Things to do • Places to go • people to meet
What's On
Dining Out • Further Afield
Dining Out • Culburra
Heaps to Do
- Fancy a beach bike ride, a SUP or kayak? Burra Bike and Board has gone online and pop-up only. Ask Morto which guided and self-guided tours are available. They deliver to the sand or to your accommodation! To book: 0438833512 or online at culburrabikes.com.au
Stretch, yoga and more
- This is an ever-expanding list of amazing classes. Please check with instructor to drop in.
- Various classes with Del Byron -- boxing, core, boot camp and more. 0439747131
- FML Solution with Simon Levy for active seniors 0439460638
- Stretch Class - Senior Citizen's Association at Community Centre
- Yoga at the Surf Club (yoga, meditation and wellbeing).
Insider Stuff
- If you'd love to check out Huskisson with its great shops and bistros, but don't want to drive 35 minutes to do so, check out the Ferry at Myola to Husky. Ferry at Myola to Huskisson for a walk around town, nifty bistros, good shopping: 0467 648 504, huskyferry.com
Wine Tours
- Wine tours and local wineries: www.shoalhaven.com/wine
Massage & Beauty Treatments
- Sol Spa, 0422 197 133, book online, all types of beauty and wellness treatments
Surfing
- Culburra hosts several surfing comps and is the home of many legendary surfers. Most mornings you will see surfers sitting their boards off Warrain and the Lake Break. Depending on the conditions, you may see them off Culburra Beach as well.
- For surfing along the Shoalhaven Coast: www.shoalhaven.com/surf and
- Nowra/Culburra Surf Lifesaving.
Surf School
- Surfing lessons and rental, stand-up paddle board lessons and rental. Between Ocean and Haven Street Beaches.
- 02 4447 3197 or 0435 336 195
- Also Morto at Burra Bikes and Boards takes the groms out occasionally. Call to check 0438833512. Book your boards, kayaks, bikes and SUPs with him as well. He delivers to your site.
Diving
- Woebegone Jervis Bay for tours, expeditions, freediving courses, Ocean School Kids Programs. 0423 981 163, info@woebegone.com.au. What to expect to see?
- May-October for Seals,
- June - October for Humpback Whales,
- August - November for Port Jackson Sharks,
- December - April for Grey Nurse Sharks,
- May - August for Giant Cuttlefish, and
- all year round for Wobbegong Sharks and Dolphins.
Beaches
- Culburra is spoilt for choice for beaches. Most streets off Prince Edward have street-end beach entrances onto Culburra Beach. Street-ends and beach paths to Warrain Beach can be found off of Eastbourne Avenue.
- During Summer school holidays and on summer weekends, Warrain Beach is patrolled by the Surflifesaving Club.
- Culburra Beach is patrolled at Ocean Street Beach, only during Summer school holidays.
- Can't say it too many times: always swim with a buddy, and mind the rips.
Please note on-leash times for your doggo on each beach here and in our Welcome Book and take a doggie bag with you.
Best beaches for tiny kiddos are Tilbury Cove (playground and toilet block above) where the surf is usually gentle, and if Lake Wollumboola is clear, then a paddle there is great. Wollumboola has been open to the sea for several months - the swimming was divine - but has closed up once again. A short drive to Callala Bay also offers gentle waters for gentle swimming.
Kayaking and Stand-up Paddleboarding
Curleys Bay on the Crookhaven River and Lake Wollumboola are both suitable for kayaking and paddleboarding. Curleys Bay, once called Oyster Bay, still has oyster leases and lease markers that might require tricky navigation for the novice. Both are subject to winds and Curleys Bay is tidal. Check in with Morto at Burra Bikes and Boards for up-do-date information, gear and supplies.
Birds and Hikes
So much on offer here!
Bird Hikes: www.birdlifeshoalhaven.org
Walks:
Point Perpendicular Lighthouse, walks and visiting the Beecroft Peninsula
Fishing
Try the boat ramp at Crookhaven Heads for tidal river-side fishing. Piece of white bread on a hook might just attract dinner! The local bait and hardware shop near the Bottle-o will have some gear and advice. Thanks for cleaning your fish at the cleaning tables there and for leaving the fish frames in the bins there as well.
