Bega

Bega is a small town in the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. It's best known as the home of dairy giant Bega Group, which processes well over 1 billion litres of milk every year into cheese and every other dairy product imaginable and owns numerous brands including Vegemite.

The main way to get to Bega is by car, as other forms of transport don't go this far south.

From Sydney, head south on the M1 (which turns into A1), and head down for about 6 hours.

From Canberra, head south on the B23 Monaro Highway, and then turn left onto the B72 Snowy Mountains Highway. Keep descending, and then you'll hit Bega.

• 🌍 Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, 13/11 Lagoon St, ☏ +61 2 6491 7762. A small, rather underwhelming museum containing exhibits of Bega's cheese and dairy history, mostly in the form of rustic equipment with informative labels like "Baltic Separator". There is a cafe and a cheese tasting area where you can try a range of cheeses that Bega offers. Unfortunately there are no factory tours showing how the cheese is made. 
• Bega Pioneers Museum, 87 Bega St, ☏ +61 2 6492 1453. 

• 🌍 Bega Thai Restaurant, 42 Church St, ☏ +61 2 6492 6756. (updated Sep 2021)

• Bega Valley Backpackers, Princes Highway (just south of the Bega River bridge as you come into Bega from the north - take a hard left turn after coming south over the bridge), ☏ +61 2 6492 3103. A country hostel made of mud-bricks and with a casual air. Traffic noise from the highway might annoy light sleepers a little, so rooms on the south side are preferable. Discount to hostel card holders. (updated Jul 2021)
• Bega Downs Motor Inn, 8 High St, ☏ +61 2 6492 2944. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. (updated Jul 2021)