Tea'Se Me Tea Emporium, Wollongong CBD

One of the more invigorating quick breakfasts I have had recently lately was at the Tea'Se Me Tea Emporium, along Keira Street in Wollongong CBD. I loved the bernaise sauce offered to accompany a bacon and egg toasted bagel special (image above) - it was absolutely delicious! The surroundings are homely and modern (picture below), with shelves of tea drinking contraptions, containers and variety.

Open weekdays from breakfast time till 5pm, and also for half a day on Saturdays, the emporium offers more than tea. There is a good selection of lunch snacks involving pide and more, with a good blend of cooking reminiscent of regional snacks and beach side practicality. There is the all day breakfast menu available. It is attractive for a gathering of mates as well as or the casual office crowd. To me it was a delightful discovery to have such a choice in contrast to the neighbouring Asian food outlets. This is recommended as a restful stop for shoppers visiting the nearby Crown Street pedestrian mall. The day I was there, there were youthful customers, family groups and those obvious tea lovers.

Dawn at Diggies, North Gong Beach, NSW

630am, on a Friday, is when there is a zen-like calm on North Gong Beach's Diggies Cafe and Restaurant. However, outside, as spring progresses, the sun is already up and running - and so are many nearby residents, cycling, running, power-walking, strolling or accompanying a trotting dog. As the light got more intense, the Tasman Sea remained steady. The staff at Diggies were already ready for the day and their first customers.

Nothing is as uplifting like a good new idea. I tried the Morning Sandwich (image above), as envisaged by Diggies - made up of fresh lettuce bites, juicy tomato slices, refreshing cuts of bacon, a tangy aroma of cheese and topped up with a deep fried omelette. I already felt like I was in the middle of a weekend - and my accompanying mates did too. We all felt the presence of the wood in Diggies at this time of day more than our previous times at lunch - before the crowds arrived, we felt how the layout and accessories provided flowed well with the time and tide of the beach outside. We savoured this magical moment in time.

Diggies, North Wollongong NSW

Diggies offers come-as-you-are entry. It is sited literally beside North Wollongong Beach and across the road from the nearby Novotel. You can feel the ocean breezes, the salt in the air and see the texture of grainy sand not far from your table. The menu changes according to winter and summer preferences. The cafe offers a fusion of styles -modern and traditional, Australian and Mediterranean, vegetarian and meat - but with a sense of creativity, passion and presentation. I love the drink concoctions -from Kissed to Little Tanaka - but what I enjoy most is the relaxed holiday ambiance -and looking out at those container ships queueing up to enter Port Kembla Harbour. Above image, grilled trout with a hard boiled organic egg.

As you would expect, fish and chips are a must (above, with the juice of the day, orange with mint and strawberry). Below, illustrations of a range of smoothies, frappies and other thirst quenching offers. You can choose to be seated on the out deck, inside a mirrored section or just be on canteen styled bar tops. There is also a selection of cakes and pastries, beers and wines, or mineral water.

My breakfast choice (below) of croquet with salmon, poached egg and Hollandaise sauce.

After a meal, you can run,cycle or walk down the user-friendly footpaths that lead one way to the Belmore Basin and Wollongong Harbour Lighthouse, or the other way to Stuart Park beaches, barbecue facilities and picnic grounds.

Diggies is at No 1, Cliff Road, North Wollongong, NSW.

An Early Start at North Wollongong

A side aspect of the surf club facilities building.

Stuart Park offers a rare mood as it awakens from night to day.

A view to the ocean and Wollongong Harbour's Lighthouses.

The Croquet Madame served as part of the autumn/winter menu at Diggies beach side cafe.

North Gong is in the midst of transition, from old to new. Apartments seen are along Cliff Road, whilst the past still stands as sentinel to changes on both ocean and land.

Morning tea offerings from Diggies.

The view towards Sydney and the north. The apparent hills in the background are part of the Illawarra escarpment.

(North Wollongong is ten minutes by car from my residence).