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Allana Ferguson Sports Presenter

@allanaferg_

Lake Conjola has been my home away from home growing up, heading down the coast is one of my family’s favourite weekend pastimes. If you’re heading south from Sydney, it’s worth taking the slow way and travelling via the scenic Grand Pacific Drive. Check out the villages north of Wollongong and enjoy a coffee at Bald Hill Lookout for panoramic views across the Illawarra escarpment. Before getting to Lake Conjola, stop by Vincentia Butchery and Providores to pick up the best family meal packs for Aussie BBQ and fresh salad heaven. Once you’ve arrived a quick dip at the lake and a walk on the boardwalk is the best way to start your holiday. A drive to George Boyd Lookout is worth it with spectacular views of Lake Conjola and the beaches to the south.

Basing ourselves in Lake Conjola makes it an easy 40 minute drive to Huskisson where my daughter enjoys the family friendly dolphin boat cruises. On a recent trip, we discovered SUP brunching with SUP with George where we were served a delicious local picnic on the beach after gliding the crystal clear waters of Barfleur Beach at sunrise, a must do experience. On the southern side, a short 20 minute drive, and you’re in harbourside Ulladulla. Mollymook Beach is a great surfing spot for our family of surfers, and the seasonally patrolled beach is ideal for swimming. You simply can’t leave Ulladulla without stopping by Hayden’s Pies with their interesting and delicious pie combinations which can be enjoyed beside Ulladulla Harbour watching the boats come in and out from a day’s fishing. For little ones, it’s worth stopping at Shoalhaven Zoo located in Nowra by the Shoalhaven River to see their faces light up as they greet the monkeys, koalas and lions.

What I love about the Shoalhaven is you can visit over and over and will never run out of new things to see, do and explore.

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Top to bottom: SUP with George picnic, stand up paddle at Barfleur Beach, Jervis Bay’s dolphins, Shoalhaven Zoo.

Robert KingPhotographer

@king_roberto

After spending the past four years living as a photographer in Los Angeles, I came home to visit my family in New South Wales. After looking up where to photograph kangaroos by the beach to share an “Aussie” portfolio with my American friends, I stumbled across Murramarang National Park. Pebbly Beach was my first destination in the Shoalhaven for the roos. Since then, I have travelled to the Shoalhaven half a dozen times in 2021, to adventure and photograph the stunning landscapes.

If you’re coming from north of Sydney head via Tourist Drive 8 through Bowral. The three waterfalls Carrington Falls, Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls can be viewed from great vantage points on short detours from this main route. Head back this same way and enjoy a guided paddle with Valley Outdoors in Kangaroo Valley before you leave Shoalhaven. The friendly local Valley Outdoors guides educate and steer you on a secluded paddle on Tallowa Dam where you can find small hidden waterfalls and enjoy a rainforest paradise.

You simply can’t come to the Shoalhaven without getting in the water and there is no place better to do that than Jervis Bay. Woebegone Freedive is a must if you want to swim with marine life like dolphins, seals and whales or just explore the underwater some say “magic” caves. Take a trip to Pilgrims Huskisson for a mouth watering vegetarian burger whilst watching the sunset at Greenfield Beach or if you’re an early riser head to Blenheim Beach for sunrise. As you travel home, squeeze in Bens Walk Nowra, a pet friendly loop track where you can enjoy views of the Shoalhaven River with an Instagram worthy suspension bridge amongst the trees with your pup trailing on-leash.

An adventure lover’s paradise, a photographer’s natural backdrop, a must visit place for the bucket list.

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Top to bottom: Pebbly Beach, Blenheim Beach, swimming with seals with

Woebegone Freedive, the road to Kangaroo Valley.