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You should always leave space in your travel itinerary for spontaneity. And that’s what happened to us when we landed in Kangaroo Valley NSW.
A large focus of our Australian road trip was to ask for suggestions from our readers and social communities on things to do and see.
We soon learned that there were plenty of things to do in Kangaroo Valley, that it was worth a detour on our road trip to check it out.
We’re so glad we did. You should really go to Kangaroo Valley too.
As one reader said, “I didn’t know Australia was so green.”
Australia is surprising. You’ll find a bit of everything in this country.
The valley is as green as Ireland and with the Australian bush and escarpments framing it, it’s really a pretty place. We would have loved a couple of extra days.
Check out this video of us arriving in the Valley – see how excited we were:
Things to Do in Kangaroo Valley NSW
We had plans for exploring the many bike trails, but the weather had other ideas. If you are looking for good bike trails, head down the Upper River Road through the Upper Kangaroo Valley.
However, we still had a great time! Here are some suggestions for what to do in Kangaroo Valley NSW.
1. See wild wombats
The first thing you notice on the drive into Kangaroo Valley are the signs warning you to watch for wombats.
In Australia, this is a sign usually reserved for kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas, and in Far North Queensland, cassowaries.
Rarely do you see wombats.
Before coming to the valley, I had never seen a wild wombat. Thanks to Kangaroo Valley I saw three. They were grazing in the paddocks like lazy cows on a lovely spring afternoon.
It was a thrill for us to see local wildlife and be this close to wildlife encounters at the Bendeela Picnic Areas, which is also a place for free camping.
Pretty cool hey! Camping with the wombats. It was certainly one of the most beautiful spots to camp in Kangaroo Valley with incredible scenery and wildlife around you.
Oh and we managed to see the only roo in Kangaroo Valley in the distant paddock. (We’re still pondering why it’s Kangaroo Valley and not Wombat Valley).
2. Check Out Historic Hampden Bridge
The focal point of the town is the sandstone Hampden Bridge spanning the Kangaroo River.
The historic Hampden Bridge was built in 1898 and is Australia’s last surviving wooden suspension bridge.
It was considered an engineering feat of the Victorian era and second only in importance in Australia to Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It’s a pretty bridge to drive across and maintains its old wordly charm, with only one lane.
I love how this forces you to slow down and wait, acknowledging those with a polite wave of thanks as you drive past.
If you want a calm afternoon, head down to the river below to skim rocks and take a dip. It’s a beautiful place to hang out for a while and enjoy the serene setting.
3. Try the World’s Best Pies
This is a bold statement to make in Australia. Judging by the amount of people coming in and out of this small Barrengarry store, it could well be true.
Craig was disappointed to not really be able to judge it as they ran out of all pies but the vegetable curry.
Since he has returned to eating meat lately and hasn’t had a meat pie in years, he was shattered he could not try the world’s best.
But, he said the curry one was pretty good. I”m gluten free so no pie tasting for me 🙁
4. Visit Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls was one of the most wonderful places in Kangaroo Valley for nature lovers, and is also the perfect spot to visit for photography enthusiasts.
There’s a lovely 3 – 6 km walk here along the cliff face. Fitzroy Falls plunges over the escarpment into the thick Eucalpytus forest in the valley below.
I didn’t find Fitzroy Falls an overly dramatic waterfall, but it’s pretty enough and the views over the valley reminded me of the Blue Mountains.
Having said that, after visiting Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe I find most waterfalls aren’t that dramatic. Vic Falls will do that to you.
The boardwalk along the creek, through restored native bushland, takes you to a lookout at the top of the Falls.
5. Have lunch at the Burrawang Village Hotel (Pub)
If you’re looking for great local restaurants or cafes to dine in, we can’t recommend the Burrawang Village Hotel enough.
Sophie from Crystal Creek Meadows told us the Burrawang Hotel won NSW Country Pub of the year. You cannot ignore a title like that. (Thank goodness for local tips).
The food was good, although not the best ever, but that did not matter as the views and the beer garden were world class.
Any parent who needs a little time out and to feel happy that their kids are happy running around huge grassed areas, exploring the beautiful plants and flora, and climbing trees, needs to come here.
There were lots of happy, squealing kids and lots of calm, contented parents gazing out yonder to soak up the serenity. Australia, give me more of these pubs please.
