After a rough year, we recently found ourselves with an unexpected weekend free of kids sports, and decided we could all do with a couple of nights by the beach...

After an afternoon of researching eateries that offered gluten free options, and calling every single one of them to check for ingredients, cross contamination risks, and to ask if they use separate fryers, pots/pans and cooking utensils. I also scrolled the local gluten free and coeliac pages for recommendations, as well as the "Find Me GF" app.

Feeling confident, for the first time ever, I only packed fruit, breakfasts and snacks, and we planned to eat out for every meal. It was tricky, and a couple of places we planned to go to, had closed down, or changed hands (and no longer offered gluten free), but we made it work!

After leaving Sydney mid morning, we stopped at @gfeats_aus in Bellambi (just before Wollongong) for lunch. This is a favourite place of ours, and in good traffic, is only about 50 minutes from our place.

I usually bring an esky or cooler bag with us when we visit, as they have a great little freezer section, and a good range of pantry items. Their baked goods are also legendary! We picked up a little selection to have for dessert, and some donuts to snack on for the rest of the drive (as we wouldn't be stopping at the famous Berry donut van like we would have in our pre-gluten free days).

GF Eats is right near Bellambi beach, with a small picnic area, toilets, a playground and an ocean pool. It makes a great rest stop, or a day out by the beach.

We drove the rest of the way to Huskisson in one go, and checked into Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach.

After spending the afternoon at the beach, we picked up takeaway from Swell Pizza and Kebabs in Vincentia, to eat back in our cabin.

The staff at Swell were fantastic, all meats, sauces, salads and pizza toppings are gluten free by ingredient, and kept in their own area. The hot chips are gluten free and cooked in their own fryer. They do offer both gluten and gluten free pizza bases, but we chose to have the kebab snack packs as we felt they were the safer option, as the pizzas are all cooked in the same ovens. The boys both chose the beef snack packs, and added shredded cheese (garlic sauce for hubby, BBQ sauce for our boy), and my daughter and I both chose chicken snack packs with tomato sauce.

Please note, this business was up for sale while we were there, and so don't know if they will still offer gluten free options in the future.

On day two of our little getaway, we had breakfast in the cabin, visited the local markets, and then spent the morning exploring Jervis Bay National Park, visiting Green Patch and Bristol Point beaches.

As a child, my family used to camp at Green Patch multiple times a year, and I have many photos of myself in the hollow tree. Whenever we visit now, it's a tradition we keep. I love making memories here that my children will remember for years to come...

On the way back from the beach, we stopped at @thesaltycrabvincentia for fish and chips (and a burger with the lot for the teenager). This fish and chip shop offers both gluten and gluten free fish options. While they only have one type of battered fish available in a gluten free option, they have separate fryers for their gluten free fish, and for their hot chips. The staff were so knowledgeable and the teenager who served us was so confident in his cross contamination information, I felt really comfortable ordering.

My daughter and I both ordered a serve of gluten free fish and chips, my husband got normal battered fish with battered prawns (the special of the day), and my son got the burger with the lot and chips. The gluten free fish and chips came sealed in a bag, and was brought to us first, with the gluten items brought out separately so they wouldn't be mixed up. The two fish could easily be told apart, as the batter on the gluten free fish was lighter, but it was delicious, and suprisingly, cheaper than hubby's gluten fish and chips!

Please be aware the last two photos below, contain gluten.

After spending the afternoon playing tennis at the holiday park, and another wander along the beach, we ventured into Huskisson to pick up dinner. The boys both chose pizza from the pub, and us girls headed into @pastabuoy.

The staff were again very knowledgable, and were happy to confirm the pasta was cooked in separate water to the gluten pasta. All pasta is made fresh in house, and while they had a great range of options, only one was gluten free. I chose the pesto and added grilled chicken, and our girl chose her favourite - carbonara.

On our last day, we had a slow morning, before stopping to explore Berry on the way home.

We got hot chips from the IGA for our girl (they have gluten free chips and a separate fryer) and brunch from Hedgehogs Coffee Shop. While Hedgehogs don't have a specific gluten free menu, they are very coeliac aware, and went out of their way to cook for us in a separate area of the kitchen, with clean utensils and cookware. They even have a sticker on the front window, showing they're listed in the "gluten free eating directory" - a website I hadn't heard of before!

All in all, it was a great trip! Next time I would put the airfryer and toaster in the boot to make things a little easier (I don't love cooking in new kitchens, with existing appliances), but considering we ate out for most meals, it was a success!

Now to plan the next trip! 🏝️🐚⛱️

If you're in need of a little break of your own, this reel might inspire you to take your own gluten free road trip!

Jo x