The first ‘Open for Business’ video series in partnership with National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) has been released this week. The series is a collaboration between the NBRA and Tourism Australia and illustrates the recovery of communities impacted by the 2019/20 summer bushfires. A total of 15 videos will be released over the coming weeks, sharing stories from bushfire affected regions across Australia. The first video features Cobargo in NSW and can be viewed here.
Travel Guide to Cobargo
The historic village of Cobargo, on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, lost several shops in the summer bushfire of 2019, but there are plenty of businesses that were not damaged, and the locals are welcoming visitors back to this bustling village once again. To help this town get back on its feet, visitors can spend big when exploring the regions many galleries, boutiques and cafes.
Places to shop
The streets of Cobargo are full of surprises, with vintage stores, art galleries, and heritage buildings that house workshops and craftspeople who sell a range of unique goods.
Head to The Lazy Lizard Gallery (housed in a former service station) to see the work of local artists and pick-up handmade sculptures, pottery, woodwork, paintings and homewares.
Bandicoot Pottery, who lost their studio in the fires but rebuilt and reopened in 2020, is the place to pick up beautifully hand-crafted one-off pottery pieces.
Twig and Feather is the perfect place to pick a souvenir or gift for a loved one back home, with a unique collection of homewares, candles and gifts.
At Little Birdie Vintage, find vintage gems such as clothing and restored homewares.
Run by volunteers, the Cobargo Creators Gallery is open 7 days a week and showcases unique, locally handmade art and crafts. Here you can pick up gifts and get craft inspiration. Like-minded crafty individuals can also rummage through the ‘Art and Craft Bank’ out back, which is full of donated goods from the community for craft projects others might be working on.
Places to eat and drink
Cobargo has a bunch of cool little eateries such as the Working Dog Bakery (known for great pies) and Kitchenboys who serve up delicious dishes made from local produce.
Via Luna Tiny Cookery which is where the locals recommend picking up a sweet treat and getting coffee. In the courtyard of Via Luna Tiny Cookery you will find Valiant Coffee – a cute vintage coffee van serving up their own blend of freshly roasted coffee with freshly made creamy Jersey milk from the Tilba region. The hot chocolate and chai lattes here are a must, with spices and cocoa supplied by a local business in Ballart, Victoria.
For those looking to fill up their esky, the Cobargo General Store sources fruit and vegetables from local market gardens and stock locally made cheeses, salami, honey, jams, pickles, chutneys and olive oil. The home-made ice cream here is a must!
Cobargo Hotel is a classic Aussie pub and a local institution. Here find a great beer garden, regular live music and it’s always chockfull of locals – so the perfect place to head if you want an insider’s guide to the town.
Places to explore
Head to the Visitor Centre to get information on a great town walk, where you can learn more about the history and heritage of Cobargo.
West of Cobargo find the remote and rugged Wadbilliga National Park. With dramatic ancient granite cliffs, it’s popular with 4WD enthusiasts and campers who leave the park feeling like they’ve truly escaped into the great outdoors.
Cobargo Village is only a 15-minute drive inland from the popular seaside town of Bermagui, so is easily “drop-in-able” destination if you are coming down the coast.
Getting there and where to stay
From Sydney, the drive to Cobargo takes about 5h 30min, while the drive from Canberra is three hours. There are a number of places to stay in the surrounding Sapphire Coast region.
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