The small Australian beach town of yesteryear, Culburra Beach on NSW's picturesque south coast, is just more than two-hours drive from Sydney and Canberra and is one of NSW's few remaining unspoiled beaches.
You can swim, surf, walk and fish on the beach directly in front of the house. There's also a Learn to Surf school operating towards the south end of the beach. In Culburra Beach township, there's a skate park, a few op shops and bike trails. Down the road from Pavilions House on the Beach, there's the place where the Crookhaven River and Shoalhaven River meet and join the ocean. There's also Lake Wollumboola , a coastal lake 5-minutes drive from the house.
But if you'd like to get out and about in the Shoalhaven, you can go horse riding, canoeing, play golf or visit a water park.
You could also explore the Jervis Bay townships of Callala Bay (15-minute drive) and Huskison (30-minute drive).
There are five golf courses short drives from Culburra Beach. Here are three of the closest:
This links course is a 15-minute drive from Pavilions House on the Beach and on the road back to Nowra.
131 Greenwell Point Road, Worrigee
(02) 4421 7430
worrigeelinks.com.au
15 minutes-drive from Pavilions House on the Beach you can play a challenging or leisurely18-hole round among kangaroos and parrots, lorikeets, corellas and cockatoos. Visitors pay $20 for 9 or 18 holes.
43 Callala Beach Road, Callala Beach
(02) 4446 5313
clubcallala.com.au
40 minutes-drive from Pavilions House on the Beach, the picturesque Shoalhaven Heads Golf course is an 18-hole links style course.
Staples Street, Shoalhaven Heads
(02) 4448 8683
Culburra Beach has some of Australia's best beginner waves making it easy to be up and riding in no time. Advanced surfers will be sure to get some excellent waves as well. Culburra Beach Surf School is an Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) accredited surf school and abides by the high international standards for surf school operations. Culburra Beach Surf School and Hire offers group and private, beginner and intermediate surfing certificate courses, surfing guide trips, team building, surfing awareness, board hire, sea kayaking for kids, adults, parties, disadvantage groups and corporates.
(02) 4447 3197
www.academyofsurfing.com
There are several op shops in Culburra Beach itself just behind the main strip so you can pass a couple of hours rummaging for vintage furniture, games, music, books and clothes. Anglicare is probably the biggest in town, and there's another two just across the road from it.
Anglicare
4 Weston Street, Culburra Beach
(02) 4447 4084
There is excellent fresh seafood available from the nearby fishing village of Greenwell Point (15 mins drive) including its world famous oysters. You'll also get great local prawns at Orient Point nearby (5 mins drive).
On your way to Pavilions House on the Beach from Sydney, or a 20-minute drive from the house itself, Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market is a great place to stock up for cooking at the house. People rave about this place to buy premium quality seafood, meat, poultry condiments and game meats. There’s plenty of parking out the front.
Cnr Moss Street and Princes Highway, Nowra.
(02) 4429 1900
nowrafresh.com