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Take A Trip South Of Sydney to Shoalhaven NSW
- Deb Carr
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
As summer slips away, the Shoalhaven NSW eveals a quieter, more restorative side. Just two hours from Sydney or Canberra, autumn here feels expansive and unhurried. The crowds thin, the air cools, and the region’s natural scale comes into its own—empty beaches, forested escarpments and coastal towns that invite lingering rather than ticking boxes. With more than 100 beaches, wide-open landscapes and a gentle seasonal rhythm, Shoalhaven is an easy reset after the heat and hurry of summer.
Slow stays, grounded in nature at Shoalhaven NSW
Accommodation across the region is designed for switching off. Curated retreats such as Bay and Bush Retreat and Linnaeus Farm offer immersive stays surrounded by bushland and open sky, while other properties make it easy to create a personal retreat focused on rest, reflection and time outdoors.
Find accommodation in Shoalhaven here
Shoalhaven NSW Landscapes
From the green folds of Kangaroo Valley to the white sands and clear waters of Jervis Bay, Shoalhaven’s landscapes encourage movement at a slower pace. Paddle calm waterways with Valley Outdoors, explore bushland on horseback with Regal Riding, or simply swim in quiet bays edged by cliffs and forest.
Connecting with Country
Cultural experiences led by local Aboriginal custodians add depth to a Shoalhaven stay. At Mirritya Mundya, visitors are invited to walk on Country, taste native ingredients and hear stories that connect land, culture and food. In Nowra, Blak Cede Gunyah—an Aboriginal women-owned café and social enterprise—shares bush foods and garden-grown produce through everyday meals rooted in generational knowledge.
Restorative movement and night skies
Wellbeing here is shaped by landscape and quiet. At The Nest Worrowing, yoga, pilates, sound healing and breathwork take place in a peaceful rural setting overlooking farmland and bush. After dark, Jervis Bay Stargazing offers the chance to lie beneath unspoilt skies as astronomers share stories of the cosmos against the backdrop of white sand and sea.
Eating with the seasons
Autumn is peak time for local produce. Fresh seafood from Nowra Fresh and Jervis Bay Mussels anchors many menus, while farmers markets and Shoalhaven Food Network events bring growers, chefs and producers together. Here, food miles are short and flavour leads.
Creating with your hands
Slowing down often comes through making. Paint outdoors at Coos and Colour, surrounded by rolling green hills and gentle highland cattle, or learn traditional silversmithing in Berry with Appleye Silver. Small-group workshops focus on process and patience, with participants leaving with something tangible—and meaningful.
Indulgence, Shoalhaven style
For deeper relaxation, spa and wellness experiences are woven into the region. Beauty Indulgence Milton offers massage and spa treatments, while Sol Organic focuses on reiki and restorative facials. Add long lunches, cool-climate wines, boutique distilleries and chef-hatted dining, and indulgence becomes part of the wellbeing story.
Seasonal events and culture
Autumn also brings a calendar of events centred on connection, culture and creativity. Explore exhibitions and programs at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, or head inland to Bundanon for workshops, performances and exhibitions set within a striking riverside landscape.
In autumn, Shoalhaven offers space—to breathe, to move gently, to eat well and to reconnect with place—making it one of the most rewarding times of year to visit.
