Kangaroo Valley

We began our trip of the Shoalhaven from the north, turning off the Hume Highway and descending down the steep pass from Fitzroy Falls until we reached the broad Kangaroo Valley below. Crossing the historic Hampden Bridge, the small town gently revealed itself as we trundled along Moss Vale Rd.

We had arrived later than expected, which I suspect was due to stopping for the odd photo or twelve, and immediately made a beeline to the market. Stocking up with local free range eggs and warm loaf of sourdough, we ambled along the street chatting away to all the friendly locals. We picked up some local olives and a few more bits and pieces at the General Store, saying say to Skeeter the cat, who was fast asleep on the high chair beside the counter. Kangaroo Valley olives are amazing so be sure to pick some up when you’re that side of town.

From there, we ambled once more, this time back into The Nostalgia Factory, a vintage haven teeming with books, records, vintage magazines, toy cars, cutlery, etc, etc, etc. There’s literally hours of browsing and buying when you stop in here, so be prepared. Frankie insisted on another toy car, so after some careful choosing, it was time for lunch. We had pre-ordered a hamper from Hampden Deli across the road, and so stopped by on our way to the river to pick it up. Mushroom paté, croquettes, proscuitto and an array of cheeses, and with our sourdough, we had the perfect picnic. There’s easy access to the river from the parking lot next to the bridge, so stock up and head down as the views down there are pretty special.

After lunch, we took to the Three Views Walking Track and enjoyed the amazing Lake Yarrunga walk. The name says it all, giving you the option of one, two or three views depending on how you’d like to walk. Lake Yarrunga took us a little over an hour there and back and even with a toddler (we have a carry pack for her) this walk was easy and yet very beautiful, with breathtaking views at the end.

Needing a coffee, we popped into Betty’s Bar on the way back into town. It’s just north of the bridge and a great place for a coffee and some smoked meat, a pretty awesome combination if you ask me. A few delectable sliders later, we got chatting to Gabe, proprietor of the Kangaroo Valley Coffee Co-operative and brother to Betty. Gabe roasts his coffee on-site and runs the only coffee co-operative in Australia, so he has quite the story to tell, so be sure to stop by.

Accommodation-wise, you’re spoilt for choice in the Kangaroo Valley. We spent our first night at The Secret Garden Cottage on Moss Vale Road and our second at Broger’s End, just outside of town. Despite being a few minutes from the town centre, a few walks beginning from the back of The Secret Garden Cottage yielded impressive views out over the valley, so a great spot if you’d still like to be able to walk back to your accommodation after dinner and 7 wines.

Brogers End is a little further out of town and offers 2 rustic dwellings to choose from, the bigger Shed with it’s outdoor pizza oven and the smaller Dairy with its outdoor bath. Hmmm, which to choose? We chose the bath and enjoyed several of them, hanging out with the chickens and picking fresh herbs from the garden. The river is a few minutes walk away and there’s a swimming hole for those hot days, so this one is definitely a winner! There’s a lot more that can be said about Broger’s, from there eco-credentials to their ultra-soft bamboo sheets, so be sure to pay them a visit.