Of course, there is surf-fishing and for the brave/well-informed, rock fishing. (Just channeling for your mum when I say to be smart and prepared for what Mother Nature dishes out).
Galleries and Open Studios
~ Currarong Art Trail, First Saturday of the Month
~ Jervis Bay Maritime Museum in Huskisson is both a natural history museum and a gallery with changing exhibits. Small but delightful.
Dining Out • Culburra
Dining Out • Further Afield
Dining Out • Culburra
Here's a list of our local favourites, in no particular order.
Local Coffee and Eats
- Frankies Coffee Van, community garden, run by Jaden and Nina, with special sweets most days. Trained at Hyper Hyper in Nowra, these guys are legends. Live music some weekends.
- Burra Eats, in front of the community garden, run by Sophie and Jack with Tong at the coffee window. Sophie and Jack also own the Burra Eats restaurant next door. Great coffee, sweets and croissants (if you get there early), and next door at Burra Eats there are smoothies, juices, and the best egg and bacon roll you will ever put in your mouth (BBQ sauce, please)! Some sit-down tables available but most locals just drift to the picnic tables in the Community Garden to catch up. Do not look past their Asian Street Food offerings on Tuesday nights. Yum!
- Em's Place on the Western side of the CBD has great coffee and terrific fresh ANZAC bikkies. Salads and soups seasonally.
- Little Snapper, run by Amy and Johan, have a great Cheese Burger Royal and seafood pasta, a fully stocked bar, Happy Hour, and interesting specials. One of the few places in Culburra with inside and outside tables.
- Loco Lane. Small but happy little Mexican restaurant with a tapas-like menu and killer Margaritas. Live music. Bookings essential.
- The Common South Coast,a beer garden run by the folks at Loco Lane. New and just testing its wings. Walk-ins only. Well-behaved dog friendly,
- Culburra Beach Bowlo. Several mini-restaurants and indoor/outdoor dining. Great for a crowd and families with kids. Live music, pool tables, and we are told, good pizza and Chinese food. Why not take a 15 minute stroll from Arches down to the Club and book their Courtesy Bus for your way home? Book the bus early after 10 AM on the day you would like a ride. The bus is available hourly from 4 PM. 4447 2266 (not for kids under 5).
- Freaks of Nature, in the van in the Community Garden. Usually open on weekends (look for the signs near the Community Garden). Gourmet vegetarian fare with interesting flavour pairings. The wait is worth it! They also cater for get-togethers.
This is a small personal sampling, but Culburra has heaps of take-away spots, many offering fish & chips or burgers. We haven't sampled them all, but are happy to take on board any recommendations you've experienced.
Picnic Spots
Heaps of Picnic Tables
- Penguin Head
- Crookhaven Heads Boat Launch
- Crookhaven Heads
- Tilbury Park
- Tilbury Cove (great sunset spot)
- Burradise Community Garden
- Warrain Beach
- Wollumba Lake and Warrain Beach (The Lake Circuit Cul-de-Sac)
- and more we haven't found yet!
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Events of Note in the Area
June 2024
- Berry Open Field Arts Festival, 22-25 June, Berry.
September 2024
- The Shoalhaven River Festival, 2 Bridge Road, Nowra, 30 Sept - 1 Oct
October 2024
- Visual Arts in the Valley, Kangaroo Valley, 5-7 October (Sculpture in the Valley will be held in 2025)
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Music
- The recently opened The Common Southcoast, a beer garden, has music almost every weekend, weather permitting. Owned by the folks at Loco Lane. Walk-in only (this may be changing -- see posts at The Common).
- The Club often has music on the weekends, ranging widely from rock to blues.
- Loco Lane, a taco and margarita bar, often has music when weather allows. Terrific margaritas. Bookings are a very good idea.
For Kids
- Lets Go Kids, a website and brochure with options and coupons for kids fun all over Australia, by location. Pop in "Shoalhaven" and get local options.
- Our Welcome Book has brochures from the Shoalhaven Information Centre called "Family Fun" and "Rainy Day Activities" with lots of local options.
Updated 26 Feb 2024.
We update our site regularly. If we have overlooked an event or you find a link that doesn't work, just let us know at archesculburra@gmail.com.
Thanks! We get right on to it.
