Open weekdays, 10 til 4. Walk-ins welcome. Oysters shucked the morning you eat them, with a glass of Bend Vineyard Riesling or a Milton sparkling rose, looking straight out over Great Oyster Bay.
Fifteen minutes north of Swansea, on the way to Coles Bay. Picnic tables on the lawn, a small caravan-style ordering counter, the sound of the bay behind you, the smell of salt air, and Cassie at the till.
Pacific silvers all year round. Native Angasi golds in the four cooler months. Shucked an hour ago -- or shuck them yourself, if you'd rather, with a glove and a knife and a quiet table.
Prawn and capsicum, oyster and bacon (Kilpatrick), scallop and bacon. Take a camper oven to your table and cook them yourself. Ten dollars a skewer.
Bend Vineyard Riesling. Freycinet Vineyard Rose. Milton Vineyard sparkling. From twelve dollars a glass. The wines come from neighbours within thirty minutes of the shack.
Two hundred and twenty-five photos uploaded by visitors to TripAdvisor. Below, a small selection. The reviews use phrases like "unmissable," "worth the drive," "best oysters of my life," and "the golds are truly divine."
"A dozen oysters, a corona and a table to sit and know the world is going by.....somewhere. Oysters are so fresh and so delicious. Loved the little BBQ to take up to the tables and cook kebabs. Highly recommend."
"This little gem is definitely worth the drive out to Dolphin Sands. We tried the gold and silver oysters -- my favourite was the silver. We had the skewers, prawn, oyster and scallop, all delicious. We left with a purchase of their awesome Worcestershire sauce and their house-made sweet chilli sauce and an apron to remember our experience."
"If you are an oyster lover you will enjoy this location. Take the drive to the Oyster Shack home base and select from a range of freshly shucked or 'open yourself' along with other offerings. The setup may be rustic but the products and service are top rate."
For groups of six to thirty, we run guided oyster tours of the farm itself -- a walk along the racks, a shucking lesson, and a tasting flight of the silvers and golds. By appointment.
A guided one-hour experience on the farm. The Melrose family walks you through the oyster's life from spat to plate, takes you out to the racks, and finishes with a shucking lesson and tasting of the silvers and the golds (in season).
Bookings via Rezdy, or call the shack.
Birthdays, anniversaries, intimate gatherings, wedding parties -- the shack is available for private bookings outside of regular hours. Catering is direct from the bay; the wine list is local; the view is included.
Email admin@melshelloysters.com.au for a custom proposal.
For visitors making a weekend of it, Sand Shacks Dolphin Sands is a short walk from the shack. Quiet, comfortable, close to Nine Mile Beach, with the bay in earshot.
It's the kind of place where you have your second dozen for dinner with a sparkling rose, walk home along the beach, and come back for the third dozen in the morning before the drive back to Hobart.
No bookings needed for the cellar door — just turn up. The picnic tables are first-in, best dressed. For tours, group bookings, weddings or any larger party, drop us a line and Cassie will sort you out.