It’s the journey, not the destination…
Supporting local and domestic tourism and uncovering the diverse array of beautiful spots across Australia is a huge passion of ours so when we partnered up recently with South Coast Experiences, to do a short road trip along the NSW South Coast, it was a no brainer.
Our brief for a mini escape was simple: the holiday had to be active, outdoors, nature based and fun (yet relaxing), family friendly, adventurous, and carefree.
With two kids in tow (aged 6 and 11) we were ready to explore some new places and get amongst it!
On the agenda was everything from beach hopping, stargazing, sleeping in a luxury horse stable, feasting on oysters and culinary delights, trekking through national parks and nature, a ‘Connection to Country’ tour, private yoga lesson for the whole family, sustainable farm tour, a luxury beach house and so much more.
But first…the obligatory family road trip.
FAMILY ROAD TRIPPIN’
Nothing screams summer quite like a good ole fashioned Aussie road trip. We owe much of our childhood adventures to that classic rite of passage: the family road trip.
The days of perpetual sunshine and carefree road trip vibes.
Summer has a way of bringing back the nostalgia of those trips that shaped us in some way. The simple, slow paced travel life.
Pure freedom and escapism.
Setting off along the Great Ocean Road, Victoria in our beloved 1973 kombi van, with our two young children in the backseat, we were so excited to explore Jervis Bay, the popular region situated along the NSW southern coast.
The Jervis Bay area is known across the globe for its white sand, pristine beaches, clear turqiouse waters and the countless marine creatures (including migratory humpback whales!) that call the region’s pure waters home. Whether you’re a surfer, hiker, kayaker, rock climber, or a serious foodie (like our 11 year old daughter), you’re sure to find your own special pocket in this gorgeous region.
WIDE OPEN SPACES
With the tunes on, the sun shining and some car games, we made our way to our first overnight stay – Worrowing Estate.
Worrowing Estate is a historic 250-acre coastal farm property, just minutes from Jervis Bay.
Entering the long, picturesque driveway to Worrowing Estate, we were greeted with paddocks, rolling hills, tall, majestic gums, a dam, and nothing but wide-open spaces to roam and explore.
Our accommodation for the night was a converted horse stable into the most exquisite two-bedroom deluxe cottage. Afternoon dappled sunlight filtered through the floor to ceiling glass walls with recycled timber and aluminium cladding giving it that beautiful rustic feel.
The interior décor and soft furnishings were so inviting it made us all want to curl up on the large sofa and snuggle up with a woolen throw and read a book, nestled amongst the cushions.
A large rustic farm table takes centerstage in the loungeroom, perfect for our family of four who love nothing more than sitting around the dinner table each night sharing our endless travel adventures and events of the day.
The timber flooring combined with the corrugated iron roof is reminiscent of old time Australian farm life. The original horse stable has been given a new lease of life with timber framework and a complete restoration and labour of love.
Wide open spaces, native gums and paddocks for the kids to explore, this was a hidden haven you simply must visit. Kangaroo’s, wallabies, kookaburras all on your doorstep and even a resident border collie who loved playhing ‘fetch’ with our kids.
After an early dinner and a day on the road, it was time to retreat to the outdoor dining area lined in vines and catch a glimpse of the bright orange hued sunset with the shadowing silhouettes of the large gum trees dotted throughout the paddocks.
STARGAZING
During our time at Worrowing Estate, one night we rugged the kids up and hopped in the Kombi for a spontaneous adventure like no other!
We ventured on to the nearby town of Vincentia and met Dimi and Caroline, the owners of Jervis Bay Stargazing, where we were treated to an awe-inspiring space journey.
We made our way through the bush to the beach, holding lanterns and torches with a small group of other keen stargazers in anticipation of seeing where the sea meets the stars.
We then had the most magical experience of lying on a beach in the dark skies of Jervis Bay, away from the city lights and simply looking up to a blanket of twinkling stars above.
We spent the next 90 minutes listening to the waves roll in as we learned about the various constellations with our naked eye and with the help of a state-of-the-art telescope and astronomy binoculars. Dimi, a qualified Astrophysicist, shared his stories of the sky and we even saw a shooting star! It truly was out of the world.
INDIGENOUS WALKING TOUR
Next up was a guided walk with the Yila Healing Trail. We were lucky enough to meet a new friend, Elder Jrumpinjinbah, who took us on a guide through Booderee National Park where whale season was travelling past.
We recognise the continuous and deep connection to Country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this nation so this intimate walking tour was a great way for our family to respectfully acknowledge our interrelated connection to lands, seas, skies, waters, and all living creatures including ourselves.
The four of us immersed ourselves in Country and traditional wisdom.
Our youngest held hands with Jrumpinjinbah, as they clambered over rocks together, striking up an instant friendship. We all sat on the rock overlooking the cliffs and ocean below as we listened to his incredible stories of the land and nature. A highlight was when Jrumpinjinbah asked us to close our eyes and he sung his family ‘whale song’ in his native language and upon opening, whales had arrived and were breaching in the distance…pretty amazing!
LUXE BEACH HOUSE – DON’T MIND IF WE DO!
Sitting on the balcony overlooking Callala Bay, with our salty hair after a day of beach hopping at famous Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, dining on fresh oysters and a glass of local sauvignon blanc from Two Figs winery, we soaked up the 180 panoramic views of vast coastline, fringed by golden sands and glittering ocean.
