Guidebook for Callala Beach & surrounds
Food Scene
Good food in a lovely heritage building in a rustic country setting. Andrew Hefill is a local chef whose done a great job with this place. This is the nearest restaurant to the cottage - a 15 minute drive back towards Nowra.
We go there regularly (a few times a year), so highly recommend it as a casual but classy dining experience.
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The Butter Factory Restaurant
739 Greenwell Point RdGood food in a lovely heritage building in a rustic country setting. Andrew Hefill is a local chef whose done a great job with this place. This is the nearest restaurant to the cottage - a 15 minute drive back towards Nowra.
We go there regularly (a few times a year), so highly recommend it as a casual but classy dining experience.
We've been coming to Silo's from time to time for over 25 years. The location is one of the first things that drew us there and that, thankfully, hasn't changed. The view across the valley to the escarpment is delightful - lush, verdant, peaceful. Still one of the reasons for dining at Silo's Estate.
What has changed is the chef/staff and menu. The current owners are "Smithy and the Chef", the latter being Andrew Hickie. Their approach at Silo's is a 'relaxed, polished atmosphere, with classic dishes serving fresh produce'.
It's not as good as it used to be in our view, but still good and worth a visit, perhaps on your way down to Callala.
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Silos Estate Berry
B640 Princes HwyWe've been coming to Silo's from time to time for over 25 years. The location is one of the first things that drew us there and that, thankfully, hasn't changed. The view across the valley to the escarpment is delightful - lush, verdant, peaceful. Still one of the reasons for dining at Silo's Estate.
What has changed is the chef/staff and menu. The current owners are "Smithy and the Chef", the latter being Andrew Hickie. Their approach at Silo's is a 'relaxed, polished atmosphere, with classic dishes serving fresh produce'.
It's not as good as it used to be in our view, but still good and worth a visit, perhaps on your way down to Callala.
Worth the one hour drive south, for the excellent food and wonderful views west over the Budawang ranges. Craft beers made on the premises, home made cocktails infused with home grown herbs and an excellent wine selection including Cupitts own all add to the great experience of a meal at Cupitts Kitchen.
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I-Cupitts Winery
58 Washburton RdWorth the one hour drive south, for the excellent food and wonderful views west over the Budawang ranges. Craft beers made on the premises, home made cocktails infused with home grown herbs and an excellent wine selection including Cupitts own all add to the great experience of a meal at Cupitts Kitchen.
Voted People's Choice Best Fish and Chips in NSW for 3 years running - and we vouch for the quality of their food. Great location on the waterfront at nearby Greenwell Point, worth a day trip from the cottage.
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Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant & Cafe
117 Greenwell Point RdVoted People's Choice Best Fish and Chips in NSW for 3 years running - and we vouch for the quality of their food. Great location on the waterfront at nearby Greenwell Point, worth a day trip from the cottage.
A bistro/cafe style eatery with good food, good wine list, nice cocktails, friendly service. Speciality is local blackfish and chips, but they do other seafood very well too. Formerly the Bakery at Orient Point, moved to Culburra a few years ago and hasn't looked back.
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The Little Snapper
10 Fairlands StA bistro/cafe style eatery with good food, good wine list, nice cocktails, friendly service. Speciality is local blackfish and chips, but they do other seafood very well too. Formerly the Bakery at Orient Point, moved to Culburra a few years ago and hasn't looked back.
A new dining experience in Nowra, in the restaurant that used to be Wharf Rd. Ponte has good food, with a tapas menu at night, and a terrific wine and cocktail selection. Right on the river near the bridge (hence the name!), Ponte is worth a visit during you stay at our Cottage.
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Ponte Bar and Dining
10 Wharf RdA new dining experience in Nowra, in the restaurant that used to be Wharf Rd. Ponte has good food, with a tapas menu at night, and a terrific wine and cocktail selection. Right on the river near the bridge (hence the name!), Ponte is worth a visit during you stay at our Cottage.
Very good quality club bistro food, sourced from local growers (hence the name!)
Indoor and outdoor seating, overlooking the Worrigee Links golf course.
Friendly, helpful staff.
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The Growers Shoalhaven
131 Greenwell Point RdVery good quality club bistro food, sourced from local growers (hence the name!)
Indoor and outdoor seating, overlooking the Worrigee Links golf course.
Friendly, helpful staff.
Parks & Nature
Dolphin and whale watching, and getting up close to some of the spectacular sights around Jervis Bay
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Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay
58 Owen StDolphin and whale watching, and getting up close to some of the spectacular sights around Jervis Bay
Some great walks at Abraham's Bosom, Currarong. Taking in the beach, the headland, some great rocky inlets, bushland and an old shipwreck. Especially take the tracks to Goseng's Tunnel and Mermaid Inlet for some spectacular coastal scenery.
