Why Rick Stein calls this corner of Australia his second home

We explore a little pocket of the NSW South Coast, perfect for long weekends, through the lens of this legendary chef – and look to him for inspiration for eating around the region.

Mollymook, on the NSW South Coast is a haven of natural beauty and fresh seafood.

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Rick Stein's Long Weekends

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The sparkling sapphire ocean crashes against dark cliffs overhanging with lush rainforest… a few minutes inland, you are met with rolling hills of farmland dotted with peacefully grazing cattle… the atmosphere is suffused with the fragrance of frangipani and a slower island-time pace, and you’re never too far from a friendly smile…

The South Coast is Sydney’s favourite long weekend getaway for good reason, but within the 400km+ length of this coastal stretch, there is a little slice of paradise that stands out as extra special.

The unassuming little town of Mollymook, and the surrounding region, is perhaps New South Wales’ best (or worst?) kept secret, punching well above its weight not just with its spectacular seafront and natural attractions, but its exceptional dining scene.

In fact, celebrated international chef, cookbook author and TV host Rick Stein has made this corner of the world his second home, coming back here time after time not just to look after his eponymous restaurant, but also to enjoy the varied culinary riches of the region.

Rick Stein considers Australia his second home. Credit: Lean Timms

Of course, top of the list of the region’s dining options would be the lauded Rick Stein at Mollymook – a restaurant that pays homage to Stein’s enduring passion for fresh seafood with predominantly locally sourced produce treated with simplicity and respect.

It is, after all, next door to Ulladulla, one of the most important fishing harbours in the region, where most of the seafood is sourced from. In fact, local seafood supplier Souest Seafoods supplies not only to Stein's restaurants, but also to some of Australia's best restaurants and most discerning chefs, including Josh Niland.

With classic decor featuring marine-inspired accents and curated art, a meal here feasting on freshly shucked oysters, grilled Ulladulla snapper or a Sri Lankan curry of swordfish from nearby Bermagui, feels special for all the right reasons. (And yes, Stein likes to dine at his own restaurant when is in town).

Rick Stein's eponymous restaurant at Bannisters hotels showcase hyper-local seafood.

“What I enjoy most in Mollymook and in Port Stephens [where Stein has his other restaurant at a sister hotel] is using the local fish. It's just the pleasure of…for example, in the winter, having small snapper in Mollymook just locally line-caught virtually from small boats off of the coast, for example, or the amazing variety of Sydney rock oysters…,” Stein enthuses to SBS.

“I think what makes Australian seafood so special is the sheer variety of it. There are so many different species. Also the fact that it's slightly different from the seafood which I'm used to cooking back in the UK,” he says.

Where else to eat in Mollymook, NSW

For a slightly different kind of evening, head to trendy restaurant Gwylo, which serves up Asian street food-style dishes and creative cocktails, in an atmospheric space. Inspired by highly regarded local chef Matt Upton’s time working in kitchens in Asia (where he was nicknamed Gwai-lo, hence the name of the restaurant) the menu features local snapper, prawn and meat sourced from nearby farms, given serious flavour upgrades with house-made sauces and condiments.

Offering Asian-inspired food, Gwylo is one of Rick Stein's favourite haunts in the South Coast.

The produce doesn’t get more local than at Milkhaus – another firm favourite – where almost everything on the menu comes from the onsite regenerative garden. In this shabby chic cafe housed in a former cheese factory, cafe classics are given a creative, Nordic-inspired, seasonally-led and thoughtful twist – think eggs and sourdough but with braised leek, beans and wilted greens; or sprouting charred broccolini.

The sprawling Milkhaus campus is also home to a retail ‘barn’ where likeminded local brands can be found, as well as a self-catered accommodation option.

With a similar veg-forward approach, Pilgrim’s Cafe in Milton, a neighbouring town, is the place to stop for a quick coffee or meal while browsing through the charming town. Something of a local institution, their fully vegetarian burgers, toasties and bliss bowls will convert even the most committed of meat-eaters.

What makes Australian seafood so special is the sheer variety of it – there are so many different species.

Rick Stein

While eating can very well be the only activity on a holiday, in our books, when it comes to what to do in Mollymook, the sensational beaches and bushland ensure there are plenty of options to work the food off.

It’s easy to see the appeal of an idyllic place like this. Here, the beaches, bushland, cafes, everything seems to take on a Ken-Done like hue of a quintessentially Australian landscape, just more vivid.

Mollymook is the sort of place where people love keep coming back to.

And yet, for Rick Stein, it evokes a sense of home. “This is the sort of place I understand, funnily enough, because it sort of reminded me in some ways of Padstow in Cornwall in the UK, where I come from, simply because it was a place where the same sort of people go on holiday year after year, both in Padstow and Mollymook,” says Stein. “I could see the similarities and I think that’s why I just love going there.”

Where to stay

To really experience this region through the Rick Stein lens, you can book in for a stay at Rick’s Beach House (literally where he stays when he is here, which is also available for holiday rentals). With an enviable position at the top of the headland, with the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs providing the soundtrack to your stay, the enormous house (it sleeps 16) oozes relaxed, understated luxury with coastal-inspired decor, a multitude of outdoor spaces, and a designer kitchen that Stein loves cooking in. You could also opt to stay at Bannisters by the Sea, to enjoy oceanfront luxe, or nearby Bannisters Pavilion, which is home to a vibe-y rooftop restaurant where the locals come to play on the weekends.

The writer was a guest of Bannisters Hotels.