Jamberoo is NSW's biggest fun park and there's a heap of fun and entertainment to be had. Think water thrills and spills, a massive wave pool, speed slides, rock jump, racing cars, the famous mountain toboggan…….and that's not even half of it.
The new ride'The Taipa is the park's new high thrill ride and not for the faint-hearted.
It's the first ride of its type in Australia - consisting of two giant slides that are totally in the dark! You will descend into a disorienting world of darkness with a terrifying ride of drops, twists and turns. You'll be bitten and back for more!
This world of fun for kids and kids-at-heart is only just over an hour south of Sydney and an easy day trip. The entry fee covers all rides, all day - it's all included. Bring your own food for a relaxed picnic in the beautiful scenic grounds - or choose from the wealth of tasty food outlets on site.
So bring your swimmers and the sunscreen and take on The Taipan, scream down The Toboggan and Hang Ten in the Wave Pool. Can you control the action in just one day?
The Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Art and Culture Studio is actively participating in a hands on approach to reconciliation in Australia. Come and observe Aboriginal artists at work. The studio is dedicated to Aboriginal cultural awareness featuring artworks, weaving, painting, drawing, tool making, bush toy making, dance, didgeridoo playing, storytelling, Aboriginal art consultancy and Aboriginal sites consultancy. The bush foods and medicine garden offers visitors a first hand look at available bush foods. A range of packaged bush tucker, handmade woven objects and artwork is available to purchase.
The historic old schoolhouse has a new lease on life. Just about everything you taste at The Schoolhouse is made using whatever is flowering and growing in the fields and forests nearby. The teas are grown organically at Foxground. Cheese is made on-site using the freshest, pasture-fed local milk. Enjoy high tea, cheese for two or a private tasting function by appointment. Savour the flavours of the South Coast - you won't be disappointed!
Jamberoo Golf Club is just 30 minutes south of Wollongong, nestled in the lush, green Jamberoo Valley and embraced by Hyam's Creek and the Minnamurra River. Not a long course at 4,842 metres, par 67, but to play well demands accuracy and strategy. With stunning rural, bush and mountain views, some 96 native bird species identified on course, friendly Eastern Water Dragons and other abundant wildlife, Jamberoo Golf Course is the natural place to play.
The Berry Historic Museum is a great place for those interested in local history and a visit to the museum will prove very rewarding. Housed in the old E.S. and A Bank, there are records of early settlement in the Berry district. The Berry Museum has an extensive collection of items, memorabilia, photographs and records donated by the local community. These relate to the area's agricultural, dairying and timber past. Lots of photographs of people, places and activities are on display. Guided and self completing tours are available and a "please do touch room" for children. Bookings required for guided tours.
Bonaira Native Gardens feature established rainforest species. Explore the magical and peaceful oasis by foot or bike and pack a picnic lunch for the family. The walk takes 30 minutes and passes a moving monument dedicated to the Wodi Wodi people - the local Aboriginal tribe. An attraction the whole family will love!
Gerringong Golf Club, situated along the coast just south of Gerringong, is a Par 72 championship 18 hole golf course, with views to impress! The course provides magnificent views across farmland to the mountains, whilst a deserted beach forms part of the boundary. The small club house is open daily, providing cart and club hire, drinks and limited food.
The historical Muir House Gallery is located in the township of Berry. Muir House has a wide range of local arts and crafts on display and for sale. Every fourth Sunday of the month Muir House has an Art and Craft Open Day where artist from around the area gather and demonstrating their painting techniques, local writers also attend, and general arts and crafts on display. Gallery art space available for hire.
Purveyors of a fine selection of hand-blended teas and an eclectic range of tea wares from around the world. Come and browse this cute little store or take time out to enjoy one of their beautiful teas with a slice of cake or freshly baked scones with raspberry jam and double cream. A must visit for tea lovers.