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Abrahams Bosom Reserve
Gerringong StreetSome great walks at Abraham's Bosom, Currarong. Taking in the beach, the headland, some great rocky inlets, bushland and an old shipwreck. Especially take the tracks to Goseng's Tunnel and Mermaid Inlet for some spectacular coastal scenery.
This is your front yard at SeaCalm. Just go for a walk, in either direction you have 3-4 kms of fantastic beach to enjoy.
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Callala Beach
This is your front yard at SeaCalm. Just go for a walk, in either direction you have 3-4 kms of fantastic beach to enjoy.
Spectacular scenery, great hiking trails through variety of vegetation, the historic lighthouse at Point Perpendicular, good whale watching spots, several beaches. Since the bushfires and COVID they've been fussy about numbers, so best to check whether it's open on their Facebook page before heading over there.
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Beecroft Peninsula
Spectacular scenery, great hiking trails through variety of vegetation, the historic lighthouse at Point Perpendicular, good whale watching spots, several beaches. Since the bushfires and COVID they've been fussy about numbers, so best to check whether it's open on their Facebook page before heading over there.
This is a simple walk, but with great variety of scenery. Highlight is the stunning views of the Shoalhaven River, but it also goes along a quiet creek through meadowlands and a lovely bush track. Start in the Nowra showgrounds, a 5.5 km loop.
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Bens Walk
Bens WalkThis is a simple walk, but with great variety of scenery. Highlight is the stunning views of the Shoalhaven River, but it also goes along a quiet creek through meadowlands and a lovely bush track. Start in the Nowra showgrounds, a 5.5 km loop.
Jervis Bay is an excellent playground, right on your front door at SeaCalm. A safe swim beach, its popular for stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking. We've had energetic guests who've paddled to the other side of the Bay - to Vincentia, Hyams or across to Honeymoon Bay. Or you can drive to Huskisson and catch a dolphin watching cruise.
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Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is an excellent playground, right on your front door at SeaCalm. A safe swim beach, its popular for stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking. We've had energetic guests who've paddled to the other side of the Bay - to Vincentia, Hyams or across to Honeymoon Bay. Or you can drive to Huskisson and catch a dolphin watching cruise.
Shopping
Interesting stores selling antiques, casual clothing, lollies and bric-a-brac located in historic heritage buildings.
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Jindyandy Mill
719 Greenwell Point RdInteresting stores selling antiques, casual clothing, lollies and bric-a-brac located in historic heritage buildings.
Fresh oysters by the world champion. Take the drive to the estuaries at Greenwell Point and visit Jim Wild's or one of the other oyster growers there. Buy to bring home, or eat them by the water at Greenwell Point. Also provide other seafood, including prawns.
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Jim Wild's Oysters
170 Greens RdFresh oysters by the world champion. Take the drive to the estuaries at Greenwell Point and visit Jim Wild's or one of the other oyster growers there. Buy to bring home, or eat them by the water at Greenwell Point. Also provide other seafood, including prawns.
An excellent bakery - and we do mean excellent - with great coffee, located in the Callala Bay shops.
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Remos Bakery
An excellent bakery - and we do mean excellent - with great coffee, located in the Callala Bay shops.
Essentials
A well stocked IGA in a complex that also has a pharmacy, butcher, bakery, pizza restaurant, cafe and liquor store. 4 km, or 5 minutes drive, from the cottage.
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IGA Callala Bay
55 Emmett StA well stocked IGA in a complex that also has a pharmacy, butcher, bakery, pizza restaurant, cafe and liquor store. 4 km, or 5 minutes drive, from the cottage.
Not a late night chemist, but handy if you need any medicines etc
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Callala Bay Pharmacy
55 Emmett StNot a late night chemist, but handy if you need any medicines etc
A bit further to drive than the local IGA, but for the record, there's a Woolworths at Culburra, a 15 minute drive from the cottage.
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Woolworths Culburra Beach
22 Weston StA bit further to drive than the local IGA, but for the record, there's a Woolworths at Culburra, a 15 minute drive from the cottage.
First class providore of fresh seafood, freshly shucked local oysters, lots of meat, condiments.
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Nowra Fresh Fish & Meat Market
2 East StFirst class providore of fresh seafood, freshly shucked local oysters, lots of meat, condiments.
Right next to the Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market, stock up on your vegetables, herbs, milk, great cheese selection.
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Nowra Farmers Market
111 North StRight next to the Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market, stock up on your vegetables, herbs, milk, great cheese selection.
Cellarbrations
55 Emmett StThe local wine, beer and liquor shop, at Callala Bay shops.
Sightseeing
Worth driving the often-corrugated unsealed road to see the lighthouse and the stunning coastal views you get from there.
