Holiday houses in Bawley Point

If you’re after a classic South Coast New South Wales adventure, but minus the crowds, Bawley Point is for you. Surrounded by countless beaches, lush national parkland, and protected wilderness reserves, this sleepy waterside hamlet is the epitome of the state’s Shoalhaven region. There are wineries and berry farms to keep you busy, as well as restaurants serving some of the freshest seafood in the region.

When it’s time to get active, choose your own adventure, from calm lakes and lagoons for swimming and kayaking; vast expanses of bushland for cycling, hiking, and birdwatching; endless swathes of sea for boating and whale watching; and thumping waves for surfing. Among the highlights of Bawley Point are the legendary Guillotines surf break and Bawley Beach itself, where families come to picnic and fish directly from the sand.

Summer is the peak season on the South Coast, when the sun is hottest and the sea is warmest. While Bawley itself is petite (less than 700 people), the region it occupies is big and rugged, with plenty of beaches to choose from as well as enormous expanses of national parkland and hiking trails. So despite the area’s popularity, it never feels too crowded here. If you are a walking enthusiast, the cooler months are ideal for lacing up your shoes, particularly if you’re enjoying coastal tracks with migrating whales in your company (May through November). This is also a popular time among oenophiles, who come here for the Shoalhaven Winter Wine Festival (oddly not held in winter at all, but in April).

Bushwalking

The countryside surrounding Bawley Point is blessed with protected bushland that includes Meroo National Park. Trek Meroo Head to the lookout, where you’ll spot seabirds and migrating whales, which breach offshore from May through November. Also within the reserve is Termeil Beach, a secluded spot with outstanding swimming and fishing.

Murramarang Aboriginal Area

Home to one of the largest and most culturally significant Aboriginal sites in New South Wales, Murramarang reserve protects a large midden (an ancient pile of shells and bones) and other Indigenous artefacts, some dating back 12,000 years. Trails through bushland are marked with interpretive signs indicating where wildlife resides, and tracing the area’s Aboriginal heritage. Bring your swimsuit, as there are plenty of beaches ripe for taking a dip en route.

Pebbly Beach

Surfing kangaroos? They’re a thing at Pebbly Beach. Within vast Murramarang National Park, this scenic stretch of sand is the perfect perch for a picnic with a side of kangaroo spotting. Yes, they sometimes take a dip in the ocean, but they also frequent the grassy parkland that surrounds it. Other animals to look out for include sea eagles and dolphins.