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Aerial view over Huskisson on the South Coast
Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSW
Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSW

Your ultimate guide to Shoalhaven

This is your sign to turn south onto the A1, and keep driving until you hit the sapphire seas of Shoalhaven

Winnie Stubbs
Written by Winnie Stubbs
Travel and News Editor, APAC
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The traditional land of the Bhwerawerri, Budawang, Jerrinja, Murramarang, Tomikin, Wandi wandandian, Wodi wodi, Yuin and associated clans, this stretch of rolling hills and stunning coastline a few hours south of Sydney is as close as you'll come to a hidden gem in the age of Instagram.

While beach towns further north attract the noisy glory as the coastal gems of the NSW coastline (Byron Bay, we’re looking at you), the Shoalhaven region has remained a beloved holiday haven for families and groups of friends looking to escape the city, and – in a way – escape from modern life entirely.

And though it's still blessed with the old-world, laidback energy that it's loved for, this once little-known destination is undeniably on the up – with roadside motels morphing into high-end stays, and low-key pubs becoming award-winning restaurants. Despite the region's ballooning offering, it still feels divinely unspoiled; quietly beautiful, gorgeously unpretentious and home to everything that makes a weekend away feel like a real, soul-enriching holiday. 

We’ve put together a guide to the best places to stay, eat, drink and play in this heavenly region that keeps on calling us back.

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Your ultimate guide to Shoalhaven

Getting there

Getting there
Getting there
Photograph: Supplied | Visit Shoalhaven | Milk Haus

Take the Princes Highway out of Sydney and you’ll arrive in Milton – arguably the historic heart of the region – in just over three hours. You’ll want to make a couple of stops on the way; either for a pie from Hayden’s Pies in Ulladulla, or for some calamari by the ocean from Huskisson’s World Famous Fish N Chips. Otherwise, take an hour or so to explore the idyllic, provincial town of Berry; home to what is arguably the cutest lolly shop in NSW (The Treat Factory), and some reliably excellent purveyors carby treats; from an artisan sourdough cafe to a retro donut van. If you've got the time, it's worth spending a night in Berry to break up the journey – or settling in here for the whole weekend. You'll find our top picks in and around this charming town here. 

Winnie Stubbs
Winnie Stubbs
 Travel and News Editor, APAC
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