Traveltippo

Around Sydney - Kiama, Jervis Bay, Kangaroo Valley

Whenever I have visitors coming to Australia I always plan their trip way in advance because I want them to experience as much as they can within a very short time and show them why I can’t leave Australia. And hello… the impact is always huge… they always go back home smiling and even months after they keep talking about what we’ve seen together.

Let’s see where you should go in the South Coast.

1. Stanwell lookout

From Sydney take the highway and right after leaving the Royal National Park take the scenic route and stop at Stanwell lookout.

This is such a beautiful place to have a picnic at. Enjoying the view and eating Hungarian salami with tomato equals HEAVEN to me.

Anyhow… allegedly this is one of the best places to practice hang gliding. I haven’t tried it just yet but it’s definitely on my list.

After leaving Stanwell Park keep following the scenic route. The beaches are beautiful it’s worth to have a look.

Just right after Wollongong find your way back to the highway and look for a sign: NAN TIEN TEMPLE. (Address: 33 Semaphore Rd, Berkeley, NSW2506, Australia)

2. Nan Tien Temple

This temple is the largest buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The first time I went there was when my grandma had cancer and we were told she had only a week to live. This place was so peaceful, had such a big impact on me that it made me realize what I had to do… I had to let my grandma go… so I wrote a note and put it on the wishing tree. She passed away an hour later. This place means a lot to me and I hope if you ever go there you’ll understand why. (Entry is free)

3. Kiama

Kiama is bordered in the west by the rain-forest, and in the east by golden beaches. This city definitely has something special and it’s so close to Sydney that it makes a popular tourist destination. The biggest attraction is the beautiful white lighthouse and the Big Blowhole. If you’re lucky and got some waves the water pumps up to several meters high.  There is also a small blowhole a couple of minutes far from the big one.

4. Jervis Bay / Hyam’s Beach

Awwww Jervis bay. White sandy beach, water is shallow, colours are amazing, if you’re lucky you can see dolphins as well… I’ve never been to a place like this before.

If you can stay over for a night, come back the next day and work on your tan a bit. Please dont forget the Ozzie slogan: SLIP SLOP SLAP!

5. Kangaroo Valley

Our last destination is Kangaroo Valley. Allegedly this is the most beautiful valley in NSW. I can’t deny that. The city is cute, food is yummy, people are lovely. I don’t really know much about the city as I was in a hurry to find the wombats.

Okay okay… so… pass the bridge (coming from Kangaroo Valley) and try to find Bendeela campground. Unfortunately I can’t remember anymore which road to take, it’s very close to the bridge, please ask the locals.

The campground is very quiet, it’s just you, the birds, kangaroos, some other friendly campers and the WOMBATS! I can’t tell you how excited I was when I first spotted the first wombat in the bush. I’m so scared of spiders, but I followed the wombat to the forest  and stayed there for at least half an hour watching what he was doing. Well to be honest he wasn’t doing much tho… just move here, move there, yawn, scratch:) That’s it.

They are the cutest things I’ve ever seen.

LOL I think after this you are ready to go home now;)

Pictures in this article are all copyrighted by the author Melinda Balazs.