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Point Perpendicular Old Lighthouse
Worth driving the often-corrugated unsealed road to see the lighthouse and the stunning coastal views you get from there.
For a day trip, Yalwal is just over an hour's drive from the cottage, to the west of Nowra. A nice drive to an historic goldfield location.
Yalwal
For a day trip, Yalwal is just over an hour's drive from the cottage, to the west of Nowra. A nice drive to an historic goldfield location.
The location of the Husky Ferry pick up, Myola is a small, quiet village on Currambene Creek. It's a nice walk from Callala, either along the beach and then a short walk through the bush, or along the community funded pathway that connects Callala Beach and Myola Villages. Check out the mosaic artwork at the starting point of the pathway at the Callala Beach end.
The Creek at Myola is good for calm water kayaking if you bring your kayak with you to SeaCalm.
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Myola
The location of the Husky Ferry pick up, Myola is a small, quiet village on Currambene Creek. It's a nice walk from Callala, either along the beach and then a short walk through the bush, or along the community funded pathway that connects Callala Beach and Myola Villages. Check out the mosaic artwork at the starting point of the pathway at the Callala Beach end.
The Creek at Myola is good for calm water kayaking if you bring your kayak with you to SeaCalm.
A good, easy walk around the headland north of Culburra Beach. Ruins of an old lighthouse, great coastal views. Do this walk as an easy hour or so, or combine with other tracks along the Crookhaven riverfront for a more substantial hike. And you may see whales off the shore if you visit between May and November.
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Crookhaven Lighthouse
A good, easy walk around the headland north of Culburra Beach. Ruins of an old lighthouse, great coastal views. Do this walk as an easy hour or so, or combine with other tracks along the Crookhaven riverfront for a more substantial hike. And you may see whales off the shore if you visit between May and November.
Entertainment & Activities
A really good, independent cinema that shows a great mix of films in small theatres. If you see the main attraction in cinema 1 you'll feel like you've gone back to the 1950's with the statues at either end of the stage in front of the screen.
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Roxy Theatre
114 Pine AvenueA really good, independent cinema that shows a great mix of films in small theatres. If you see the main attraction in cinema 1 you'll feel like you've gone back to the 1950's with the statues at either end of the stage in front of the screen.
Jervis Bay Standup Paddle has just introduced night time standup! "The verdict is in - lots of marine life attracted to the lights and overall a fantastic and surreal experience on the bay! " They have lots of meeting spots around the Bay. Check them out on Facebook or at www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
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Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay Standup Paddle has just introduced night time standup! "The verdict is in - lots of marine life attracted to the lights and overall a fantastic and surreal experience on the bay! " They have lots of meeting spots around the Bay. Check them out on Facebook or at www.jervisbaystanduppaddle.com.au
Drinks & Nightlife
A friendly local RSL club, with bowling greens and an 18 hole golf course. The bistro is OK, though can get busy. Have concerts with cover bands etc. There's a bus that will pick up and return visitors from Callala Beach to the club.
The 18 hole golf course is a bit of a rough track, but the club has worked hard to make it an interesting challenge for the weekend hacker.
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Club Callala
43 Callala Beach RdA friendly local RSL club, with bowling greens and an 18 hole golf course. The bistro is OK, though can get busy. Have concerts with cover bands etc. There's a bus that will pick up and return visitors from Callala Beach to the club.
The 18 hole golf course is a bit of a rough track, but the club has worked hard to make it an interesting challenge for the weekend hacker.
The next generation has taken over from the founder, Louise Cole and have developed the cellar door into a fun place to visit. A good selection of wines, the best being their whites.
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Cambewarra Estate Winery
520 Illaroo RdThe next generation has taken over from the founder, Louise Cole and have developed the cellar door into a fun place to visit. A good selection of wines, the best being their whites.
One of our favourite wineries in the Shoalhaven, using both local grapes and those acquired from other places such as Orange and the Central Ranges. A real feature is the stunning views of the surrounding district along the Shoalhaven River. A recent upgrade to the cellar door makes a visit even more appealing.
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Two Figs Winery
905 Bolong RdOne of our favourite wineries in the Shoalhaven, using both local grapes and those acquired from other places such as Orange and the Central Ranges. A real feature is the stunning views of the surrounding district along the Shoalhaven River. A recent upgrade to the cellar door makes a visit even more appealing.
One of the more established wineries in the area, also with a nice bistro. The Alexander Berry Chardonnay is a signature award-winning wine.
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Coolangatta Estate
1335 Bolong RdOne of the more established wineries in the area, also with a nice bistro. The Alexander Berry Chardonnay is a signature award-winning wine.