Where to stay on the South Coast
The South Coast rewards choosing your base well — the bay life of Jervis Bay, the easy convenience of Kiama, the country charm of Berry, the beach-and-dining of Mollymook, or a hinterland escape in Kangaroo Valley. From glamping tents to clifftop hotels and beachfront holiday parks, here's how to pick the right area and style of stay.
Jervis Bay, Kiama & Berry
Huskisson and Vincentia are the natural bases for Jervis Bay — walkable to cruises, cafés and the white beaches. Kiama is the closest major base to Sydney and handy for the northern coast, while historic Berry is perfect for a food-and-country stay within easy reach of the beaches and Kangaroo Valley. Each has its own character; many travellers pair two over a long weekend.
Mollymook, Ulladulla & Kangaroo Valley
Further south, Mollymook and Ulladulla pair a patrolled beach with the region's best-known dining — the clifftop Bannisters, home to Rick Stein at Bannisters, anchors the accommodation here. Inland, Kangaroo Valley offers cottages, farm-stays and eco-retreats among the green hills. And for a memorable one-off, Paperbark Camp at Woollamia serves up luxury bush glamping near Jervis Bay. Whatever your style, there's a stay to suit.
Hotels, houses, glamping & parks
The coast covers the full range: boutique clifftop hotels, self-contained apartments and holiday houses for families and groups, cosy B&Bs and farm-stays, luxury glamping, and beachfront holiday parks (BIG4, Discovery, NRMA Murramarang, Reflections) by the sand and the lakes. Book well ahead for summer, Easter and school holidays, when the best places go fast. Tell us how you like to travel and we'll match the stay.
Where to stay: your questions
It depends on your trip. For the region's highlights, Huskisson or Vincentia put you on Jervis Bay; Kiama is the easiest base near Sydney; Berry suits food-and-country lovers; Mollymook/Ulladulla is a great beach base with fine dining; and Kangaroo Valley is the pick for a green hinterland escape. Many visitors combine two bases — say Jervis Bay plus Kiama or Berry — over a few days.
Paperbark Camp is a luxury glamping retreat at Woollamia, near Huskisson on Jervis Bay — elevated safari-style canvas tents tucked into the bush, with the acclaimed treetop Gunyah Restaurant. It's one of the South Coast's signature stays, though it operates on a seasonal calendar (roughly spring to autumn), so check the dates when you book. It's a memorable choice for a special-occasion trip to Jervis Bay.
Bannisters has two properties at Mollymook: the original clifftop Bannisters by the Sea (home to Rick Stein at Bannisters) and the in-town Bannisters Pavilion, with its rooftop pool and bar. Both are stylish boutique stays near Mollymook's patrolled beach. (There's also a Bannisters at Port Stephens, but that's on the North Coast — a sister property, not on the South Coast.)
Plenty. The South Coast has excellent holiday and caravan parks near the beaches — including BIG4 Ulladulla Beachside, Discovery Parks around Ulladulla and Burrill Lake, NRMA Murramarang Beachfront at South Durras, and Reflections Holidays parks — alongside self-contained apartments, holiday houses, motels and B&Bs. Families and groups do especially well in holiday houses and beachfront parks close to the sand.
For summer (December–January), Easter and the school holidays, absolutely — the South Coast is a hugely popular getaway and towns like Huskisson and Mollymook fill months in advance, at peak prices. Autumn, late spring and mid-week stays are quieter and better value. If you're visiting around a major event (an oyster festival, a whale festival), book early.