What to see & do in the Kangaroo Valley

Which wineries to visit
Where to stay
Delicious cafes
Scenic spots

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway that’s not too far away, with plenty of activities to keep yourself occupied and is idyllic (if you’re after some much needed R&R), look no further than Kangaroo Valley. Just two hours from Sydney or Canberra, Kangaroo Valley is a great Ministay for travellers who love nature, wine and scenic drives down the coast of NSW. If you have a weekend to spare (or can take some extra time off) here’s a list of must-see’s and -do’s for your next visit:

Getting to Kangaroo Valley

I find with most trips that driving (or renting) a car is the easiest way to get somewhere. It gives you the freedom to choose where you go and what time you need to, without worrying about timetables and fickle public transport. Depending on where you live there are two main ways you can drive down; the somewhat quicker drive through Upper Nepean bushland or the scenic route along the coast. Although the latter tends to be the more popular of the two, the scenic vistas make up for the extra time.

The drive down

While most trips can just be about getting from Point A to Point B, this drive has plenty to offer and you’ll probably find yourself like me, stopping at some touristy and not-so-touristy spots along the way down. The first would be the Royal National Park. Spanning around 160 km², this rich bushland has plenty of hiking trails, coastal views and secluded beaches. Some of the more noteworthy ones are:

Wattamola Beach
Figure 8 Pools
A 26km long Coast Track between Bundeena in the north and Otford in the south
The Winifred Falls trail
Wedding Cake Rock

The spectacular Grand Pacific Drive itself is breathtaking and never ceases to amaze me.

Possibly one of the most overused (but still fun to look at) scenic bridges in adverts is Sea Cliff Bridge. A highlight for anyone driving along the Grand Pacific Drive. Opened in 2005, the Sea Cliff Bridge is an iconic winding bridge that offers views while driving along the winding road as well as for pedestrians that can walk from end-to-end.

Staying in Kangaroo Valley

Although we didn’t stay in Kangaroo Valley itself, with Airbnb at our service, it wasn’t hard to find a warm & welcoming home to stay in that was a short drive away (see it helps to have that car!). If a beautiful homestead in Coolangatta with gracious hosts that grow their own food and have a clawfoot bath for you to enjoy sounds like your thing, check out Jacqueline & Brent’s home. Now if you have yet to book with Airbnb, here’s an offer for $55 off your first trip of $110 AUD or more. Berry or Nowra are also great places to stay that are nearby and have their own picturesque towns to wander through.

Things to do in Kangaroo Valley

Wineries

While not the most famous wine region in Australia, it still has quite a bit to offer. Yarrawa Estate is one such winery that, while being a bit hard to find (Hello Google Maps!), will pleasantly surprise you with what they have to offer. Another winery that you should try is Silos Estate. This vineyard has seven varieties of grapes; Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Make sure to check their open hours if you’re interested in wine tastings as we just missed them. They also have a restaurant that uses local produce and has an open fireplace to keep you cosy in winter months.

Eateries

If you feel like tasting a “Gold medal winning cheeseburger pie”, check out Southern Pies. With handmade pies and stores in Kangaroo Valley and Bomaderry. Another cute place to eat in is ‘The General Cafe’ on Moss Vale Road. They fuelled us up with good coffee and has some tasty pastries that we may or may not have indulged in!

Sights

You can also opt to see the valley by kayak or canoe. There are two companies where you can rent them from, Kangaroo Valley Safaris or (easy to remember) Kangaroo Valley Kayaks. Unfortunately, I didn’t plan the trip well enough and we didn’t end up kayaking or canoeing. Ironic seeing as how I’m writing about travelling but part of why I’m putting this out there is to help other people not make the same mistake I did!

There are more bush walks if you feel like exploring, Mortan National Park and Kangaroo Valley Nature Reserve have quite a few hiking trails to explore. Fitzroy Falls is another great walking track, but I’d suggest leaving this until later in your trip since it’s a little out of the way and you can add it to your stops on the drive back.

Do you know any other amazing places in Kangaroo Valley? Let me know in the comments below!