A day-tripper’s delight or the perfect place for a holiday to stay, relax and unwind. Located only 2 hours south of Sydney in the Shoalhaven region of NSW, lies the Kangaroo Valley.
Did you know that it is one of only seven enclosed valleys in the World?
We stayed at the very peaceful Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley located by the river, literally a stone’s throw from the historic Hampden Bridge. There was a giant chess set and a playground for the kids in very close proximity to the covered BBQ area and camp kitchen, so the kids were able to play and burn off some energy whilst we cooked our tucker.
The park provides some great lookouts of the Kangaroo River!
We wandered down the main street soaking up the village atmosphere finding a selection of interesting country style shops boasting fascinating remnants of the Bygone era.
The Friendly Inn was established in 1892 and the Post Office building was built in the 1880s. We actually had dinner at the Friendly Inn one of the nights during our stay.
Hampden Bridge – Well we could have just kept driving over and over this rickety one lane bridge. It’s imposing and impressive. It’s a suspension bridge across the Kangaroo River held by suspension cables imported from England and, it’s the only suspension bridge of its kind in Australia. A truly charming gateway to Kangaroo Valley. Opened in 1898, its gothic Victorian sandstone towers make it look like the entrance to a medieval castle guarding the entrance to the township.
We drove the short distance to Fitzroy Falls, a majestic 82 metre waterfall. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, the falls were shrouded in clouds, giving it an eerie feel yet still a stunning sight. The elevated walkway to the main lookout is wheelchair accessible as are the Visitors Centre and Café. Wheelchairs are also available on request. Well worth the stop.
Just before reaching Fitzroy Falls, you come to the fascinating Grandpa’s Shed. An antique shop filled with endless oddities, yep…every antique imaginable! We could have spent hours in there. In fact, you could nearly call it a Museum. So many interesting gadgets from yesteryear. Like the locals say, “if it exists, you will find it here!”. It ended up being a history lesson for our kids.
One thing’s for certain, Kangaroo Valley is a magical expanse of rolling, lush pasturelands. An extraordinarily beautiful valley that is richly green. A natural wonderland that should be a must stop for anyone visiting the Shoalhaven.