Searching for Serendipity: Our 3-Day Coastal Escape (And the Tuesday Night Trap!)

A wide, low-angle shot of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, lying on the wet sand of a beach. His reflection is visible in the sand as he looks out at the white ocean waves under a clear blue sky.

There is something about a road trip that forces you to slow down, even when you don’t mean to.

Our recent 2-night escape to Culburra Beach was a real lesson in that. I went looking for that “perfect” serene retreat, but what I found was something much more real.

When I say “real,” I mean the unscripted stuff: the mid-week reality of a town that is still shut down on a Tuesday, the “5-minute walks” that turned into drives. – It was a few days of navigating expectations, pivoting when things were closed, and finding the kind of serendipity that only happens when you stop trying to control the itinerary.

 🐾 Monte’s Verdict: Saoire – Pet Friendly – 5 Mins Walk to Beach!

The Bottom Line

A quiet, secluded retreat that offers total privacy, even if the “walking distance” claims are a bit of a stretch. Perfect for decompressing, provided you pack your own dinner on a Monday or Tuesday.

  • Vibe: Deeply quiet and secluded. A true “off the grid” feel in a suburban coastal setting.
  • The Highlight: Monte finding his confidence in the surf during the golden hour off-leash runs.
  • Would we go back? For the townhouse itself, yes, but we have realized we might be “Berry people” at heart.

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 / 5 Paws 🦴🦴🦴✨ (Losing points for the “Tuesday Trap” and the lake/beach walk distances)

The Serendipity Standard: Just a quick note that this review is 100% independent. We paid for our stay in full, and all opinions (and wagging tails) are entirely our own.

The Charm of the Long Way Round

Our trip started with a beautiful drive through the Southern Highlands. We stopped at Moss Vale, a charming spot full of heritage buildings, for a fantastic breakfast at the Post Office (AD 1890).

From there, we wound our way through Kangaroo Valley, a place that feels like it is holding onto an old-world charm. It has this rare, quiet character that you just don’t see too often anymore. Looking back, I regret that we didn’t stop to soak it in, but the pull of that ‘early access’ message was too strong. We were just too keen to finally reach our townhouse and settle in.

The Stay: Maps vs. Reality

The townhouse didn’t disappoint; it instantly felt like a home away from home. It was quiet, secluded, and so well-equipped we didn’t miss a thing. However, I did slightly misjudge the geography. We had heard the lake was a short stroll away, but a local tipped us off that it wasn’t exactly a 2-minute walk from where we were. Apparently, the water levels are quite low at the moment too, so we decided to skip it and stick to the salt air of the ocean instead!

The beach access was a similar story. The listing claimed a 5-minute walk, but unless we missed a major shortcut, that didn’t feel realistic. We ended up driving to the sand instead, which was just easier.

The Tuesday Night Trap

If you are a fan of slow living, you know that small towns have their own rhythm. Around 6 pm on our first night, we drove over to Penguin Head Lookout. It was a perfect spot for photos, and despite the gloomy weather, the atmosphere was beautiful. – It was one of those moments that made me realise I have grown a bit lazy leaving my SLR behind; I think it is officially time to invest in a quality pocket camera for exactly these types of scenes.

Then came the “trap.” We headed back to find some dinner, thinking of The Little Snapper or the local Mexican place, but to our surprise, they were both closed. It turns out Tuesday nights in Culburra are famously quiet! Instead of settling for Chinese takeaway, we pivoted. We hit the local Woolies, grabbed some fresh supplies, and headed back for a quiet night in.There is a certain serendipity in being “forced” to stay in; it turned into a perfectly raw, relaxing evening of just being “home.”

Huskisson, Hyams, and the “Leash Tease”

The next morning, we headed over to Huskisson for breakfast. It was a 35-minute trip from where we were , – so not exactly “convenient,” yet it served as the perfect excuse to see more of the coastline before we tucked into a meal at Angels Bayside Cafe.

From there, it was straight to the iconic Hyams Beach. The white sand and turquoise water are every bit as magnificent as the photos suggest! Since it is a protected area, Monte stayed on-lead, but he still had a blast taking in the sights and smells of such a world-famous spot. It was a wonderful way to experience the scenery together.

Monte’s Golden Hour & The Butter Factory

As the afternoon cooled, we headed for the sand at Culburra. It was the moment Monte had been waiting for. Timing our visit with the off-leash hours meant he could finally let loose. – Seeing him leap through the surf instead of sticking to calm waters was the highlight of the day.

For dinner, we headed to the beautifully restored Butter Factory. While the interior is quite elegant, the outdoor area is wonderfully tranquil and pet-friendly. We rounded out the evening at Crookhaven Lighthouse just as the sky began to turn. It is, hands down, the ultimate sunset picnic spot.

Finding the Happy Medium

On our last day, we checked out at 10 am and decided to drive home via Berry. I had never been there before, but it left a real impression on me. It has such a nice vibe, with so many little eateries and quaint shops that we felt were missing from our stay in Culburra. The scones at The Garden in Berry were delicious, and it was the perfect pit stop.

Our final stop was Kiama, and boy, has it changed. While it is still beautiful, it felt a bit too “tourist hustle and bustle” for when you are trying to decompress.

