Guest Itineraries

A DESIGNER’S LIFE

Neale Whitaker Media Personality | @nealewhitaker

My partner David and I moved to Shoalhaven from Sydney in 2018, but our love affair with this beautiful region began long before that. For many years we would escape to Berry at weekends with our dogs as often as we could. And even though the drive from Sydney is now just an easy two hours (thank you Albion Park Rail bypass), once you’re here the city could be a thousand miles away. That’s the magic of Shoalhaven.

Even though we now call this region home, it’s fun sometimes to play tourist. In recent years, Berry has established itself as a homewares mecca. So many great individual stores to suit every style, but AMARA Home, Few & Far and Hampshire Interiors are favourites. Life for us tends to revolve around our canine family and we love to walk on Seven Mile Beach at Shoalhaven Heads or further south at pristine Nelson Beach close to Jervis Bay. And it’s fair to say that – after our dogs and our home – food and wine feature high on the list. The newly refurbished Post House of Berry serves delicious Asian food (dumplings a speciality), while Quattro Pizzeria and Il Locale, also in Berry, never fail to deliver. Further afield, Cupitt’s Estate and Milk Haus make Milton a foodie destination, and Hampden Deli, Dining School and Wine Lounge is well worth the magnificent winding climb to Kangaroo Valley. Locals know Nowra Fresh is the best place to stock up on fish, meat, local produce and artisan foods, and for a good local drop, we can’t go past Two Figs Winery and Mountain Ridge Wines.

For a quick fix of history and culture in a breathtaking location, the new Art Museum at Bundanon designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects is a must. It won’t be a secret for long.

A DOG’S LIFE

@winnie_winchester_

Winnie the Cavoodle

Woof! Woof! Hello, I am Winnie Winchester. My humans and I live in Shoalhaven, one of the most pet-friendly destinations in Australia. Nowra is a great town for furry friends. Ben’s Walk is a fun, 90-minute nature walk with a suspension bridge and ‘fetching’ cliff views. My humans put the leash on me for this one, so I don’t get lost. Then, off to Hyper Hyper Coffee! They have an outdoor seating area where I can lick up my puppycino and wag my tail to live music on Sundays. The Deli on Kinghorne is also great for a bit more of a munch and crunch.

My humans take my leash off to play fetch on Seven Mile Beach at Shoalhaven Heads. Then we walk to lunch at Shoalhaven Heads Hotel. Lucky the Heads Hotel and Motel is pet friendly. When lunch rolls right on into dinner, we can all stay here together! Before long I’m on this long board called a SUP with Sussex Inlet SUP. I am entertaining other humans who are enjoying my pup on a SUP moves. We then book into one of the two pet-friendly camping and caravan parks for a night under the stars at Alamein Caravan Park or Riverside Caravan Park.

A #petfriendlyhaven where the whole family can travel together. To avoid getting put in the naughty corner, leave the endangered shorebirds alone, make sure your humans scoop up your poop and read beach signage before you play!

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