Why the NSW South Coast Should Be Your Next Family Road Trip
🌊 Discover hidden beaches, foodie festivals, and family fun this spring
Spring is here, the days are getting longer, and if you’ve been craving a fresh family escape, now’s the time to hit the road. Less than three hours from Sydney, the NSW South Coast offers the perfect mix of beachy relaxation, hands-on experiences, foodie adventures, and kid-friendly fun — all set against a backdrop of sparkling bays, rolling green hills, and boutique country towns.
This September is especially magic, with two unmissable events: the Berry Farm & Lifestyle Field Daysand the Shoalhaven Meet the Makers Festival. Add in hidden gems like Jervis Bay and Callala Bay, and you’ve got the ultimate excuse for a spring family road trip.
🌿 The Berry Farm & Lifestyle Field Days
📍 Berry Showground | 13–14 September 2025
Formerly known as the Berry Small Farm Field Days, this family-friendly showcase has evolved alongside the region itself. With more tree-changers, lifestyle seekers, and land-loving families calling the South Coast home, the event now celebrates modern rural living — where traditional farming meets boutique accommodation, food, wine, garden design, and outdoor adventure.
Here’s why it’s a must-do for families:
- 🐑 Animal Nursery — Kids can pat, feed, and cuddle friendly farm animals
- 🐕 Farmer Dave’s Dog Show — A crowd favourite packed with tricks and laughs
- 🌱 Garden Showcase — Discover unique plant varieties, landscaping inspiration, and stunning garden décor
- 🚜 Big Machines + Ride-On Fun — Watch impressive tractors in action or check out mowers for properties of all sizes
- 🏕️ Lifestyle Hub — Explore caravans, camping gear, and outdoor living solutions perfect for modern family adventures
- 🍦 Food Court + Local Producers — Think gourmet bites, fresh produce, and snacks to keep kids happy
It’s a true all-ages day out, blending country charm with modern lifestyle inspiration — perfect for city families dreaming of a slower pace.
ℹ️ More info
🧒 Family-Friendly Highlights at Meet the Makers
Running 6–28 September 2025, the Shoalhaven Meet the Makers Festival is a celebration of the region’s makers, growers, artisans, and storytellers. From mushroom walks and flower fields to family craft workshops and picnics under the stars, it’s all about hands-on connection.
Here are our top picks for families:
🍄 Walk on the Wild Side: Mushroom Edition
📍 Milton | Sat 6 + Sat 13 Sept | 10am – 11am
Join fungi enthusiast Marita Smith for a gentle guided bushwalk spotting weird and wonderful mushrooms. Kids love the sense of discovery, and parents love the excuse to slow down.
🧺 Petal Power: Grow, Gather + Create
📍 Kiruna Farm x FRED | Sun 14 Sept | 9am – 12pm
Step into blooming flower fields, learn tips for growing your own, and create a handmade bouquet alongside your kids. It’s interactive, colourful, and gorgeous for little nature lovers.
🌿 Make + Graze: Hands-On Timber Workshop
📍 Little Forest Farm | Sat 27 Sept | 9:30am – 12:30pm
Design and shape your own wooden cheeseboard together as a family. There’s grazing while you work, and kids love the sense of achievement.
🐖 Martins Ridge Farm – Pork + Pour
📍 Martins Ridge Farm | Sat 20 Sept | 2pm – 4pm
A win-win for parents and kids: tour the farm, meet the animals, and enjoy a local charcuterie tasting paired with wines from Stone Cottage Vineyard.
🎨 Take a Seat: Painting Workshop with Sophie Cork
📍 Our Gallery Milton | Sun 7 Sept | 10am – 1pm
Get creative with local artist Sophie Cork. Kids (7+) will love the playful colours and bold brushstrokes — and it’s a perfect parent-and-me creative date.
🍺 Brewtopia: South Coast Craft Beer Festival
📍 Milton Showground | Sat 27 Sept | 3pm – 9pm
Don’t let the “beer” fool you — this event doubles as a giant family picnic. Expect live music, food trucks, sprawling lawns, and plenty of room for kids to roam.
🐚 Beyond the Festival
The Shoalhaven Meet the Makers Festival and Berry Farm & Lifestyle Field Days are reason enough to plan a South Coast escape – but while you’re here, it’s worth leaving room for exploring the region’s hidden gems.
🌊 Jervis Bay
Famous for its powder-white sand and turquoise waters, Jervis Bay is a must-do for families. Hyams Beach is postcard-perfect with its calm, shallow water, making it ideal for little ones, while nearby Huskisson delivers laid-back fish and chips, gelato pit stops, and dolphin-watching cruises the kids will love.
🏖 Callala Bay
For something a little more low-key, Callala Bay is the South Coast’s best-kept secret. Tucked away on the northern shore of Jervis Bay, it’s a haven for families who prefer gentle waves, picnic-ready foreshore parks, and quieter beaches. Spend your mornings paddling in the shallows or wandering the Callala Bay boardwalk, where the kids can spot stingrays and soldier crabs at low tide.
Nearby, Callala Beach offers a long, flat stretch of sand perfect for sandcastle building, ball games, and unhurried afternoon strolls. Pack a picnic or grab takeaway fish and chips from a local café, then let the kids roam while you soak up the serenity.
🏝 Hidden Gems of Booderee National Park
Just a short drive from Callala Bay, Booderee National Park is home to some of the South Coast’s most breathtaking beaches — many of them quiet, uncrowded, and perfect for families:
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Murrays Beach – A calm, sheltered paradise framed by national park bushland. Great for little swimmers, snorkelling, and turtle spotting.
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Green Patch Beach – A family favourite thanks to its grassy picnic areas, shady trees, and shallow entry to the water.
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Cave Beach – Best for older kids and adventurous families, with rolling waves and a short walk through coastal forest to reach it.
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Bristol Point – Perfect for a peaceful afternoon swim, rock pooling, or simply lying back under the gums.
Beyond the beaches, Booderee offers gentle bushwalking trails and wildlife galore — from kangaroos grazing on the headlands to lorikeets darting between the trees. It’s the kind of place where kids can explore freely and parents can finally exhale.
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