home to one of Australia's most romantic escapes. Currajong Retreat has a series of luxurious safari tents overlooking the Towamba River.

It's a landscape that's been sculpted over millions of years, with the enormous rock formations that line the river a testament to nature’s power and beauty.

The tents are made for any season: they’re equipped with cosy log burners for cooler winter nights and large airy windows – protected from bugs – for warm summer days.

While it’s essentially camping, you're not sacrificing comfort. There is a fully functioning bathroom, lots of treats awaiting your arrival and the highlight is a large outdoor bath overlooking the bush and river.

You'll have two home-cooked meals included in each night's stay. These are a celebration of local produce, created with love by the owners, and delivered right to your tent door. The retreat is located on an Angora goat farm, with tours of the property offered to guests.

One of the region's best-kept secrets is Potoroo Palace, a wildlife sanctuary that looks after injured and orphaned animals that can’t be released into the wild.

Here you'll find everything from koalas, dingoes, wombats and potoroos - the intriguing little animal the place is named after. These are small native marsupials, almost resembling a bandicoot. They play a critical role in the ecosystem as they help with the dispersal of fungi spores, which are essential for the health of the forests where they live.

The sanctuary is a non-profit, and you can pay a little extra to interact with some of the animals on specialised tours. It's here I met my biggest fear: snakes. A large diamond python gently wrapped itself around my shoulders, and all was going well until it decided to move its head towards mine. I quickly freaked out, and the keeper gently removed my slithering scarf.

One of the Sapphire Coast's most famous features can be found underwater: the Sydney Rock oyster. The town's estuary has been home to oyster farms since the 1920s. It’s an ideal location because of a strong tidal flow providing rich nutrients. It also means the oysters don't need to be treated for impurities after harvesting, as other locations require.

If you're an oyster-lover, booking a trip on Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour will be your number one priority.

The charismatic captain or one of his assistants – all expert oyster farmers – will take you through the entire farming process as you motor around the estuary on an oyster barge. You'll also get to try some freshly harvested oysters.

The Sapphire Coast is full of villages and towns that are best explored by car. Merimbula is an obvious first choice - not only because of its golden beaches, but charming township with boutique stores and excellent cafes.

Start with a wander around the 3.4-kilometre Merimbula Boardwalk, which follows the waterfront. You'll also pass the town's prized treasure: its oyster farms.

For a more adventurous walk, try the Tura Headland Walking Track, a short drive from town. Here you'll find plenty of spectacular lookouts along the golden coastline, including lots of places to spot whales. You'll have your best chance from September to late November. If you happen to find yourself in town during this time, take a cruise with Sapphire Coastal Adventures.The tour comes with a whale sighting guarantee and some tours have even witnessed bubble-net feeding.

This unforgettable spectacle involves a group of humpbacks blowing a “bubble net” to trap their prey before one of the whales comes up through the “net" with its mouth open, breaching the surface in one giant gulp.

Other must-visit towns include Pambula, with its colonial buildings; Eden with its stunning beaches and Tathra - with the only deep sea timber wharf on the east coast of Australia.

No visit to the Sapphire Coast is complete without sampling some of the local cuisine at a number of outstanding restaurants - all of which have a big focus on freshly sourced produce.

Valentina, located on Merimbula's lakefront, champions local seafood with a Mediterranean twist. Some must-try dishes include the locally caught fish of the day, octopus and oysters. You're encouraged to order a few dishes and share the delights.

Another popular choice is Wheelers, which also has some of the best local seafood. We witnessed a considerable number of locals devouring large plates of fish and chips, which sparked a bit of food envy. It also has lots of delicious non-seafood options, such as ricotta gnocchi and crispy-skinned pork belly.

Air New Zealand flies to Sydney from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Merimbula is a six-hour drive from Sydney. Alternatively, Qantas and Rex offer regular flights from Sydney, which take roughly an hour. See: ; ;

Currajong Retreat from A$770 (NZ$828) per night. See:

has a complete guide on what to do in Merimbula and the wider Sapphire Coast.

Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tour starts from A$70 for adults and A$30 for children. See:

Flying generates carbon emissions. To reduce your impact, consider other ways of travelling, amalgamate your trips, and when you need to fly, consider offsetting emissions.