Dining Out • Further Afield
Dining Out • Further Afield
Dining Out • Further Afield
Why not take an excursion and have a lovely nosh on the way?
In no special order...
Nowra & South Nowra
- Leaf and its sister restaurant Beleaf Japanese, both between Nowra Fresh and the Farmer's Market are both consistently good. Leaf is a rice and noodle bar with a , recently refreshed decor. We often split one Leaf Special Fried Rice with Pork Belly. So yum! And at Beleaf, the Japanese restaurant, everything we have tried is good. Love the teriyaki chicken with rice. Both restaurants are dine-in or take-away.
- The Deli on Kinghorne. Interesting deli case, good coffee, great staff. Pick just off-lunch as your time to visit as the locals pack the place in the morning and at midday. Downtown Nowra on Kinghorne Street. Park across the street behind the shops.
- Flour Water Salt, sourdough bakery, cafe and food store. 13 Enterprise Avenue, South Nowra. This is their baking and admin headquarters for all their stores (Milton, Kiama, Huskisson, and now South Nowra). The cafe is around the side near the back. Amazing pies, breads, rolls, packed salads -- the lot! Dining in for 30-ish snaking along the halls. Divine onion jam and feta tart, among so much more! And you get to watch the bakers at work, a real bonus.
- Punch the Plowman, 85 North Street, Nowra, next to the iconic Hyper Hyper Coffee. They've just added wood fired pizza to their already great brekkie and lunch menu -- best avo on toast ever! Lovely baked goods and a nifty bowl full of wonderfulness. Outside dining only.
Berry
We like to check out the shops, take a short stroll through town, have a great lunch, finish at the Farmer's Market from 2 PM on Thursdays and head home to create something fabulous for dinner. About a 40 minute drive from Culburra.
- Il Locale. Good coffee daily, lunch Wed - Sun. Try our faves: the Brussel Sprout Caesar Salad or the Chicken Burger.
- Pickled Ink. Great coffee, best quiche in town served with 3 salads, thoughtfully presented. Just a sweet little restaurant. Dine in the patio, on the veranda.
- The Garden. A bit more upscale, bookings are suggested for parties of 6+. Had a divine pear and walnut salad with Haloumi that ticked all the boxes. Wine pairings suggested.
- Queen Street Cafe. Pricy but innovative and great food. Bookings essential.
- The Family Tree. Just off the main street, Mediterranean focus, great coffee.
- Hungry Monkey. Their sweet potato fries make the journey worth your while! (undergoing a change of style - watch this space)
Pyree
- Butter Factory. Bit upscale, white table cloths, in a restored stone butter factory. Really lovely food and thoughtfully sourced wines, lovely chef and owners. Lunch and dinner. Bookings essential.
Greenwell Point
Just across the Crookhaven River is Greenwell Point, home of the local oyster industry. Turn right at the red Pyree schoolhouse to get there.
- Pelican Rocks, superbly run by generations of a local family, is well worth the visit. Heads up, the portions are generous! We usually get a kid's meal and happily walk the waterfront with the accompanying ice cream cone. Book to dine in or take-away to the benches in the park near-by (mind the gulls and pellies).
Shoalhaven Heads
- Mountain Ridge Winery, shown above. One of our favourite spots --- lovely view, nice wine, great food and fabulous service. And woofie-friendly outside. Bookings essential.
Cambewarra
- Cambewarra Lookout Cafe, is all about the incredible view of the Shoalhaven. The little cafe is quite nice and the building an interesting remnant of the early 1900's.
- Cambewarra Estate Winery. Amazingly delightful restaurant. You may or may not enjoy the wines produced in the Shoalhaven, but the setting and superb food make it worth a visit. No wine tasting necessary to book, but bookings are essential.
- Bundanon. An incredible estate, an art gallery focused on contemporary response to the environment -- all the legacy of artist Arthur Boyd. Small cafe with moderate lunch fare. Stunning sweeping landscape and architecture. Open during the week, but the weekends are better as the entire estate is available to visitors. Insect repellant a must, unfortunately. Still worth a visit.
Stocking Up
Beaches & Water Access
Dining Out • Further Afield
Your have a range of options to shop for food in this area.
- Our local Woolies has a good selection. If you are here for the holidays, you may want to stock up at Woolworths or Coles in Nowra or Bommaderry as the Culburra Woolies has a more limited stock than the larger stores or may be out of your favourites, no matter how hard they try to restock.
