Recently I’ve been spending a lot of my spare time doing travel research and I thought why not kill 2 birds with one stone and summarize some of my research into a useful blog post! I’m headed to Sydney in about 2 weeks and while I have 5 days in the city, I wanted to have more of a beach vacation too!
Just south of Sydney is the Shoalhaven area including Jervis Bay which has more beaches than you can count! I ended up booking the Dolphin Shores as it’s pretty highly rated and very close to Hyams Beach. During the process though, I looked at tons of hotels/resorts and wished there was a good list of curated properties. So today, I’m putting together some of the coolest Splurge, Moderate, and Budget hotels in the Shoalhaven region so you can plan your getaway vacation from Sydney!
SPLURGE
If you love camping, or even if you don’t, Paperbark Camp offers a totally unique glamping experience! There are 12 tents and each is insect screened and comes with all the amenities of a hotel including light and shower! However, there is no power in the tents, so you’ll have to leave your electronics behind and get in tune with nature!
For a Caribbean-esque stay, drive a bith further south to Mollymook to stay at Bannister by the Sea. The basic rooms come with balconies and the ocean views are to die for! What really caught my attention though was the infinity pool at the hotel! This would be the perfect hotel for a romantic getaway.
Dolphin Sands is the closest hotel on this list to Hyams Beach. It is located in Huskisson which has a few restaurants although nothing worth mentioning. There are only five bedrooms in the house, and a full breakfast is served along with your stay. The rooms are generously sized and adorably decorated although it is definitely not luxurious. But there is a gorgeous outdoor dining area though and I’d be hoping to spot some kangaroos while sipping on coffee.
What really drew my attention to Quest Nowra is the modern exterior and classy decor inside. With so many cottages and historic buildings around, it’s a refreshing option for a minimalist modern design. The studios comes with a kitchentte so you can also do a little grocery shopping. There are 1/2/3 bedroom apartment options if you are traveling with a bigger crowd.
It’s not all about the beaches in the Jervis Bay area. Berry Inn offers a country accommodation close to delicious restaurants in the charming village of Berry and easy access to wineries in this region. The hotel is set in an old stable but the rooms have all recently been renovated. There are 5 units available with 2 of them being hotel rooms and 3 being apartments. The furnishing is super bright and they all come with huge bathrooms!
BUDGET
A cheaper option for you in Nowra is the Pleasant Way River Lodge. This motel features an indoor pool, laundry facilities, and a garden. Also great are free parking, free wifi, and barbeque grills! The rooms are newly renovated and the colors remind me of the color schemes of a Disney resort room.
Last but not least is the Dolphin Shores which is the #1 rated in Jervis Bay (although only out of 7 on Tripadvisor). I picked them because they are the closest to Hyams Beach and I wanted to get an early start to the day and be first at the beach! The rooms are very basic but according to the reviews it’s comfortable and clean. There are 8 styles of units to choose from so you can definitely find the perfect fit for you.
The pricing per night is based on the most standard room on a weeknight in November. Based on the dates you are traveling, it may be different!
I’m super excited for my trip. If you were taking a vacation in this area, which of these hotels would you choose?