Weekend away
Weekend away
By Country Style
A slice
of paradise
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Author: Evendots
The Oaks Ranch Serves Up A Slice Of Luxury On The NSW South Coast
The Oaks Ranch Serves Up A Slice Of Luxury On The NSW South Coast
By Tanisha Angel – Albert Review
The South Coast of New South Wales is known for its resplendent natural beauty. However, until recently, accommodation offerings comprised a scant handful of generic upmarket lodgings scattered among the numerous caravan parks, motels, and B&Bs. Fortunately, the region’s burgeoning hospitality scene has brought with it a slate of viable—and desirable—dwellings well suited to the luxury traveller. Leading the crop is The Oaks Ranch, a boutique luxury hotel in Mossy Point.
A dramatic tree-lined gravel driveway lends a sense of gravitas to one’s entry, with guest arrivals routinely witnessed by the hundreds of kangaroos—and a duo of donkeys—that roam the property. The result of a considered renovation that celebrates the classic arches, curves, exposed timber beams, and stucco cladding of the original Spanish Mission architecture, The Oaks Ranch leans into a Palm Springs meets Mediterranean aesthetic that befits its coastal surrounds.
Sitting on 300 acres, a neutral colour palette lets the impeccable landscaping provide the pops of colour, with potted cacti, native pottings, and bougainvilleas contributing to the vibe. The onsite magnesium swimming pool is surrounded by cabanas and sun loungers and overlooks the Deua Mountain Ranges, while elsewhere native plantings and cacti frame sleek whitewashed outdoor fire pits, with their clean lines and sleek forms showcasing a uniquely Australian take on desert modernism.
Despite its makeover, The Oaks Ranch doesn’t paint over its more rugged past. The name itself is a nod to the establishment’s past life as a working ranch and equestrian centre (prior to the construction of the main building, the site was home to a dairy farm), with the building’s former function evident in its elongated layout and abundant archways.
The lowdown: The Oaks Ranch
The hook; why stay at The Oaks Ranch?
Following a recent makeover, The Oaks Ranch offers a chic getaway amidst the bucolic surrounds of Mossy Point, which is ideally placed to enjoy both the beach and the bushland of NSW’s South Coast.
Tell us more
While not geographically far from the Princes Highway, The Oaks Ranch feels like a world of its own. Spread over 300 acres of rolling hills and landscaped gardens, The Oaks Ranch is a Spanish Mission-style boutique hotel that pays homage to its past as an equestrian centre while ushering in a new era of laidback luxury on the NSW South Coast.
How to get to The Oaks Ranch
The Oaks Ranch is located in Mossy Point, on the South Coast of New South Wales. It’s around a four-hour drive from Sydney or a two-hour drive from Canberra. For those flying in, it’s a mere 10-minute drive from Moruya Airport, which is a 40-minute flight from Sydney.
Rooms and suites
Interior architects Partridge Daniels are responsible for the revamp of the 14 guest suites housed within the main building, which is home to three room categories (superior bungalow, deluxe bungalow, and premium bungalow).
Certain suites boast a full-sized bathtub and a small covered patio that opens out onto the verandah area which captures stunning views of the Deua Mountain Ranges, while others feature small private courtyards with outdoor showers. All rooms feature a small kitchenette with a sink and tea (by The Tea Collective) and coffee (Nespresso machine) facilities, along with minibar snacks of Tony’s Chocolate and Yarra Valley chips.
The decor complements the Spanish Mission-style architecture while reflecting the coastal locale. Rooms take on an airy tone, with cream-toned Cultiver linen bedding and sheer curtains accented with earthy inflections of colour—think terracotta and forest green—informed by the surrounding Deua Mountain Ranges and the rolling hills around The Oaks Ranch.
The Oaks Ranch has also recently opened a three-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse that sleeps up to six people. Located away from the main building past the creek, the guesthouse is exclusively accessible via golf cart and offers a private respite for families, friends, and wedding parties. Prioritising indoor-outdoor living, the guesthouse features a fully equipped kitchen that opens out onto a wraparound deck, which also features an outdoor bath.
Bathroom products?
Bathroom products are by natural Australian brand Leif (one of our favourite brands to find at a hotel). Expect to find shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower, as well as hand wash and body lotion by the bathroom sink and hand wash in the kitchenette.
Comfort factor
Linens were soft on the skin and beds were plush, although the mattress in our room was depressed on one side which made for a slightly less-than-comfortable sleep — this was on the side closest to the window, so can potentially be attributed to people sitting on the bed and enjoying the view.
