This South Coast haven has beaches, mountains, and rivers on its doorstep.
The picturesque coastal village of Shoalhaven Heads might be one of New South Wales’s most underrated getaways. Perched at the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, looking out across Berry’s Bay, it’s hemmed in by the forested peak of Mount Coolangatta and the sand dunes of Seven Mile Beach National Park. Once you’ve enjoyed surfing, kitesurfing, or horseback riding along the beach, go wine tasting at the Coolangatta Estate, sample oysters fresh from the Shoalhaven River estuary, or try fishing along the river. You can also ride the car ferry across Berry’s Canal to go bird-watching at Comerong Island Nature Reserve, or take a day trip to Jervis Bay or Budderoo National Parks. Campers have a wide variety of options in Shoalhaven Heads and nearby towns like Gerroa and Culburra Beach. Check into a caravan park or holiday park, snag a quiet spot at local Hipcamp, or rent a cozy cabin or glampsite.