Central

 NOWRA
Sitting as the commercial hub of the Shoalhaven is the riverside centre of Nowra. Taking its name from the Aboriginal word meaning “camping place” or “black cockatoo”, it was only after drastic floods in the nearby township of Terara in 1870 that Nowra became well established in its own right. Its distinctive bridge and elevated helicopter herald the entry to this thriving cultural centre. Pretty landscaped gardens and parks make a great stop for travelers looking for a drive-revive ‘cuppa and cake’ and a good selection of restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets are located in the main centre and points of entry.
For those looking to stay, there’s plenty of accommodation and lots to do and see in the local area. A newly opened Arts Centre houses an ever changing array of excellent works by local artists, while nearby is the gracious Meroogal, an Historic Houses Trust property, its contents a tribute to the four generations of Australian women who lived there.
A short drive from the city centre is Australia’s Museum of Flight – the largest aviation museum in Australia. Housing innovative displays of military aircraft, engines, weapons, uniforms and equipment this is a ‘must-see’ for anyone remotely interested in flight. It is located adjacent to HMAS Albatross, Australia’s home of naval aviation.
Surprising to many is Nowra’s growing list of local wineries, now winning awards nationally and producing excellent vintages. Most have cellar doors and also house local art in the tasting areas, while on weekends jazz-style entertainment is becoming popular.
The Shoalhaven has well established and colourful weekend markets and Nowra is no exception, with monthly stalls in the local car park and the increasingly popular produce markets near the duck pond in Harry Sawkins Park, the main city gardens. The local area grows bountiful produce, with commercial vegetable gardens adjoining the city and hard-to-beat local seafood available in town.
Nowra has a strong sports orientation so there’s plenty to do whatever your interest. Aside from the many watersports (including a 50m Olympic sized pool and waterslide), there are playing fields for many team sports, a skatepark, and rifle club. For the more leisurely inclined, local river cruises offer a balmy relaxed style of activity.
There are some good local bushwalks within the Nowra district, notably Bens Walk which is an easy, shady and well-graded riverbank walk winding beside the Shoalhaven River, affording excellent views of the local district.
Nowra has come a long way in recent years, and we invite you to explore its many attractions.

TERARA/NUMBAA/COMERONG ISLAND
A lovely short drive east from the main highway in Nowra is the charming rural township of Terara. Located beside the Shoalhaven River, this small settlement has a collection of picturesque weatherboard houses and an idyllic rural feel.  Travelling a further 5km brings you to Numbaa, the site of the Shoalhaven’s first farm and which, like Terara, is now predominantly dairy-oriented. Stay on this road and you will come to the fascinating and historic Comerong Island.  History has it that in July 1822, Alexander Berry using convict labour, dug a canal 209 yards long in 12 days, allowing for arrivals and departures of ships visiting the Shoalhaven.  Over subsequent years, river floods and dredging widened the canal allowing steamship passage for both trade and passenger travel.  Today Comerong Island is predominantly a nature reserve, with a winding dirt road leading to the southern end of exquisite Seven Mile Beach, which is part of the Island.  Its two picnic areas provide access to both the ocean beach and estuary areas. Access to the Island is by car ferry for a return fee of $4, which runs daily (but for the first Tuesday in the month).

GREENWELL POINT/ CULBURRA BEACH/ CURRARONG/ CALLALA BAY/ CALLALA BEACH/ MYOLA
The Shoalhaven is justifiably renowned for its beaches and beach culture, and perhaps this is nowhere more evident than in this coastal strip at the north of Jervis Bay. It’s sleepy villages filled with traditional holiday cottages and its stunning coastline still retain the sun and surf atmosphere that is uniquely Australian. Each village has its own distinct feel, with locals friendly toward visitors both in and out of holiday season.
Greenwell Point, located 15km east of Nowra, is one of the leading seafood ports in the Shoalhaven. Its small fleet of trawlers bring in the catch from offshore areas daily (available from two local outlets), and its local oyster farms provide a veritable oyster feast – shucked while you wait or freshly packed and chilled. It is much-loved for its squadron of pelicans which gather in the local park to the delight of visitors and for its safe boating locations.
Surrounded on three sides with a winning trifecta of river, beach and lake, is the larger settlement of Culburra Beach. Located 22kms south-east of Nowra and with a well-established infrastructure for holiday-makers it offers good swimming, surfing, fishing and prawning.  A wide range of accommodation is available, and there are licensed restaurants, a club, cafes and shops.
Further east is the sleepy little village of Currarong, a longtime favourite with holiday-makers. As with the other townships in this coastal strip, the swimming and fishing are excellent.  Point Perpendicular Lighthouse is nearby as is beautiful Honeymoon Bay. Well-graded bushwalks lead from the village itself and there are good barbecue facilities at the water’s edge.
Sitting side-by-side at the northern end of Jervis Bay are the three townships of Callala Bay, Callala Beach and Myola. Best known for their stunning beaches, safe bay swimming and dolphin parades, these three villages offer plenty of holiday cottage accommodation and a delightful beach culture atmosphere.  There is excellent sailing from Callala Bay and a regional boat ramp and jetty provide easy access to the water.