Located in the beautiful town of Berry, Jetz Cafe is a healthy oasis. This cafe offers not only an all day breakfast serving quality fresh food but also lunch and afternoon tea with extensive menu selections. You have the wonderful opportunity of either eating indoors or dining outside in the courtyard. Come along and enjoy a meal at Berry Jetz Cafe.
Thai @ Kiama serves beautiful freshly prepared meals full of great flavours. The restaurant is warmly welcoming with friendly staff. They are fully licensed (BYO wine) and are air conditioned. Located in the heart of Kiama, on Collins Street next to Kiama Leagues Club, Thai @ Kiama is the perfect location for your next lunch or dinner.
The Berry Courthouse is now open to the public. It was abolished on 30 July 1988 as it was no longer needed as a local courthouse. Visitors can enjoy the Victorian Gardens and the elegant Classical courthouse, it is sure to remind you of the Grecian beginnings of the justice system. The building was designed by James Barnet in the Greek Revival style and built in 1890 and 1891 at a cost of 1,658 pounds 10 shillings and 7 pence. The Berry Court House appears to have been completed in September 1891. The Berry Courthouse operated as a courthouse from 1891 to 1988 and, as such, reflects the early history of governance and law and order in the region and New South Wales. As an example of a small scale rural courthouse designed in the Classical Academic style, its fine, elegant design embodies late 19th century concepts of courthouse architecture.
Budderoo National Park is located on 7,120 hectares, five kilometres west of Jamberoo. The park is home to Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, a multi award winning tourism destination which allows you to explore the rainforests that once blanketed the Illawarra region. Boardwalks and paved tracks take you along the forest floor and up through a range of rainforest environments, on your way to the magical Minnamurra Falls. Up on the plateau above the rainforest, the park offers excellent walking tracks with views across sandstone heaths and woodlands and towards the Illawarra coast. The lookouts and picnic areas at Carrington Falls, where the Kangaroo River plunges over the escarpment, are well worth a visit. Carrington Falls has many lookouts and walking tracks which offer good views. Facilities within the park include a kiosk, picnic and barbecue areas, toilets and wheelchair access.
Located in beautiful Gerringong, Jock's Bakery and Cafe offer a variety of freshly baked pastries along with breakfasts, salad bars, and coffee. All that is needed to kick start your day! All freshly baked goodies are made daily on the premises, and Jock's Bakery and Cafe also provide specialty cakes to order.
The Village Forge is known for unique customised pieces. By melding the tradition of Blacksmithing with contemporary Metal Fabrication techniques, inspired designs of classic decoration, sculpture, architecture and personal motifs are used to create unlimited design variations. Glass, timber, stone, mosaics and other mediums can be incorporated, as well as taking advantage of the best protective coatings available on today's market. Gates are a speciality and can be fitted with a large range of security and power options available. The Village Forge invites you to discuss any size project and welcomes the opportunity to translate your ideas into a truly unique medium. The Village Forge invites Architects and Designers to contact him to discuss custom plans. The Village Forge is the place for individual handmade pieces such as balustrade and garden designs, as well as demonstrations and classes.
The Berry Sourdough Bakery and Cafe isn't your average bakery. They have an Alan Scott oven, a mixer, a crew of talented bakers on the bench and all loaves are hand crafted with no moulding machinery used. The bakery makes the most of the location, maintaining a relationship with other local organic food producers. Doughs are mixed slowly, rested for three hours, shaped and set to rise in willow baskets. When ready they are loaded onto a peel and slashed on their way into the wood fired oven. The range includes whole wheat, rye, multi grain, spelt levain blanc, olive, brioche, baguette and fruit. A shop is connected to the bakehouse, selling seasonal organic vegetables, organic dips and dry goods. The cafe menu is packed full of interesting food, using as much local produce as possible.
