The 10 most unique stays in Jervis Bay & Shoalhaven

Tuck yourself away in a luxurious tent  

The owners of Paperbark Camp were inspired to bring their Jervis Bay glamping operation to life after a safari trip to Africa. Tucked away amid native forest, the canvas tents are built above the ground to give privacy and comfort, and to capture the sea breeze – this also means they leave a light footprint. No expense has been spared inside, from the polished hardwood floors to the quality linens, freestanding tub in the ensuite, daybeds on decks and handmade amenities. Diversions range from hiking and cycling (bikes are available for guest use) to an in-tent massage. Don’t miss dinner at The Gunyah, where the menu heroes native produce.     

Get sandy on a private beach  

Enveloped by the rainforest of Booderee National Park, The Cove Jervis Bay is a little pocket of paradise. Depending on the size of your party, the houses and cabins here can accommodate between two and 23 people, with each equipped with self-catering facilities. There are also glamping tents with access to shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. When you’re not chilling out in your abode or the spa, feel the sand beneath your feet on The Cove’s private beach, enjoy complimentary kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire, sail off from the boat ramp or hit up the on-site playground. 

Enjoy an adults-only retreat  

When you need some quality alone time with your beloved, make a booking at the adults-only Hyams Beach Seaside Cottages. Originally cabins for the region’s fisherfolk, the seven cottages have been lovingly transformed with pastel exteriors and light-filled (yet cosy) interiors – perfect for a romantic weekend away. Pull up a chair on your private deck, open a bottle of something bubbly, and soak up the bush and ocean views.      

Sleep in sustainable style  

Barefoot luxury is the name of the game at Oyster Catcher Huskisson, an architecturally designed house that is as dramatic in design as it is dreamy in location. Bring your friends or family, as there’s space to sleep eight guests in comfort – plush king-sized beds and sumptuous linens await. After days exploring nearby beaches (you’re just 300 metres from the closest sand), enjoy dinner beside the outdoor firepit, including goodies from the thoughtful welcome hamper.    

Tee off from your doorstep  

If you’re a golf fan, you’ll be in heaven when you check in to Bangalay Luxury Villas. The 16 villas feature views of the garden or Shoalhaven Heads Golf Club, while design perks include a fireplace, north-facing deck, full kitchen and luxe Aspar amenities. Meanwhile, the rest of the complex includes a pool as well as one-hat restaurant, Bangalay Dining. You can pre-order a picnic basket of treats to enjoy at the beach or sit down to a delicious meal that showcases Indigenous ingredients like finger limes, pickled quandong, lemon myrtle, wattleseed and strawberry gum. A two-minute drive away, you’ll find Anglesea by Bangalay – a holiday home which sleeps eight and is only a five-minute walk from Seven Mile Beach National Park. 

Gaze at the horizon from a jaw-dropping infinity pool  

Bannisters has several unique accommodation options in Mollymook, including Bannisters by the Sea, the Pavilion and Rick’s Beach House. All are swoon-worthy, but for poolside points, it’s hard to look past Bannisters by the Sea. Dive in here and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic sea views from your clifftop perch, as well as coastal-chic rooms and suites that capture the capture the ocean eye-candy outside. Relax with a treatment or a massage at Spa by the Sea and dine at Rick Stein at Mollymook. Both on-site, the award-winning restaurant is known for his dedication to cooking sustainable seafood like Bermagui swordfish, Jervis Bay rock lobster and Shark Bay scallops.    

Unwind at a bushland retreat only minutes from the beach 

Find eight self-catered cottages and glamping tents at Bay and Bush Cottages, ideal for those staying a while. Set on 27 acres of bushland, the secluded cottages are complete with full kitchens, open-plan living spaces and bathrooms. With bookable spa treatments, an on-site coffee spot and an in-house wellness centre with yoga classes, you’ll barely have a reason to leave.   

Stay at an award-winning vineyard 

Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla has a variety of accommodation options including one-bedroom villas, perfect for a romantic getaway. Some villas feature outdoor baths on the deck – great to relax in under the stars – while all have great views of the surrounding vineyard and green hills. Groups will enjoy the four-bedroom farmhouse decked out with a pool, barbecue, fire pit and enclosed backyard suitable for small pets. Explore the estate’s award-winning dining room, wine garden and brewery. Take your getaway to the next level with optional bubbles on arrival, grazing boxes, and bath pamper packages.  

Get back to nature on a working farm  

Mt Hay Retreat is the kind of place you’ll step in to… and never want to leave. Perched high on a hill and surrounded by rolling green fields, the retreat has just a few suites to choose from. Which means privacy and exclusivity are practically guaranteed. Each abode comes with its own kitchen, as well as an expansive private deck and alfresco tub – if you’re not soaking here, make the most of the long indoor pool and spa, with views over the Berry countryside. Switch off, relax, repeat.   

Stay in charming rustic eco-accommodation 

At Broger’s End, former farm buildings have been lovingly transformed into self-contained accommodation using reclaimed materials. Set on 65-hectares in Kangaroo Valley, the dairy is now a one-bedroom cottage complete with indoor spa bath as well as an outdoor garden bath. The former machinery shed now sleeps up to seven guests in three bedrooms, but the real showstopper is the kitchen that opens onto an outdoor entertaining area complete with a wood fire pizza oven and barbecue. Home to wild platypus, this eco-retreat is powered by solar with free-range eggs from the farm’s chickens available for breakfast.