YALWAL/BURRIER
This drive will appeal to nature enthusiasts and those who enjoy the Australian bush and camping in natural environments.  The area lies 28km south-west of Nowra with access along a rugged gravel all-weather road. The drive leads through picturesque scenery providing commanding views over the Shoalhaven River and then through vertical stands of Australian gum forests that make up the Triplarina Nature Reserve, Bamarang Nature Reserve and Colymea State Conservation Area. 
They say there is still gold in the Yalwal district and history bears testimony to the fact, as the area has a rich background in gold mining activities.  Prospectors set up sluicing operations in 1870 and over the next couple of decades various mines were established. As with other gold-mining areas, this led to the establishment of services and at one time Yalwal could boast a school, a post office, general stores, a blacksmith, a greengrocer, a butcher, several banks and most importantly ?? pubs. As the mines became less productive some homes were dismantled during Word War I when building materials became scarce.  Devastating bushfires in 1939 destroyed most of what remained.
There are barbecues, toilets and drinking water in the Council picnic area near Danjera Dam and there is also a small picnic area below the dam in Morton National Park.

 HUSKISSON/ VINCENTIA/ HYAMS BEACH/ BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK/ SANCTUARY POINT/ ST GEORGES BASIN/ TOMERONG
Jervis Bay has become increasingly popular in recent years, in no small measure due to the natural attractions of the Bay itself and to its exquisite coastal landscape. Now classified as a Marine Park, the Bay is host to an abundant range of wildlife, including seals, sea eagles, penguins, gannets and resident dolphins, whose frolics thrill holidaymakers throughout the year.  The star attraction is the humpback whale, their acrobatic antics an awe-inspiring thrill to watch.  They make their passage up the east coast to mate in the warm tropical waters of Queensland, and Jervis Bay is a regular haunt of theirs on the journey to and from. A mini industry of whale watching tours has developed to site these great mammals, which can be reliably sited during June and July and again in the September to November season.
The history of the area revolves around the bay and its ship-building activities, the local timber industry supporting the building of sailing vessels and steamers. The area is still a favourite with avid sailors, its sheltered coves providing safe moorings and great fishing opportunities.
All of the settlements in the area are positioned on the coast, taking great advantage of the fantastic coastal and basin views and sun, surf and sea atmosphere.  There are good services for the holiday-maker and lots of accommodation covering the full gamut from top-of-the-range resort-style, to motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks, holiday cottages and eco-camping.
The drive passes through crown land which cradles all the settlements, while Jervis Bay National Park and Booderee National Park both have camping and/or cabin facilities for the holiday-maker. These two parks are located adjacent to the coast, giving them some of the most exquisite and unspoilt beaches in the Shoalhaven. The area has become renowned for its fabulous beachside locations and lifestyle, with Hyams Beach reputedly having the whitest sands in the world!  Aside from this, there are lots of good bushwalks, coastal walks and cycleways providing ample opportunities to get out and about.
The district is rich in local arts and crafts with many well-renowned artisans making this their home.  Their artwork can be found in many of the small cafes, restaurants and galleries throughout the area. Several noted arts festivals are held throughout the year.

WANDANDIAN/ SUSSEX INLET/ SWANHAVEN/ CUDMIRRAH/ BERRARA
For those who enjoy messing about in boats, this scenic drive leads to a water paradise. Located south of Nowra it takes in the St Georges Basin, its expansive waterways a haven for all things nautical connecting to the sea at Sussex Inlet, the ocean provides for surfing, water sports and ocean, beach and estuary fishing.
The drive passes through Wandandian which local residents claim means “home to lost lovers”, however the area is not over-populated and its rural atmosphere is retained with hobby farms and fruit orchards.
The largest of the settlements on the drive is Sussex Inlet, located at the mouth of the estuary to St Georges Basin, which has full shopping services and a wide range of accommodation including bed & breakfasts, motels, caravan and camping parks and holiday cottages and cabins. Alternatively, houseboat holidays are a great way to explore the extensive canals and waterways in the area. The estuary winds back into the extensive St Georges Basin waterway in one direction, and to the open waters of the Pacific Ocean in the other, so there’s lots of seaside activities for all ages and interests.
The small villages of Swanhaven, Cudmirrah and Berrara are located a short drive away near Swan Lake and are ideally positioned to take advantage of the stunning coastline and both beach and lake activities.

BENDALONG/ MANYANA/ LAKE CONJOLA
The south coast has long been known for its idyllic waterways and National Parks, and this is exemplified in these three waterside villages.  Always popular holiday destinations, a visit here at any time of the year rewards with lifestyle-reviver relaxation.
The sleepy township of Bendalong provides excellent surf beaches good for fishing and swimming, and there is ample holiday accommodation for visitors in caravan parks, cabins and holiday cottages.
Located at the mouth of the lake estuary and on the southern side is the township of Lake Conjola, believed to take its name from “kongoola”, the Aboriginal name of a freshwater fish found in the local creeks. Here, the expansive waterways of Lake Conjola are ideal for fishing, swimming, boating and in the warmer months, good prawning on the northern shores. Take the boardwalk (suitable for wheelchair access) at Lake Conjola for a pleasant 15 minutes walk to the beach. Stop at the viewing platform along the way for excellent panoramic views of both beach and lake.
Surrounding the area is extensive reserve land, with a good day trip to Boyd Lookout providing spectacular views of Lake Conjola and beaches to the south.  Here there are good facilities with picnic tables, barbecue and toilets. Passage to the lookout is via gravel road, which can deteriorate during times of bad weather.