For over 25 years, the Hutchings family has been sharing their magical home among the trees at Paperbark Camp with adventurous and romantic travelers alike. We had the most beautiful weekend stay here - all about slowing down and soaking in the beauty of the natural surroundings. Everything about Paperbark flawlessly blended luxury, sustainability, and thoughtful hospitality.

It was a Friday afternoon when we bade farewell to the hustle and noise of Sydney, jumped in the car, and drove two and a half hours south to Jervis Bay - road trip tunes in our ears and coastal air in our lungs. When we arrived at Paperbark Camp, we were greeted by our hosts at The Gunyah (an Aboriginal word for ‘meeting place’), an amazing sunlit space built among the treetops housing the reception desk, dining room, and chef’s kitchen, outdoor bar area, fireplace. and lounge space. The Gunyah was located at the heart of Paperbark Camp, with winding paths leading outwards to the vegetable garden, creek, walking trails and individual tents.

Our excitement only grew when we were shown our deluxe tent, a stunning African safari-style solar-powered tent complete with all the luxury comforts of a king bed, cosy linen and robes, polished hardwood floors, a private open-air ensuite with a bathtub looking straight out onto the bush, deck lounges and even built-in heating for the cool evening change. It was so special to be nestled so closely between the soaring paperbark trees, while also only a stone’s throw away from the glistening white sand beaches of the bay. Each morning, we woke up to birdsong and the gentle sway of the eucalypts in the breeze. We could’ve easily spent hours simply lounging around in the sun at our tent, but we knew we wanted to make the most of all the outdoor adventures nearby.

Over the weekend, we took the bikes out for a spin and also went for leisurely walks along the various bush trails marked out on the campgrounds. We also loved how a blackboard at The Gunyah was updated daily with the weather forecast and a list of a few suggested activities to help us make up our minds about what we wanted to do each day. If we had more time, and if it was warmer, we would’ve loved to have taken the complimentary stand-up paddleboards and kayaks out for an afternoon on the creek too.

During our stay, we ventured out to Huskisson Beach and spent a gorgeous afternoon lying on the sun-drenched white sand and taking ocean dips in the crystal blue. We couldn’t help but treat ourselves to some cheeky fish and chips and a spot of shopping along Owen Street before heading back to camp. When the evening chill set in, we loved spending time curled by the fireplace at The Gunyah, cup of tea or glass of wine in hand, immersed in a book or battling it out in a game of chess or Scrabble.

Our stay included a gloriously indulgent breakfast and three-course dinner at The Gunyah each day, with every dish thoughtfully curated and executed by the in-house chef in a celebration of seasonal produce and native ingredients. To take one of our dinners as an example, we have to tell you that we were thinking about the kingfish ceviche, beef short rib and pepperberry panna cotta long after we wandered back to our tent in a warm and sleepy daze under the stars!

The lovely folks at Paperbark had truly thought of everything – from the thermos of hot water delivered to our tent each morning for tea and the lemon myrtle-scented bathroom products, to the freshly baked cakes provided for afternoon tea and the cocktails and barista-made coffee available throughout the day with a warm smile. This was no ordinary glamping site, that’s for sure!

We felt so refreshed and inspired after our stay, and especially grateful to have been welcomed into such a special corner of the world with so much heart, warmth, and kindness.