South Coast Country Retreat

Story by Piers

Adventure in Cambewarra, South Coast, NSW, AU

Our excitement levels were high as we left the city of Sydney and made our way South to the country. Taking the scenic route to Cambewarra took us through the bustling towns of the Southern Highlands. After winding our way down into Kangaroo Valley, we found ourselves in a complete change of scene cruising through old towns and past livestock paddocks.

After a very warm welcome from our hosts, we lit the indoor fire and settled into the comforts of our cottage with a drink in hand. The cottage is perfect for two couples and could easily accommodate a small family with the loft bedroom being a group favourite. The four of us baked homemade pizzas as we caught up on all of our stories since we'd seen each other last.

The barn doors completely open up the living space for your morning coffee and offer views into the garden and further to the neighbouring farms. We spent a whole day exploring the surroundings, with our cottage being placed perfectly between some of NSW coast's finest beaches by the likes of Jervis Bay's Hyam's Beach and Honeymoon Bay in one direction, and the impressive Fitzroy Falls in the other.

The close-by main towns of Berry and Kangaroo Valley offer a hub for shopping or your classic country town lunch feed. Although called crazy by the locals, why not top off your day with a swim in the Kangaroo River (word of warning, it's not warm in August)....

Things We Did

Beach
Town
Swim
Lookout
Waterfall

Honeymoon Bay

Honeymoon Bay may be one of Jervis Bay's best-kept secrets (but you didn't hear that from me). We visited on a windy Winter's day, so swimming was off the cards for us but still had a good laugh as a couple of us quite literally were swept off our feet....

Explore Kangaroo Valley

We cruised along to Kangaroo Valley town where you'll find your classic Aussie country pub and cafés, but the antiques seem to be the local specialty here. You could spend hours checking out the most weirdly fascinating collections they have....

Swim In Kangaroo River

To top off a day of exploring, we came across Kangaroo River what else do you do other than jump in. Word of warning, it's not warm (check facial expressions and speed of exit), but when you have an indoor fireplace waiting for you back at The Barn Cottage, why not?...

Cambewarra Mountain Lookout

Just up the road from The Barn Cottage, you'll find a steep, windy road that leads you to one of the best views in the area stretching as far as the ocean. Take a picnic or a couple of drinks to watch the sunset, and you might get lucky and come across one of the local wombats....

Sunrise At Hyam's Beach

Have you ever heard of the whitest sand in the world? You'll find it at Hyam's Beach. Only a 30min drive from The Barn Cottage, check out the sunrise and spend the morning exploring the rest of the Jervis Bay gems....

Fitzroy Falls

On your way down to Cambewarra or returning to Sydney, check out the easily accessible Fitzroy Falls. Look down the face of the impressive 81-metre vertical drop or enjoy the whole scene after a short walk to various lookout points along the National Parks bushwalking tracks....

Our Adventure Map

Where we stayed

Things we did

We've plotted our adventure on the map below. Select the map icons to discover more details.

Share The Love

Add this story to your bucket list or gift it to someone you think deserves it!

Gift this

Book Our Adventure

Book through this story to receive our itinerary and extra tips to help you live your adventure to the fullest.

What are Riparide Stories?

Riparide Stories are authentic experiences shared by real travelers (who are handy with a camera). It's like reading your best friend's travel journal - packed with photos, honest reviews and visual itineraries.

Learn More