Lunch at The Adelaide

23 October 2026 / Story: Rose Smith; Photos: Rose Smith

Lunch at The Adelaide Hotel

 

20 October, 2026

 

Our day began with a little roadwork drama before we’d even reached our meeting point! The highway was being resealed, and Rose and Geoff had the good fortune to be the last car through before the sign changed from SLOW to STOP. Luck was certainly on their side, as northbound traffic was banked up for about two kilometres. Naturally, thoughts immediately turned to the return journey!

 

The other two MX-5s weren’t quite so fortunate. By the time Keith, Bob and Linda arrived at the Heritage Bakery in Milton, Rose and Geoff had almost finished their coffees. Clearly, the early birds were enjoying the benefits of their good fortune!

 

Eventually, five members gathered for morning tea before heading off towards our planned lunch destination, the Adelaide Hotel in Moruya. However, with the four far South Coast members having withdrawn from the run, our ever-resourceful Morning Tea Committee convened an emergency meeting. After careful consideration (and presumably a second look at the fuel gauge), the decision was made to redirect our convoy to Foxdog Distillery in Mogo, saving a little fuel by choosing a destination closer to home.

 

It was a particularly patriotic-looking convoy, with two NCs and one ND proudly representing the colours of red, white and blue. With beautiful blue skies and warm temperatures, it was the perfect day for a tops-down drive.

 

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much opportunity for a scenic detour. The highway was pretty much our only option, so off we went. To avoid the traffic around Batemans Bay and Batehaven, we turned towards the coast via Glenella Road. All was going well until Rose and Geoff’s Google Maps decided it had a mind of its own. After a brief roadside stop to reprograme the navigator, we managed to avoid its rather ambitious suggestion of a 360-degree roundabout loop and continued directly to Foxdog Distillery.