6. Drive over to Kiama
After short drive from Kangaroo Valley and you’ve found yourself at the coast. Kiama is most famous for the Kiama Blowhole, a huge rock formation where water shoots into the air between the rocks during high tide.
The Kiama Coast Walk trail is the place to go to see the the blowholes and other rock formations, such as the columns of Cathedral Rocks.
It’s also a great place to see a whale or dolphin swimming by the shore during winter months.
If you want to take a surfboard out into the ocean, then Surf Beach is a great place to catch some waves. It also has soft sand and gentle waves near the shore, which is great for families who want to take their little ones swimming.
READ MORE: Things to do in Kiama, NSW (a surprising beauty!)
8. Take a Day Trip to Shoalhaven
Another coastal destination near Kangaroo Valley is Shoalhaven, which has some excellent beaches, a vibrant art scene, and is surrounded by mountains and scenic landscapes.
While one of the attractions of Kangaroo Valley is the peace and quiet, if you’re finding it a little too peaceful, Shoalhaven is a great place to base yourself before taking day trips into Kangaroo Valley. It offers the perfect blend of city vibrancy and laid-back lifestyle, while still being within 40-minute’ drive of the valley.
For those looking to see wildlife, the Shoalhaven Zoo and Adventure World is a great place to see not only native Aussie animals such as emus and echidnas, but you can also see animals from around the world too.
Or head over to the Merribee Botanic Gardens to be surrounded by lush native plants and fauna, or head out into the wetlands of Corramy Regional Park, where the stunning Anabranch loop track takes you through gum forest, rainforest, and to the Wandandian Creek which is a great place to paddle around in a canoe.
Shoalhaven also has a Fleet Air Arm Museum, many stunning beaches and hiking routes in the nearby national parks.
9. Visit the Two Figs Winery, Berry
If you love sampling local wines, then head to the small boutique Two Figs Winery in Berry. Open every day from 11am to 5pm, it’s a great place to sample some of the Kangaroo Valley wines and Shoalhaven region.
It’s a small winery so they can accommodate no more than 6 people per group, which is also nice as it means your group get a more intimate experience.
This is one of the top things to do in Kangaroo Valley for adults.
Where to Stay in Kangaroo Valley
We stayed at the Crystal Creek Meadows when we visited, which is a lovely family-run B&B with four self-contained cabins and luxury cottages with a deck/terrace.
The owners, Christopher and Sophie had lots of great tips on things to do and see in Kangaroo Valley and we incorporated some of their suggestions on this list.
What we loved about this beautiful property is that we were only 5 minutes from the village center, and yet it felt so remote we could enjoy being in nature.
Our daughter’s enjoyed fruit picking in the gardens and there were some chickens roaming around the grounds.
Everything felt very peaceful and relaxing.
It also comes with all the faciltiies you would need for a comfortable stay, from free wifi to free parking, a fireplace in the living area for winter days, comfy beds and extra beds for children.
Not to mention the host is so friendly and attentive to guests. Overall, we had a great stay at Crystal Creek Meadows and would recommend it to anyone.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Kangaroo Valley
When we asked for suggestions on where to go in Southern NSW, there were far too many shout outs to visit Kangaroo Valley for us to ignore. We’re so glad that we shuffled around our itinerary and made room for it.
Kangaroo Valley has so much beautiful nature and a peaceful atmosphere that is hard to pass up. Not to mention the warm hospitality and friendliness of the locals.
With Christopher and Sophie’s tips combined with our reader’s suggestions, and you get a pretty great time in Kangaroo Valley, which I think should be renamed to Wombat Valley.
I hope this guide helped you plan your trip to Kangaroo Valley and gave you some suggestions for what to do there.
More Tips for South Coast NSW
Are you planning to visit other parts of the South Coast of New South Wales? Then you may enjoy these other resources…
- Top things to do in the Southern Highlands
- Day trips from Sydney (or weekend getaways)
- The Best Beaches in NSW to visit
- Things to see and do on a Snowy Mountain Drive
- 2 Weeks in South Coast NSW – Travel Itinerary
- Things to Do in Jervis Bay, NSW
- Things to do in Wollongong – the Gong gets us into the groove!
What do you think? Should YOU visit Kangaroo Valley? Let us know in the comments.
