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Shoalhaven offers space to slow down when the crowds thin and the air cools. Two hours from Sydney and Canberra, the region shifts pace in autumn. Beaches stretch empty, forests settle and the days invite rest rather than rush. One hundred beaches, dramatic escarpments, quiet coastal towns, and wide-open space create an easy reset after summer.

RETREAT to nature in a wide range of unique accommodation options across the region, whether it’s a curated retreat such as Bay and Bush Retreat and Linnaeus Farm or a create your own retreat at an accommodation designed for rest and reflections. Shoalhaven stays offer immersive experiences surrounded by bushland, wildlife and open sky.

REWILD through the landscapes of Kangaroo Valley, the white sands of Jervis Bay or the quaint idealistic Berry, with guided experiences grounded in place. Paddle calm waterways in oversized canoes with Valley Outdoors. Ride horseback through bushland with Regal Riding. Swim in clear bays edged by white sand and stunning cliffs.

CONNECT with Country through First Nations led cultural experiences that share knowledge from local Indigenous custodians as you walk on Country with Aboriginal guides. At Mirritya Mundya in Culburra. taste native ingredients where stories connect directly to the plate, linking culture, land and flavour in one shared experience. Or, in the heart of Nowra, visit the Aboriginal women owned cafe and social enterprise Blak Cede Gunyah, where produce is grown in their own gardens and bush food is shared through a curated menu. Here, culture lives in the everyday with food prepared with knowledge passed down through generations.

FLOW and restore your body and mind through slow, considered movement. At The Nest at Worrowing practice yoga, pilates, sound healing, reiki, and breathwork in peaceful studio overlooking rolling farmland and bush, guided by experienced teachers. At night, head to Jervis Bay Stargazing to lie under vast, unspoilt skies as passionate astronomers share stories of the cosmos against a backdrop of white sand and clear skies. Here, wellbeing is shaped by landscape, quiet and teachers who create space to pause, breath and reconnect.

NOURISH your body with local produce at its peak, with locally sourced seafood from places such as Nowra Fresh or Jervis Bay Mussels. Shoalhaven Food Network events and farmers markets bring together growers, chefs, seafood, and wholefoods where food miles stay low and flavour leads.

CREATE with your hands and slow your thinking. When you focus on shape, texture and movement, your breath deepens and time stretches. Paint in open paddocks at Coos and Colour, surrounded by gentle highland coos and rolling green hills. In Berry, learn silversmithing at Appleye Silver in small, guided workshops focused on process and patience. Shape metal with your own hands and leave with something you made, a tangible reminder of time spent slowing down.

INDULUGE and unwind fully with spa and bathing experiences designed for deep rest. Relax at Beauty Indulgence Milton with spa treatments or massage therapy and at Sol Organic support recovery and recalibration with reiki and facials. If indulgence looks like a long lunch and local wine instead, Shoalhaven delivers, with award winning wineries, small batch distilleries and chef-hatted restaurants that serve bold local produce. For food and drink lovers, pleasure is part of the wellness plan.

ATTEND events shaped around connection, culture, sport and wellbeing. Shoalhaven’s calendar features cultural festivals, meditation gatherings, triathlons and community celebrations of food, music and place. Explore the seasonal program at the  Jervis Bay Maritime Museum or take part in exhibitions, workshops, and events at Bundandon across the cooler months.

Quote from Kristy Mayhew, Tourism Marketing Specialist at Shoalhaven City Council: 

“Shoalhaven shines this time of year. Autumn strips away the noise and leaves space to breathe. It is the ideal escape after summer, when people want calm, nature, and time away from the city hustle and bustle. Our region features a wide range of wellness experiences that are nature-first, and guided by people with heart in our unspoilt laid-back towns and villages.â€