South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation

Shoalhaven

Friendly people, a relaxed laid-back way of life, bountiful fresh produce and idyllic attractions make the Shoalhaven an irresistible combination as a holiday destination. We have it all, whether it be a much needed lifestyle-reviver you need or a holiday full of fun and activities, a romantic weekend escape or a family frolic, an adventure holiday or simply relaxed scenic drives to take in our breathtaking natural wonders.

Our temperate climate is comfortable all year round, with balmy sea breezes to cool in summer and clean crisp air for long country walks in winter. Rich in local culture, our many annual festivals have become landmarks on the getaway calendar.

The Shoalhaven is blessed with perhaps the most scenically beautiful landscapes on the east coast of Australia. Ranging from the lush rainforests of the Kangaroo Valley, to the many miles of exquisite beaches along its eastern boundary, it stretches from Berry in the north to Durres in the south.

Berry

Surrounded by rich dairy country at the foot of the coastal escarpment, Berry is a delightful village crammed with antique shops and cafés. Over the past decade ‘The Town of Trees' – on the Princes Highway, two hours south of Sydney – has become a favourite refuge for Sydneysiders seeking country air and slick cafés. On the first Sunday of each month, Berry hosts a country market – complete with farm animals, toe-tapping music, homemade preserves, and rustic iron and timber furniture.

Just a short drive to the east of Berry, Seven Mile Beach national park has a pristine arc of sand and a wealth of bird and animal life.

Nowra and surrounds

Nowra is the commercial hub of the Shoalhaven providing a smorgasbord of delightful shops cafes and restaurants. The Social centre of Nowra is the newly constructed Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre that host many visiting shows and performances by big name artists. The Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre can be seen on You Tube.

On the outskirts of Nowra, the Fleet Air Arm Museum has a wonderful display of military aircraft that date back to the early days of naval aviation.

Bundanon, on the Shoalhaven River, inland from Nowra, was the home of the celebrated painter Arthur Boyd for several years. He created some of his most provocative landscapes there, and on Sundays, the house and grounds, Boyd's studio and a collection of his work are open to the public. Bundanon itself was 'gifted' to the Nation by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd.

Kangaroo Valley

Surrounded by wonderful scenery, the historic village of Kangaroo Valley is set against the dark curtain of the escarpment. There are more than 20 walking trails in the area, from genteel strolls to rugged rambles through Morton National Park – and there is no more delightful drive than the Kangaroo Valley road, which leaves Berry on its southern outskirts and spirals into the hills behind the town.

Jervis Bay

Located on the southern shores of Jervis Bay, Hyams Beach has a lot going for it – from the caster-sugar whiteness of the sand and the sparkling clarity of the water to the Hyams Beach Store. As well as the vital necessities for a day at the beach – magazines, hats, beach toys – the café side of the store offers stylish and satisfying food and great coffee.

Sociable and playful, the dolphins that live within the sheltered embrace of Jervis Bay can often be seen displaying their 'aquabatic' skills close to shore – or even close to sea kayaks in the bay. Take a dolphin-viewing cruise from Huskisson and, between June and November, you may also see migrating whales.

Huskisson

At Huskisson, the Lady Denman Maritime Museum relates the fascinating history of Jervis Bay from the different perspectives of whalers, timber cutters and the local Aboriginal people. It's all here – shipwrecks, lighthouses, some outstanding examples of the boatbuilder's craft and the history of the bay's naval base. The highlight of the museum is the magnificently restored Lady Denman, a Huskisson-built timber ferry that served on Sydney Harbour for many years.

Milton and Ulladulla

The town of Milton is strung out along a ridge between the sea and the blue peaks of the Great Dividing Range. Over the past few years Milton has blossomed into a pocket-sized delight, blending smart cafés, boutiques and galleries with its farming roots.

At Ulladulla, the Princes Highway sweeps past the town's pretty harbour, where fishing trawlers shelter behind the breakwater. It's the perfect place to stop and grab some local fish and chips from the fishing co-op.

National Parks

Between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay, the wonderful Murramarang National Park offers coastal camping. At Pebbly Beach, you can get close to the friendly eastern grey kangaroos.

Straddling the Great Dividing Range inland from Nowra, Morton National Park is one of the State's largest and most spectacular national parks, a wonderland of rust-coloured sandstone cliffs, rainforest gullies, wildflower heaths and waterfalls. The park is a maze of sandstone plateaus dissected by deep river valleys, the largest of which is the Shoalhaven River and its tributaries.

Despite the rugged terrain, there are some easy walks, but experienced bushwalkers can tackle some of the tougher hikes in places such as Monolith Valley. At the south-eastern corner of Morton National Park, to the west of Ulladulla, Pigeon House Mountain is a local landmark. It is possible to climb to the top of the 720-m peak, but it's a tough scramble that involves ladders as you approach the summit.

Did you know?

Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay has one of the whitest sand beaches in the world. Point Perpendicular is the highest sea cliff on the east coast of Australia. Lieutenant James Cook named Pigeon House Mountain on 21 April 1770. In 1822 Alexander Berry settled at Coolangatta, the first European settlement on the South Coast.

Throughout the Shoalhaven we have colourful weekend markets, and on any given weekend there will be one to amble through, a popular pastime after a leisurely Sunday brunch. Our fresh produce is bountiful and locally farmed and harvested, including delectable seafood, market gardens producing top quality produce, wine, dairy produce, coffee and olive oil, all making a local dining experience one to remember. Accommodation options cover the full gamut from luxury retreats through to award winning bed and breakfasts, resorts, motels, caravan parks, rental apartments and lots of holiday cottages and cabins.

For those who haven't yet decided, it's worthwhile taking a closer look on www.shoalhavenholidays.com.au where you will find lots more on our many and varied attractions.

Our Shoalhaven welcomes you, your family and friends. Come, relax, stay a while, and most of all …. enjoy.