Who needs to travel far to escape the city, or to be by the seaside?
Airports are jam-packed with people with suitcases on wheels checking in for their distant 'getaway'.
We live in Sydney and recently chose to drive past the airport to explore our immediate South Coast. Shellharbour was our first stop. It's a stone's throw from Kiama, a short 20-minute drive from Wollongong, and only one and one half hours from Sydney airport, and definitely worth visiting. Sadly we only booked three nights. Not enough! Not if you want to walk, swim, sleep, read, ride bikes and play golf and just chill out. It's fine if you want to rush around and fill every minute of your day, or if a weekend is all you have.
Sheltered Boat Harbour at Shellharbour
As soon as you arrive in Shellharbour Village, there's a feeling of the bygone era of a beach-shack holiday town that was around in the 1960s and 1970s. I say 'the feeling' because it's relaxed and evokes the feel of kicking back a gear or three. All the things you were going to run around and do become less important as you slow down. Yet, when it comes to food, service and accommodation we're right up here in the 21st century.
Ocean Beach Hotel, Shell Harbour, A simple pub meal
We booked our Pelican's Rest accommodation online through a booking agency. I thought I was booking a four-star boutique hotel and was totally confused when the GPS guided us into a suburban cul-de-sac, to a house with manicured lawns and pristine driveway. The sign read 'Pelicans Rest' so we rang the doorbell.
Our host, Laurie extended a very warm welcome and led us to one of two a perfectly private, gorgeous studios that he and wife Barbara had purpose-built as part of their house. It was ideal, perfectly clean, and with everything that one would want for self-catering.
There's a small courtyard with a BBQ, a kitchenette, refrigerator and cooktop and microwave. The large bathroom has a spa bath and shower, with toiletries provided to get you started for your stay.
Studio and Courtyard Pelicans Rest
Pelicans Rest Accommodation
Pelican's Rest is a short 3 minutes stroll from the foreshore, beach and pool. The village, pub and shops might take you 5 minutes to reach.
Ocean Beach Hotel
We enjoy cycling so explored the village on two wheels and ventured further afield by car. Pelican's Rest is a great base for this as we could safely leave our bikes in the yard or inside.
High Tea at White House Cafe
Day trips might include
Kiama; the
Aviation Museum at Albion Park, the hilly beachside village of Gerringong or Bass Point to discover the story of the
South Coast's most tragic war-time shipping accident. Bass Point is also known for one of the two most important archaeological sites on the NSW coast. Referred to as
The Indigenous Cultural Walk, you can take in the coastal views and read a series of interpretative signs providing information about Indigenous occupation of Bass Point and Shellharbour City.
Bass Point - Boston Shipwreck Memorial and Signficant Indigenous Site
Barbara and Laurie have plenty of tourist information in your studio to help with your planning, or you can research ahead of time by visiting
the Shellharbour Tourist Information Centre.
To book directly with Pelicans Rest, visit their
Website or call
P: (02) 42 964 571 M: 0437 964 571 or email them:
[email protected]