Temperature control in the room was good and we loved how spacious—not to mention stylish!—the bathrooms were. Thoughtful touches like blankets for the patio chairs added to the comfort level and were appreciated as the temperatures dropped come nightfall.
Food and drink
The Oak Ranch’s onsite restaurant Arlo offers daily breakfast and in-room dining for guests, and is open to the public for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.
Serving up modern Australian fare, there’s an emphasis on local and regionally sourced produce. Joyce’s Leaves is a simple yet elevated side that sees greens grown by the namesake local producer and sourced from the SAGE Farmers Markets (sustainable, agricultural, gardening, Eurobodalla) in Moruya enlivened with a lemon vinaigrette, while the Oven Baked Halloumi is topped with an assortment of herbs from The Oaks Ranch’s own herb garden just outside.
A slice
of paradise
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On The Road: How To Take A Luxurious South Coast Road Trip
On The Road: How To Take A Luxurious South Coast Road Trip
By Tanisha Angel – Albert Review
Further down the coast, The Oaks Ranch acts as a paragon of calm. Located on a former dairy farm, The Oaks Ranch offers a chic respite in Mossy Point. Home to 14 rooms (as well as a recently opened detached guesthouse), the newly redesigned main building (which enjoyed a past life as an equestrian centre) exudes Spanish Mission style, with an abundance of arches and a stucco-clad exterior providing the ideal backdrop for thoughtfully curated landscape design that includes potted cacti and bougainvilleas that bring a touch of the Mediterranean to regional New South Wales. Holding court on 300 acres of cultivated and native grounds on which kangaroos roam freely, amenities include a 9-hole golf course and a magnesium pool overlooking the sprawling landscape.
We spent two nights at The Oaks Ranch; read the full review here.
Price: from $275AUD/night
Address: 340 Old Mossy Point Rd, Mossy Point, NSW, Australia
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Former NSW jillaroo camp is now an oasis between beach and bush
Former NSW jillaroo camp is now an oasis between beach and bush
By Riley Wilson
Check in
Tucked behind a turnoff from the Princes Highway, behind a few acreage blocks in picturesque Mossy Point and down the end of a long gated driveway, The Oaks Ranch was extensively renovated in 2022. This Spanish Mission-style boutique hotel and signature magnesium pool are surrounded by meticulously curated gardens with the reno respecting the bones of the establishment, which haven’t changed since it was first built as a jillaroo camp (yes, really) in the 1970s.
Now, it’s a 14-room destination hotel (plus newly crafted three-bedroom guesthouse) with a relaxed coolness and high-design charm and a golf-course upgrade on the horizon. The village of Mossy Point – on the South Coast about four hours from Sydney – is a short drive away, while the popular Broulee with its choice of beaches is just around the corner.
The look
The interior renovation by the Sydney-based design firm Partridge Daniels is inspired by the surrounding native Australian bushland. White-stuccoed walls stand out from the landscape with muted interior furnishings and ochre-toned shades of green, brown and orange completing the calming mood. Locally made tiles feature in the large bathrooms and on the outdoor patios, which are sometimes visited by roaming roos. A frangipani tree presides over the dining patio.
The room
We’re in the ranch’s deluxe bungalow, which features a Cultiver linen-clad king bed and a wall-to-wall view of the Deua Mountain Ranges and the Tomaga River and its grassed terraces. There’s as much indoor space, almost, as outdoor space with various seating nooks. The kitchenette comes generously stocked with supplies from The Tea Collective, Nespresso coffee machine pods and an on-the-house snack station. The bathroom has dual showers and a plunge bath, sumptuous bath sheets (warmed by heated towel racks) and Cultiver waffle robes. There’s a widescreen TV and sound system, too, but guests may be too captivated by resident willie wagtails to need man-made entertainment.
Food + drink
Arlo, the hotel’s restaurant, sits at the heart of the ranch, with dining branching off the cosy reception area. The polished menu is founded on high-quality local produce – try to dine here at least once during a stay. Sip on a spicy pre-prandial margarita before dishes such as anchovies atop house-pickled carrot on toast or raw tuna with bonito flakes. Time it all to coincide with the setting sun over the festoon-lit pool. A tight breakfast menu is exclusively for in-house guests. Attentive staff, remembering an oat milk request for coffee, thoughtfully deliver a bottle, with muesli.
Out + about
Nearby Moruya hosts Saturday and Tuesday markets along the riverfront, and its cute bookstores and vintage shops provide further retail therapy. For outdoor exploration, try Broulee Beach, Shark Bay and Bengello Beach or the gorgeous Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, regenerating from the 2020 bushfires. Here, you can listen to whipbirds and watch kangaroos flit between blackened eucalypts before settling for tea at Mossy On Gardens cafe.
