Central Tilba food walk: Cheese factory, bakery and tastings

Taste your way through a National Trust village and hear how a remote dairy community built Australia's oldest cheese co-op

A guided walking tour of Central Tilba, a heritage-listed village on the Far South Coast, where you taste local cheese, baked goods and artisan foods at multiple stops while learning the area's dairy history and cultural significance. The walk covers roughly four to five hours, includes tastings equivalent to a full meal, and supports the local RFS with a community gift. Children from age five are welcome. The route is wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Central Tilba Slow Food Walk

• Begin culinary journey in Central Tilba
• Explore village and taste fudge and gin
• Pass Tilba General Store and visit Real Dairy
• Learn story of Miss Molly and her scones
• Start first tasting and hear village history
• Taste treats at Tilba Bakery
• Visit Tilba Real Cheese Factory and sample cheeses
• Conclude at Sweet Water Bar with optional gin tasting

The experience

Central Tilba sits on the Far South Coast as a working village, not a museum. The walk moves through its streets stopping at the Real Dairy (the original ABC Cheese Factory, the oldest cheese co-op in New South Wales), where you taste a range of cheeses made on-site, from aged and crumbly to soft and creamy. You also visit the Tilba Bakery to sample daily-made treats, stop for fudge and sweet tastings at a heritage building where the guide shares stories of early settlement, and end at the Sweet Water Bar and Saloon. The sequence is built so that tastings add up to a full meal rather than scattered bites.

What shapes the experience is the guide's focus on what locals call "Country": the deep connection between the land, the people who work it, and the food that comes from it. You'll hear about Miss Molly and her famous 600 scones, the role of the Tilba General Store in village life, and how the dairy heritage defines the region. The narrative runs through the whole walk, so the tastings are not just flavors but part of a story about how this particular place came to be. An optional gin or rum tasting is available at the final stop if you want to add that when you book.

The walk is moderate in physical demand. You're on your feet for the full four to five hours, moving between stops in the village. The route itself is wheelchair accessible, and the guide is a live English speaker who leads small groups. Dogs are welcome, and children from five years old can join. A gift supporting the local RFS is included.

What’s included

• Tastings at multiple stops equivalent to a full meal, including locally made cheese from the Real Dairy, baked goods from Tilba Bakery, fudge and sweet treats, and savory delights.
• a private live guide in English sharing the village's dairy heritage and cultural stories.
• a gift supporting the local RFS.
• access to heritage sites within the National Trust village.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDeparts at 11:00

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 16 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Tilba Walks Heritage Walking Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads small groups at a conversational pace, so you hear the full stories behind each stop without rushing. This suits anyone visiting Central Tilba for the first time who wants to understand how the village and its food culture actually work, rather than just tasting in isolation.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 16 years); Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Real Dairy and what will I taste there?

The Real Dairy is the original ABC Cheese Factory, the oldest cheese co-op in New South Wales, still operating in Central Tilba. You'll sample a range of cheeses made on-site, from sharp aged varieties to smooth soft cheeses, all produced from milk sourced locally.

How much walking is involved and what's the pace like?

The tour runs four to five hours and moves between stops throughout the village. You need at least a moderate level of fitness for the walking, though the route is wheelchair accessible and surfaces are even throughout.

Will there be enough food, or is this just small tastes?

The tastings across all stops (cheese, baked goods, fudge, savory and sweet items) add up to a full meal rather than scattered samples. You move through multiple producers and taste a selection at each one.

Can I add a gin or rum tasting to the walk?

Yes, an optional gin or rum tasting is available at the Sweet Water Bar and Saloon, the final stop. You can add this when you book online, and it concludes the walk before you have the afternoon free.