What. A. Day.
This luxe beach house Mandala Beach House had everything you could ask for and was an entertainers dream – plenty of space for the kids to roam free, light, airy, spacious, two large outdoor areas to watch the sunset and boats pass by, chefs kitchen to cook up a seafood feast and two large living spaces drenched in natural light and with superb taste in décor giving us all of those dreamy coastal vibes.
Neutrals paired with fresh white and ocean blue tones and bed linen to suit every princess, this place was hard to leave. Not to mention the large pool downstairs and outdoor patio which comes complete with a wine fridge, bar area and kids’ playroom!
“We didn’t realise we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun!” – Winnie the Pooh.
Next, we headed south and stopped at Martins Ridge Farm where we gave the kids a taste of sustainable farm life. We met with the owner Ian Martin, whose credentials and experience working in Sydney’s top tier chef hatted restaurants and corporate catering, combined with his passion for sustainable farming are second to none.
Ian, alongside his talented wife Tina, and son Rhys, work hard in the family business and took on this venture to combine their love of family, nature, sustainable farming/agriculture, culinary cooking and supporting local producers from the area.
We were treated to a delicious charcuterie platter consisting of salt cured pork loin, French salami, prosciutto, and other mouth-watering local produce delicacies (paired with local wines from Two Figs Winery) and we chatted away with Ian about life on the farm. It was easy to strike up a rapport with Ian as his knowledge, experience, passion, and storytelling ability made for some great lunchtime conversation as we overlooked the 90 acres of lush, green valleys and hills.
After striking up a rapport with Ian, we dialled up the adventure stakes and kids jumped in the back of the open-air farm buggy and flew down the hills to meet the animals. Excitement was in overdrive as they enjoyed a personal farm tour of the animals, checked out the farm machinery and barns and fed the cows. It was a fantastic way to teach them about a working farm and how Martin’s Ridge grows its produce in an ethical and loving manner.
Barefoot Beach Luxury
Have you ever visited a place that you fall head over heels in love with and you decide it should forever remain a secret, as it is too good to share, and you would rather selfishly keep it to yourself?
Meet Pebbly Beach Escape.
Winding our way through the towering spotted gums of the Murramarang National Park in our 1973 kombi, it was time to head to just north of Batemans Bay.
Another hidden gem of the South Coast and proof that love at first sight really does exist. This little beachside oasis Pebbly Beach Escape is set on 3 acres above the pristine white sands of Pebbly Beach.
A place where time stops, and nature takes over. Barefoot luxury, off grid and surrounded by wilderness, it is the perfect beach escape.
The cabin seamlessly blends in with its natural environs, the timber, glass, and natural light creating the perfect retreat style luxe lodging, with interiors that are worthy of a Vogue Living magazine shoot. Natural fibres and textures competing with the sunlight and shadows dancing in the window, throws, cushions, and rugs calling your name and an insta worthy fireplace begging to be photographed.
This quintessential Australian beach escape comes with bespoke furnishings and all the luxury of a hotel stay cabin (including an outdoor shower like no other) and is the perfect place to while away the hours in a private sanctuary of bush meets beach.
We meandered our way through the treetops on several stunning walks, built a fort out of sticks with the kids on the pristine Pebbly beach, swam in the crystal waters, read books in the many nooks and window seats of our ‘home away from home’, watched the kangaroos hop by, huddled around the firepit each night under the stars and created family memories. A true example of slow travel, pausing, slowing down and truly connecting with each other.
Other highlights of our road trip:
During our stay at Pebbly Beach Escape, we also were fortunate enough to explore inland and visit Old Blotchy, a tree that is so huge and ancient it’s hard to get your head around, let alone impossible to hug! This was a guided tour by Paul from Nature Engagement Tours who had a deep knowledge of Australian native plants and wildlife. All of this whilst listening to a bubbling creek or the call of Lyrebirds or Kookaburras.
We also were lucky enough to experience a private yoga class with Soul Tribe Studios on our sun drenched deck, led by a beautiful soul, named Clare, who patiently taught the kids (and big kids) how to do a variety of yoga poses. It was the perfect setting to unwind, focus on health and wellness and reflect on our incredible journey. All while overlooking the stunning coastline of Pebbly Beach.
On our drive back south, we made sure we treated the kids to a short visit to Mogo Wildlife Park. Just minutes from Batemans Bay, this is a coastal safe haven for some of the world’s protected species and offers a range of animal encounters and educational experiences for all ages.
In addition to all of the above, we made sure we had plenty of free time to splash about at the stunning beaches of Jervis Bay, go fishing, sand duning, surfing, whale spotting, explore the surrounding towns and dine at some of the local eateries of Huskisson, Vincentia, Callala Bay, Hyams Bay etc., catch epic sunrise and sunsets on the beach, source fresh oysters and enjoy some quality family adventures off the beaten path.
Check out the Itinerary here:
https://www.southcoastexperiences.com.au/experiences?type=showcased-with-travel-tales
To tailor your own bespoke itinerary, be sure to speak with Kate and the team at:
https://www.southcoastexperiences.com.au
**All ideas, opinions and thoughts listed above are our own and we stayed as a guest of South Coast Experiences.