The verdict
The Oaks Ranch is an elevated oasis set between beach and bush, with meticulous detailing and exemplary service.
The details
Rooms start from $290 a night. The six-person guest house is $999 a night. Arlo is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and Wednesday to Saturday for dinner. See oaksranch.com.au
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★★½
Highlight
Having kangaroos and pink-breasted galahs as fellow guests on these meticulously maintained grounds.
Lowlight
It’s a bit of a hike from the car park to the rooms.
The writer visited as a guest of The Oaks Ranch.
A slice
of paradise
Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
Be their guest
Be their guest
By WHO magazine
A slice
of paradise
Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
Mossy Point’s The Oaks Ranch hotel announces opening of new six person guesthouse
Mossy Point’s The Oaks Ranch hotel
announces opening of new six person guesthouse
By Alana Seears – Out In Canberra
Mossy Point’s chic boutique hotel, The Oaks Ranch, has announced an extension to the 300-acre property’s accommodation offering, featuring a stunning three-bedroom Guesthouse.
Oozing with country coastal ambience, the spacious yet intimate home sleeps up to six guests with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, making it the perfect destination for families and groups of friends.
Luxurious in design from the inside out, the country house aesthetic seamlessly blends into the natural surroundings. Shown through the fully equipped kitchen that flows out to the wraparound deck, guests can enjoy breakfast or an alfresco lunch while looking out at panoramic views of the untouched wetlands, spotting a kangaroo or two. Further encouraging a nature-filled experience, an indulgent outdoor bath is at your disposal, as well as a firepit that acts as a central meeting spot for conversations as the day turns to dusk.
“More and more we are seeing growth in the generational travel market, with the launch of The Oak’s Ranch Guesthouse we can provide our guests with a unique experience. From a reconnecting family vacation to celebrating special occasions and group weekends away, the Guesthouse offers the perfect escape,” says General Manager, Josh Tyler.
Also apart of The Oaks Ranch, the 9-hole golf course, magnesium pool with sun lounges and cabanas, and signature restaurant, Arlo, offer an all-encompassing holiday experience. Showcasing the South Coast’s finest local produce, Arlo spills out to the patio and pool deck, inviting you to soak up those resort vibes while enjoying a seafood dining experience. And of course, a cocktail by the pool is also encouraged.
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Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
Oaks Ranch, Mossy Point, NSW
Review Hotel
Oaks Ranch, Mossy Point, NSW
By Riley Wilson – Sydney Morning Herald
A slice
of paradise
Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
Mossy Point: The NSW south coast’s best kept secret
Mossy Point: The NSW south coast’s best kept secret
By Celeste Mitchell – The Australian
May 05, 2023
Nestled between Bateman’s Bay and Narooma, this small NSW town is fast becoming a must visit.
It would be easy to miss Mossy Point on the NSW south coast. Blink and you could zip right by the sliver of a town as you cruise George Bass Drive on the way south from Batemans Bay. Cradled by the Tomaga River to the north and Candlagan Creek to the south, the hamlet sits along a coastline that has remained largely under the radar – unless you’re from Canberra.Its secret status might also be due to Google Maps’ failure to register some of its newer roads, as I realise on my drive to The Oaks Ranch. I end up on a gravel route, which quickly turns to dirt and ends with a locked gate. Mercifully, all is well after a call to reception and a shared moment with a kangaroo, watching as I lock the gate behind me.
I’ve come in on the old road, I’m told. “Wait until you see the main entrance,” the bubbly Jess tells me over the phone. I roll down the grand, tree-lined driveway, donkeys in a paddock to my right and golfers returning to their buggies on my left, as the Spanish Mission-style guesthouse comes into view.
“My boyfriend grew up in Moruya and used to come here for class trips and horse riding,” Jess tells me, pressing a welcome drink tinged with rosemary and lime into my hand. “It used to have purple walls and colourful bed sheets.”
Owners Lisa and Martin Cork saw the potential through the purple haze and worked with interior architects Partridge Daniels during the contemporary upgrade of 14 existing suites, reopening in September 2022. With its white stucco exterior, archways and cactuses-filled gardens, there’s more than a hint of Palm Springs retro. Zellige handmade tiles, relaxed furnishings and Cultiver linen and robes set a luxurious tone in the guestrooms, but it’s the warmth of the place that has me from the
turn of my heavy room key.
My pre-dinner coffee negroni, sipped by the magnesium pool, also helps to cinch the deal. I can see why general manager Josh Tyler, who grew up in nearby Malua Bay, is happy to be home. A Sliding Doors moment during Covid lockdowns saw him fly back from Bali, where he’d been executive chef at The Ungasan in Uluwatu. These days, he slips between the kitchen and tables of guests and
locals at the onsite restaurant, Arlo.