The Goldfish Toy Shop, Berry, is an iconic retail experience that transports parents and children into a world of colourful, wooden toys and speciality gift items. With most of their products being designed by the head honcho - Elisa Doro - here in Australia and ethically handmade in Bali you can be assured you are purchasing sustainable, environmentally sound, community supportive and ethical products. Can't get into Berry? Their dreamy products are also available to purchase online! Experience toy shopping the way it should be experienced and visit Goldfish Toy Shop, Berry, for a shopping trip you will never forget!
The Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial Lookout offers panoramic views of Seven Mile Beach National Park and magnificent views of the coastline. The Memorial is in the shape of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's famous aircraft called the 'Southern Cross'. It commemorates his historic record breaking flight on January 11th 1933 across the Tasman to New Zealand. Seven Mile Beach was selected for the take-off area as it was an ideal place and allowed a long, smooth take-off for his heavy laden aircraft. A plaque is on display near the outline of his famous aircraft.
Broughton Antiques, established in 1985, is situated in one of Berry's heritage buildings. They offer an extensive range of antiques, furniture and collectables. Specialising in quality Victorian and Edwardian furniture, much of which is privately sourced together with a selective range of porcelain, silver and fine estate jewellery. If you are considering selling they can help discuss the pre-sale estimate of your item or collection. You can email images for comment. They can provide a verbal valuation / appraisal just by visiting Broughton Antiques in Berry. To contact a valuer, or to submit images, please email Broughton Antiques.
The Treat Factory is the largest gourmet food outlet on the South Coast of New South Wales. Established in the historic Old Central Creamery, the Treat Factory manufactures hundreds of flavours of jams and sauces from family recipes spanning over 60 years. On site, they handcraft a massive selection of Belgian Chocolate and gourmet confectionary - they have all your old favourites and new unique creations. At The Treat Factory you can smell the aroma of the jams bubbling away while you shop. During the week, most days you can watch chocolate or confectionary been manufactured. At The Treat Factory Warehouse you will find ingredients, bulk goods, kitchen ware, baking needs and more. They have treats and hard to find ingredients for the professional chef, cake decorator, food lover and home cook. The Treat Factory is an essential stop for the food lover visiting the south coast.
The Crooked River commercial winery produces over 100,000 bottles of soft wines and ports each year. The vineyard and location provide a perfect back drop to the surrounding mountains and ocean vistas. Crooked River Winery and Vineyard is situated 1.5 hours from Sydney Airport, 10 minutes from Kiama and two minutes drive from Gerringong Railway Station on Willow Vale Road just off the Princes Highway. Tours available, bus groups by appointment.
Cafe Parkview an award winning cafe is conveniently situated in the main street of Kiama. Enjoy the light and gourmet meals by qualified chefs, homemade cakes and chocolates. This is a meeting spot for locals with the finest, smoothest coffee made by trained baristas. They have authentic Italian gelato and sorbets and their unique drink menu including chillers. A kids menu is also available.
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve is located on one of the most southerly plateaus of the Sydney Basin and has been a protected area for over 40 years. Surrounding the reserve is an escarpment of sandstone approximately 230-250 million years old which forms the bedrock. The reserve contains a wide variety of habitats including heath, woodland and tall forest. Excellent bushwalking gives walkers fantastic views of the Illawarra coastline and surrounding countryside. Picnic facilities are located here. Barren Grounds is home to a diverse array of wildlife including the threatened Ground Parrot, Eastern Bristlebird, the Long-nosed Potoroo and more than 500 species of plants. Located at the top of Jamberoo pass this 1750 hectare nature reserve is an established bird watcher's mecca. Walks include Griffiths Track, an eight kilometre walk through woodlands and heath. Cooks Nose Lookout is a six kilometre return walk. Trail brochure available at the Kiama Visitor's Centre.
Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is a multi-award winning nature based destination, and is one of the best examples of subtropical and warm temperate rainforest that once covered vast areas of the Illawarra region.
This rainforest is situated in Budderoo National Park which is less than two hours drive south of Sydney, located 15 kilometres west of Kiama on the NSW South Coast.