  • A wide landscape view of the Southern Highlands under a cloudy sky. A lush green pasture filled with grazing black cattle is bordered by tall grass and wildflowers in the foreground, with rolling hills and power lines stretching across the background
  • A historic two-story red-brick building labeled 'Moss Vale Post Office' now serving as a cafe. The building features large arched windows on the ground floor and a row of rectangular windows above. A black wrought-iron fence surrounds an outdoor patio with yellow-and-white striped umbrellas, partially shaded by lush green trees
  • A wide-angle landscape view from Penguin Head Lookout in Culburra. A vast, dark, flat rock platform extends into the churning grey-blue ocean. White waves crash against the jagged rocks, and a few seagulls are seen flying over the water under a heavy, overcast sky.
  • A wide-angle landscape shot taken from Penguin Head Lookout. In the foreground, rocky cliffs covered in patches of green grass and yellow lichen overlook a long, flat rock platform extending into the ocean. Waves crash against the dark, layered rocks under an expansive, overcast grey sky.
  • A high-angle landscape shot of a secluded beach in Huskisson, viewed through a frame of gum trees and leafy vines. The clear turquoise water of Jervis Bay gently meets a white sandy shore, backed by a dense green forest under a pale, overcast sky
  • A profile shot of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, standing on the white sand of Hyams Beach. He is wearing a black harness and looking out toward the turquoise ocean waves under a cloudy sky.
  • A wide landscape photograph of Hyams Beach under a heavy, overcast grey sky. The scene features bright white sand in the foreground, transitioning to turquoise and deep blue ocean water with gentle white waves breaking on the shore. A dark headland is visible on the horizon.
  • A full-length outdoor photograph of a woman, Caroline, standing on the white sand of Hyams Beach with her brown Miniature American Shepherd, Monte. Caroline is wearing a white t-shirt, olive green trousers, and sunglasses, holding Monte's leash. Monte is sitting obediently beside her on the sandy shore under an overcast sky.
  • A vertical outdoor photograph of a beach entrance at Culburra Beach. Two blue wooden posts form a gateway, draped with a colorful string of bunting flags fluttering in the wind. The gateway frames a view of a sandy path leading down to the ocean under a cloudy sky.
  • A wide, low-angle shot of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, lying on the wet sand of a beach. His reflection is visible in the sand as he looks out at the white ocean waves under a clear blue sky.
  • A full-body shot of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, wading through shallow, clear ocean water at Culburra Beach. His long fur is completely wet and spiked, and he is looking toward the shore with a determined expression.
  • A front-on, low-angle portrait of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, standing on wet sand at Culburra Beach. His long fur is wet and dark, and his reflection is clearly visible in the damp sand as he looks directly into the lens with a focused expression.
  • A close-up action shot of Monte, a mahogany-brown Miniature American Shepherd, swimming through white sea foam at Culburra Beach. Only his head and upper back are visible above the swirling water as he looks directly toward the camera.
  • A wide landscape shot of a rocky shoreline near Crookhaven Lighthouse at dusk. Large, rust-colored boulders and flat rock platforms line the coast, meeting a churning ocean under a heavy, dramatic sky with a soft orange and pink sunset glow on the horizon.
  • A wide landscape photograph of a rocky coastline near Crookhaven Lighthouse at dusk. In the foreground, green grass and wild shrubs sit before a low rock wall. Beyond, a dark, flat rock platform leads to the ocean under a dramatic sky filled with textured grey clouds and a soft orange sunset glow on the horizon
  • A vibrant sunset over a calm river or bay, viewed from a grassy bank. Three large teepee-style structures made of bleached driftwood branches stand on the green grass. The sun is setting on the horizon, casting orange and yellow light through a cloudy sky across the water.
  • A wide-angle outdoor shot of the Butter Factory. The scene features a gravel courtyard with several rustic wooden benches surrounding a stone fire pit. A historic building with a green corrugated iron roof is in the background, surrounded by lush green hedges, white daisies, and yellow flowers under a blue sky with soft white clouds.
  • ght, sunny photograph of an outdoor dining terrace at The Butter Factory in Pyree. Two rustic wooden picnic tables sit on a stone-paved patio, bordered by low green hedges and tall cornfields in the background. A climbing vine in the foreground partially frames the view of a blue sky with soft white clouds.
  • A wide-angle photograph of an outdoor brick-paved shopping courtyard in Berry. On the right, white boutique storefronts with decorative pillars display colorful clothing racks. In the center, a small tree with autumn leaves stands near a white sign that reads 'So Lovely,' and people can be seen sitting at outdoor tables in the background.
  • A bright red vintage hot rod car parked on a street in front of the historic Berry Museum. The museum is a grand, red-brick building with ornate gables and chimneys, situated behind a white picket fence under a dramatic, cloudy sky
  • A high-angle shot through Norfolk Island pine branches showing a couple wearing sun hats sitting at a wooden picnic table on a dirt headland. They are looking out over a vast blue ocean toward a distant green coastline under a cloudy sky.
  • A vertical photograph of the Kiama Lighthouse, a tall, white cylindrical tower with a black railing around the lantern room at the top. The lighthouse is situated on a green lawn surrounded by a white picket fence, with tall pine trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Culburra Beach was beautiful, but ultimately a little too sleepy and spread out for a mid-week stay. On the other end of the spectrum Kiama felt a bit too crowded with tourist hustle. Berry, however, felt like the ultimate happy medium. While the Culburra townhouse was a beautiful, secluded escape, I think our next adventure will be a dog-friendly stay in Berry. – It seems to have that perfect balance of convenience and charm that we value so highly.

DestinationThe VibeBest For…
Culburra BeachQuiet & SecludedUnplugging & beach runs with the dog
KiamaHigh EnergySightseeing & tourist buzz
BerryBoutique & LivelyThe Happy Medium: Great food, shopping, and relaxing

I am always on the hunt for the next hidden gem. If you have stayed in a great dog-friendly spot there, or anywhere along the South Coast, I would love to hear about it!

Leave a comment below or send me a DM on Instagram with your recommendations!

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