The majestic Nambucca River meanders quietly through the Nambucca Valley and meets the sea at a spectacular junction at Nambucca Heads. The valley is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the NSW coast and is the southern point of sub-tropical Australia. It reaches from Scotts Head in the south, Valla Beach in the north and the rainforests of the Great Dividing Range in the west. The main townships are Bowraville, Macksville, Nambucca heads, Scotts Head and Valla.

The original industries in the area were the farming of cedar and dairy farming. The cedar has mostly gone, and most of the dairy farms have been replaced by macadamia plantations. Beef, bananas, fish, oysters, macadamias have now become the main primary industries. You can also find honey, avocados, citrus, peas and beans, watermelons and other fruit and vegetables. Many roadside stores along the Pacific Highway stock this fresh produce.

On a recent visit to the valley, I was taken in by the beautiful coastline and the long stretches of sand. I managed to take long, uninterrupted walks along the beaches, drink in the views and eat like a woman possessed. I ate fresh, plump oysters from the Nambucca River, a variety of fresh caught fish, prime grade fed beef with local chutney and sauces, homemade fudge from Macksville, smoked chicken, fresh vegetables and fruit and nibbled on macadamias of all different flavours as I sipped my beer on the balcony, dreaming up what my next taste sensation would be. Here are a few of the things I cooked with the fresh produce of the valley.

Oysters wrapped in speck
1 dozen fresh oysters
250g speck
Worchester sauce
Beer

Method: Prise the oysters in half. Place a small slice of the smokehouse bacon on top of each oyster and add a dash of Worchester sauce. Heat the barbecue — place oyster shells on a low flame and close the lid for a few minutes. Take oysters from the barbecue and eat accompanied by a bottle or two or three of beer.

Nambucca Valley oysters
Any of the seafood supply stores can offer these oysters. They are delicious and plump and are well known in Sydney for their quality. Oyster 1, which is on the highway a few kilometres south of Nambucca, sell them as do other roadside stores in the area.

Speck
Andrew Andrews makes a range of fully smoked and cured products. Products include kangaroo, Juniper Hams, chicken, trout and speck. Ph: (02) 65695534.

Beer
You can't miss the signs on the highway at Macksville for the pub with no beer made famous in the song by Slim Dusty. They sell their own handcrafted beers — yummy!

Macadamia and stuffed fish wrapped in banana leaf
1 medium snapper
100g crushed macadamias
Drizzle of olive oil
1 bunch of fresh dill
Banana leaf

Method: Buy a fish already gutted and scaled. Mix together macadamia, oil and dill then place it inside the fish. Wrap the stuffed fish in banana leaf, fold into a parcel and hold together with tooth picks. Once barbecue is heated, place fish in barbecue close the lid and cook fish on low flame for 35-45 minutes. Serve with freshly steamed beans.

Snapper
There are a number of seafood outlets in the area. One of the oldest is Davis Seafood at 56 Riverside Drive, Nambucca Heads. The business sells a large variety of local seafood and has been running in the town for four generations! Ph: (02) 6568 6024

Macadamias
Macadamias from the valley are of a high quality and are processed at the Nambucca Macnuts processing plant in Macksville. You can purchase the nuts and their products from the plant at 77 Yarrawonga St, Macksville. Ph: (02) 6568 4210. W: www.macnuts.com

Bean salad
250g fresh beans
50g of crushed macadamia
Olive oil
5 cloves of garlic
Balsamic vinegar

Method: Blanch the beans by placing them in hot water for no longer than 3 minutes. Finely chop the garlic and mix it with a dash or oil, dash of balsamic and the macadamias. Combine the beans and garlic mixture. Serve with the fish either warm or chilled.

Beans
The valley grows great beans and they are available during bean season around the end and beginning of each year. Road side stalls sell them and they are so fresh that they can be eaten raw or blanched. The fresh garlic also grown in the area is great raw in this salad and gives it a great bite.

I came away from the trip relaxed, full of fresh air and good food. I even managed to pack a few things in my bag to bring home and taste another time.