The centre offers visitors the opportunity to experience the rainforest area via a network of raised walkways and paved tracks. The 'Loop Walk' is a 1.6 kilometre walk (45-minutes duration) which meanders through a diversity of rainforest types.
The 2.6 kilometres (return) 'Falls Walk' will lead you safely along the canyon cliff edge to the Upper Minnamurra Falls. This walk is slightly more challenging and will require an additional one hour walk time.
Total of both walks is 4.2 kilometre and visitors should allow two hours to do both.
South Coast Providores prides itself on working with locally grown produce. All their products are made by hand and in small batches ensuring an artisan product. They work with some 18 local growers who supply them with a wide range of fruit and vegetables - all sustainably grown. They work with the seasons and their range includes plums, peaches, nectarines, all citrus fruits, tamarillos, feijoas, kiwi fruit, wild limes, rhubarb, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. South Coast Providores source local tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers and more for their chutneys and relishes. They are passionate about their products and this shows in the end result.
Kiama's famous Blowhole is the largest in the world! A viewing platform with disabled access gives good views of Kiama blowhole. This landmark has attracted people to the region for over 100 years, was first sighted by George Bass when he anchored his whale boat in the sheltered bay, now known as Kiama harbour, in December 1797. It is estimated that 600,000 people visit the Blowhole per year to view the spectacular plumes of water that can be seen when the seas are running from the south east. Only a short distance from the town centre and railway station, the Kiama blowhole has picnic areas and rock pool nearby. The Beach and Bush Cafe, Visitors Information Centre and toilets are also located nearby and are open 9am to 5pm.
Seven Mile Beach National Park comprises of 898 hectares of coastal land in a narrow strip between the villages of Shoalhaven Heads and Gerroa, about 17 kilometres east of Nowra. This national park is one of the smallest in the state. Seven Mile Beach National Park is 137 kilometres south of Sydney and 6 kilometres south from Gerringong. At Beach Road the new wooden walkway to the beach and viewing platform and the nearby car park provide easy beach access to all, including the disabled. Close by there is a large picnic area with barbecues in a pleasant forest setting. A smaller picnic area is set among tea trees and banksias with easy beach access. There are loop walking tracks through the forest and along the beach. Activities available in park include: bushwalking, swimming, surfing, picnicking. Camping in the national park is now PROHIBITED.
Mezzadella's serves traditional wood fired pizzas with a modern twist! Also on the menu: calzones, gluten free pizzas, salads, homemade gelato and blackboard specials. Gourmet pizzas include Inferno, with a herbed tomato base, hot calabrese salami, chorizo, fresh tomato, Spanish onion, chilli flakes, jalapenos, buffalo mozzarella topped with roquette and yoghurt, Cajun Mama, with Cajun spiced prawns on a herbed yoghurt and tomato base with roasted red capsicum and seared mango, Spanish onion, buffalo mozzarella, topped with roquette and green tomato and lime relish.
The Berry Community and Activity Centre have a wonderful display of handmade crafts in wood, wool and material all made locally. Organically grown vegetables for sale, jams, relishes and, pickles made from organically grown vegetables are also a feature. Berry is famous for its gardens, trees, arts and crafts, antiques and markets. Berry also boasts some fine early architecture with various buildings, some beautifully restored, protected by their National Trust Classification in recognition of their significance to the heritage of the region.
This award-winning cottage industry is on the site of the Old Toolijooa School, beside the Princes Highway about two kilometres south of Gerringong. The old school residence is still there, and in the workshop behind it there are the usual pottery wheels and kilns, and a gallery where finished pots are on display. The potters create mugs, teapots, bowls and casseroles and similar useful things, and often just for fun, owls and pussycats, pelicans, wombats, dragons and little stoneware animals. See lots of pictures on their website. Visitors are always welcome. Depending on the day, you may see pots being made, fired, or glazed. Or just browse about in the display room to see the wide variety of finished items. If you want to be sure the workshop is open, feel free to phone ahead.