Gymea is a leafy suburb located in Southern Sydney. Gymea Village is a quaint little town tucked just off a busy road and boasts one of the oldest shopping strips in the Sutherland shire. With so many indoor shopping centres becoming the norm these days, a stroll through the outdoor atmosphere of Gymea Village is a welcomed alternative.
The convenient location of Gymea is that it is easily accessible by car or train, with the train station located right in the heart of Gymea Bay Road. There is also ample street parking in the village and south of the train line.
The aptly titled The Portuguese Bakery is without a doubt the place to start your day. Some of the best Portuguese tarts we have ever tried can be found here. Just be sure to get a sprinkle of cinnamon on top which really helps to bring out the caramelised custard flavour of the freshly baked, still slightly warm tarts.
Next, why not check out Apex Espresso Bar right next to The Portuguese Bakery and grab a coffee to compliment your tart. Apex serves a great selection of Campos Coffee as well as Sonoma bread and treats.
Walking along the shopping strip of retail, restaurants, cafes, bars and other services you’ll start to gain an appreciation for the cultural diversity of the area, as well as all the different food offerings made available.
A short 5-minute walk from the station is the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre. Named after Ben and Hazel Broadhurst, the couple bequeathed their estate to the Sutherland Shire council, in which the gallery and café opened in 2000, becoming a popular meeting place in southern Sydney.
The gallery hosts several exhibitions throughout the year, as well as artists in residence. Some of the upcoming exhibitions include Rona Green: Just hanging around, and ARTEXPRESS 2021. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the artists in residence program were not able to run over 2020, but there are strong plans to bring this back over the coming years.
After spending some time exploring the gallery space and surrounding landscaped gardens, visit the Hazelhust Café – a kitschy designed space serving breakfast and lunch.
Once you are finished at the café, head back up into the main street of Gymea, Gymea Bay Road where you will be able to explore more of the character Gymea has to offer.
If visiting closer to the evening, why not check out The Snug Bar, as the name suggests, a small intimate bar serving a selection of drinks and cocktails, and then head to one of the many Italian restaurants along the main strip, such as Caruso’s Italian, or The Italian Stallion.
Whether you are just heading out to some regular shopping or are after something a little more special, there are so many hidden gems to be found within the Gymea area, making it a great spot to venture out to at any time of the day or night.