Adventure in the Shoalhaven | Must-do activities for holiday makers and fun-loving locals

I have lived in Ulladulla (one of the hot spots in the Shoalhaven area) for my entire life and it's super easy to get wrapped up in work, family and other commitments that you forget to enjoy yourself, experience nature and challenge yourself to go somewhere new. This year, I have taken it upon myself to explore and experience more of what my local area has to offer and have been amazed by what I have seen and done.

If you are looking to holiday in an area surrounded by beautiful and diverse nature, experiencing the serenity and quiet, void from the hustle and bustle of larger towns and cities yet featuring all the conveniences...then the Shoalhaven area is for you! There are plenty of things to do and see, yet here are some of my favourites.

Plan a beach day.

The beaches in this region are unparalleled. Some of my favourites include:

-Plantation Beach and Greenfeilds Beach at Vincentia

-Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay

-Murrays Beach and Steamers Beach in Booderee National Park

-The Bommie at Ulladulla

-Narawallee Beach at Narrawallee

Eat some of the freshest and healthiest food.

Restaurants and Cafes abound, particularly in the trendy towns of Milton and Huskisson. I never used to be a foodie, but experiencing all this deliciousness has certainly tamed my taste buds. Some of the best locations to dine at include:

-Pilgrims in Milton and Huskisson

-Milk Haus and St Isidores in Milton

-Cupitts in Ulladulla

-Bannisters and Bannisters Pavilion in Mollymook

-Albert and Miso's in Vincentia

-Wild Ginger in Huskisson

Clearly I am an Ulladulla local and now live up in Jervis Bay, as such, these feature strongly in my foodie journey but little gems of tastiness are sprinkled all over the Shoalhaven.

Get out. Adventure. Explore.

We are pretty lucky to be surrounded by glorious coastline on one side and beautiful bush on the other. Rivers, waterfalls and vibrant farmlands are littered in between. If you are coming for a holiday or are a local, there is absolutely no reason to be spending your days in doors, especially considering how mild the weather is year round.

Here are some of my favourite outdoor adventuring activities, and best yet, they are all FREE:

-Gosangs Tunnel in Currajong

-Adventuring out to Manyana and Bendalong

-Kangaroo Valley lookout and tea rooms

-Booderee National Park bushwalks and beaches

-Botanical Gardens in Booderee National Park

-Mount Bushwalker and Porters Creek Dam

-Pigeon House Mountain

-Headland walks at Ulladulla

-Granite Falls near Bendalong

-The White Sands Walk from Vincentia to Greenpatch

-Outdoor rock climbing at Thompsons Point and Point Perpendicular

A place for family fun.

While the Shoalhaven is fantastic getaway for couples, it's also a great place for family fun. While I don't have any kids myself, there are a number of great activities and locations that are very family friendly. Here are a few of my favourites:

-Get an ice cream at Huskisson. Head down to the water, play on the equipment and watch the dolphins come in.

-Stand up paddle boarding at Dolphin Point

-Weekend markets in Milton, Ulladulla and Huskisson

-Nowra Zoo

-Play on the waterslide at the Bay and Basin Leisure Centre

-Funland and ten pin bowling in Ulladulla

-Take surfing lessons with Pam Burridge at Mollymook Beach

-Play a round of miniature golf at the Big 4 in Burril Lake

Now this list is by no means comprehensive and I continue to find more lovely places to eat, hidden gems to explore and fun activities to enjoy in the Shoalhaven and surrounds. While public transport isn't fantastic, the train takes you all the way down to Bomaderry and buses are pretty good at getting you to the main locations from there.

However, if you do want to experience all the best that the Shoalhaven has to offer, it's really better to drive. Coming down during the Christmas rush is usually hectic and our beaches and carparks often can't withstand the tourist overload, so getting in at quieter times is strongly suggested.

If you want to see some of the places and experiences I mentioned, make sure to check out my YouTube videos and why not subscribe to my channel while your at it? YouTube- Carly Morton.

Carly xx

#Shoalhaven #travellinginstyle #Australianlifestyleblogs #explore #Local