“There’s been such a great response from locals. I think there was room for something different,” he says, before recommending the Clyde River oysters, from just up the road. They are the highlight of a meal that stars tempura prawns atop nasturtium leaves from the kitchen garden, and soul-warming pumpkin agnolotti loaded with native pepper and chilli. With a masterplan that Tyler says is only about 10 per cent realised, the Corks are hoping to draw even more visitors to their Eurobodalla passion project.
There’s an upgrade to the Greg Norman- designed golf course on the way, along with more guestrooms and self-contained villas. But Mossy Point’s future is blossoming beyond the boundary of the 120ha property.
“It’s a black hole after Ulladulla – it’s like uncharted waters,” says staffer Meg the next morning in between making my coffee with local Guerrilla Roasters beans and drawing me a mud map of her favourite beaches. Having never been further south than Gerringong, I’m venturing into the great unknown.
A drizzly day stretches ahead as I pull up at the Mossy Point boat ramp, watching two kayakers paddle peacefully through the grey. A cute little boatshed sits on the water’s edge where Region X keeps locals caffeinated and loans kayaks to visitors keen to spot stingrays in the shallows.
A few hundred metres away, in the heritage-listed Old Mossy Point Shop, is something of an institution. Mossy On Pacific, known affectionately as “the Mossy”, is part cafe, part social hub. It’s slightly ramshackle and overwhelmingly homely, filled with books, magazines and works by local female artists. As Mossy Point has made it on to the map, owner Belinda Dorsett has embraced the
attention, expanding with two sister venues in recent years; one in Broulee, the other within the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden in nearby Mogo.
I slowly loop the town’s handful of streets and cross the Candlagan Creek bridge. Staff at Broulee Brewhouse are setting up for the afternoon. The boutique brewery opened last year but already feels an integral part of the town’s fabric. I start to get the sense that although nature is the headliner here, these up-and-coming support acts are nipping at its heels, creating an irresistible show.
“This area is very much up and coming,” says Yanna Dascarolis, when I pop in to check out The Isla, a motel she and a group of friends have revived 15 minutes north in Batehaven. “There’s a lot of action happening down south in Narooma with (Merivale boss) Justin Hemmes buying up everything, and being in between the Mollymook-Ulladulla vibe and Narooma, it’s fun to be part of it.”
On my return, I spy an impressive structure taking shape on a property in Mogo. When it opens in October, Foxdog Distillery will not only offer its own gin and whisky in a purpose-built shed, but a cafe, tours and blend-your-own-gin classes. It’s a family venture that’s been in the works for the past four years, born out of brainstorming sessions about what the region was missing.
“There was just such a shortage of options for tourists to do. We wanted an experience for them that wasn’t just going to the beach and the wildlife park,” co owner Kellie Plenty tells me.
It’s not just about bringing people in, but keeping more of their own around. Having moved away for boarding school and work opportunities as a youngster, Kellie is excited about the growth in the region, which includes 155km of mountain bike trails being built in Mogo State Forest this year. “The more amazing businesses and growth we get in this town, hopefully it means we can keep our youth here,” the mother-of-three says. “It’s such a beautiful, beautiful place. We’re so lucky.”
Back at The Oaks Ranch, sitting beside one of the fire pits while kangaroos nibble the grass nearby, I couldn’t agree more.
Celeste Mitchell was a guest of The Oaks Ranch.
A slice
of paradise
Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
SAGE Farmers Market
The Oaks Ranch:
A Spanish Mission Style Boutique Hotel On The NWS Coast
By Winnie Stubbs
The SAGE Farmers Market was born out of a demand for quality, local food and fresh produce.
The farmers market is a convenient weekly market for consumers to access locally grown or harvested food directly from local farmers, growers and producers under safe and controlled conditions. And it’s also fun to look through the stalls displaying local products and super fresh produce!
This community market is one of Eurobodalla’s most popular market events, and the SAGE farmers market is also one of Australia’s best.
SAGE Farmers Market has been twice awarded most outstanding farmers market by ABC’s Delicious magazine. It’s awarded not only for the authenticity and quality of fresh and homemade produce, but for the atmosphere of this charming community market.
Credit: Eurobodalla Coast Tourism
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Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.
We are back open
We are back open
We can’t wait to see you!
We are back open and taking bookings for our accommodation and restaurant!!
Come for a weekend away or a glass of wine with friends and a view…
A slice
of paradise
Keep an eye on what people have been saying about us, our latest news and what’s happening in our community.