It’s best known for its sand and surf, but there are plenty of other reasons to visit the Shoalhaven shire in NSW. Shaney Hudson shares her top picks of where to eat, play and stay on a family camping getaway.
Moona Moona Creek Lagoon and Honeymoon Bay are excellent swimming spots for young families. Ulladulla Harbour Outer Beach and Sea Pool is another family secret with its calm waters and 50-metre ocean pool. And a visit to Hyams Beach – recorded in the Guinness Book of Record as having the whitest sand in the world – is not to be missed.
Water babies might prefer to grab a board and learn to surf at the Pam Burridge Surf Schools at Mollymook and Bendalong. Or head under the water with Dive Adventures Ulladulla (PADI) who offer scuba courses and daily dive charters to explore the abundant plant and animal life that calls Ulladulla’s ocean reefs home.
Adventurous families might like to head to Jamberoo Action Park for thrilling and spilling rides and attractions. And there’s something for little adventurers too, with the foam slides, tubes and ramps at Ulladulla’s Funland.
There are plenty of bushwalking opportunities around Shoalhaven, but the easiest on little feet is the White Sands walk in Jervis Bay National Park, which crosses Greenfield Beach, Chinamans Beach and returns inland through the Scribbly Gum track, a 2.5-kilometre loop. The walk is popular as it extends to Hyams Beach and allows plenty of opportunities for rock-hopping and splish-splashing along the way. From May to November keep one eye on the bay for whales, as humpbacks may be breaching out of the water.
Another favourite is the Granite Falls Walking Track in green and serene Morton National Park. Explore a bushland oasis of spotted gum forest, woodland and hanging swamps at Bomaderry Creek.
Take the Wreck Walk through Abrahams Bosom Reserve to spy the S.S Merimbula shipwreck.
At Pebbly and Murramarang beaches wildlife fans are likely to be joined on the sand by the local kangaroos. For guaranteed encounters, Shoalhaven Zoo offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with over 100 species of animals including big cats, monkeys and native wildlife including koalas and wombats.
If your little (and big) ones have a taste for adventure and love a challenge, head to Nowra, considered one of the best places in the world for rock climbing. Kids can get acquainted with heights and safety equipment at Trees Adventure, along the banks of the Shoalhaven River in Nowra Shoalhaven Park. Here, kids over four years old can test out six long courses featuring more than 70 challenges (including 13 flying foxes) and maybe even take a sneaky birds’-eye look into the animal enclosures at Shoalhaven Zoo, located next door.
Satiate your kid’s sweet tooth love at Berry’s The Treat Factory where you’ll find a huge a selection of Belgian chocolate and gourmet confectionery and chocolate-making workshops throughout the school holidays. Or head to the Kangaroo Valley Fudge House & Ice Creamery, for sweet treats made the old fashioned way.
Recognised among the best fish and chips in NSW two years in a row, Pelican Rocks Cafe has carved out a reputation not just for its fabulous seafood, but also its friendly service. Located in the quiet village of Greenwell Point, the cafe offers breakfast and lunch, while the kids’ menu features the usual favourites – calamari, chicken schnitzel and cheeseburgers with fries – and includes ice-cream. Book ahead if you plan to eat in or, if it’s crowded, grab take away and sit by the water surrounded by the opportunistic pelicans that gather by the local fishing boats.
No trip to the Shoalhaven would be complete without a stop at the legendary Berry Donut Van, which has been operating in the historic village for over 50 years. The iconic food truck offers a fairly humble and classic menu sure to please the kids. There are hot dogs and meat pies, milkshakes and slushies (along with coffee for mum and dad), but let’s face it: everyone is here for the cinnamon donuts. Cooked to order from a secret recipe, they’re served piping hot in paper bags (be wary of burnt fingertips) and are best eaten fresh on the street.
Located just a 10-minute walk from Huskisson village, Holiday Haven Huskisson Beach is one of those places that families discover and come back to year after year. There are shaded camping areas, powered ensuite sites and, for those who like a little comfort, fully self-contained holiday cabins right on the beachfront looking out across Jervis Bay to the heads. Along with the beach and popular lagoon at ‘Husky’, there is a pool and playground with a tennis court, barbecues and camp kitchen. If you’re keen to bring your four-legged family member along on holiday, the park also allows dogs by special arrangement.
A favourite with kids thanks to its giant rainbow jumping pillow, pool with splash pad and mini-golf, Holiday Haven Culburra Beach is located at the quieter end of one the Shoalhaven’s most popular beaches. The park offers two- and three-bedroom cabins (including a special-access cabin and spa cabins), powered ensuite sites and powered slab sites for campervans. Wi-Fi is also available. The park is a good choice for bushwalkers and families who like to fish, with a boat ramp located at the nearby Crookhaven River and great angling opportunities off the beach at Culburra. Don’t forget your tackle box.
There are 12 properties in the Holiday Haven Tourist Parks portfolio, found between Kiama and Batemans Bay, just a two-hour drive from Sydney and under three hours from Canberra. The parks are either beachfront, lakefront or riverfront, and have a range of accommodation styles including holiday cabins and powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites.
Pitch a tent in one of Booderee National Park’s family-friendly campgrounds.
This article originally appeared in Caravan & Camping with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Planning a holiday to the South Coast? You can read our complete family-friendly travel guide here.
Main image Little Hyams © Chris van Hove
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