- Or you can order a delivery from Coles of Woolies. Want us to meet the truck for a delivery? That can be arranged.
- Nowra Fresh and the Farmer's Market. Right on the corner of North Street and the M1 in Nowra. Nowra Fresh is a fresh fish market, and then has almost any kind of meat you can imagine including game and small goods. You can arrange seafood platters, pick up fish in a cold bag. They are amazing! On holidays and on the weekends, the car park requires maximum patience, so we recommend shopping on Thursday or Monday, just to give yourself a break!
- The Farmer's Market, across the car park from Nowra Fresh, has the fresh fruit and veggies, the deli, the cheese and olive fridge. Take a large bag -- you won't be able to resist the delicacies!
- Strong Organics -- Millbank Road, Terara. Beautiful locally grown veggies, typically open Thursday, Friday 8 am-4 pm, Saturday 8am-2pm. They also have a booth at the Berry Farmer's Market, Thursdays in Berry, from 3 PM at the Showgrounds.
Seafood
- Our local Burra Eats receives a delivery of prawns from Jim's on Friday. They will special order if you get your order in by early Monday before the Friday delivery.
- Jim's Wild Oysters, Greenwell Point for prawns and oysters. Always ask where they have sourced their oysters and prawns.
- If our local rivers have been flooded, it takes about 2 weeks for the oysters to be available again, but oysters sourced elsewhere might be perfect. It is OK to ask.
- Whilst Jim's is at the end of the road, there are several local oyster farmers with open shops along that road who sell their own locally farmed oysters. Always worth a stop by to see what they might have.
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Along the Rivers and Bays
- Waterfront access along the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven Rivers are typically mudflats bordered by mangroves. Great for growing oysters and mussels, nifty for kayaking and SUP, but not great for walking or swimming.
- That said, there is a lovely little walk with views towards the Oystermen at Greenwell Point from Orama Crescent called the Orient Point Foreshore Reserve. Wear sandals, dogs must be on lead.
Boat Ramps
- Boat ramps are available at Orient Point for Curleys Bay fishing, Crookhaven Heads for river fishing and to head out to sea, and and at Callala Bay for a Jervis Bay experience, among many others farther down the coast.
- Keep in mind that the bar on the Crookhaven River, where the river meets the sea, is ever changing and, for your own safety, you must register with Marine Rescue for your adventure at sea.
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9 AM Sunday Siren
WHOA! OMG, what was that? No need to be alarmed! At 9 AM every Sunday, SES and Surf Lifesaving test the tsunami siren for Culburra Beach. You can set your watch by it.
However, if you DO hear the siren at any other time, consult local media for warnings, including ABC RADIO ILLAWARRA :: 97.3 FM. 2CE EAST COAST RADIO :: 105.5 FM, 105.9 FM CANBERRA EMERGENCY RADIO :: AM666, 88.5 FM, 100.3 FM TV: ABC, SBSWebsites: www.ses.nsw.gov.au/news/www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.auThe centre ridge of Culburra Beach is 14-17 metres above sea level. Emergency Muster at the Culburra Beach Bowling Club or at Surf Lifesaving at Warrain Beach (not at Warrain Beach in case of tsunami!).
Beaches & Water Access
Beaches & Water Access
Beaches & Water Access
To get to the beach from
Arches • Culburra
Mowbray Street Beach
- Our closest beach - about 7-10 minutes walk, a bit over ½ km. is the Mowbray Street-end access to Culburra Beach. From Arches, turn left out the gate, walk to Mowbray Street. Turn left again and at the Triangle Park, veer right onto Mowbray. From here, you can see the Culburra Beach entrance, just 2 blocks away. This beach is not patrolled. To get to the patrolled section (during school holidays only), once on the beach, turn right to Ocean Street where SurfLifesaving sets up each Christmas and Easter. Look for the red and yellow flags.
Haven Street Beach
- A short drive. Turn left from Arches towards Penguin Head, pass Food & More, and turn left again on Haven Street. Park and walk down steps to the beach.
Ocean Street Beach
Patrolled during school holidays
- A short drive. Turn left from Arches towards Penguin Head, just past Food & More, and left again at Ocean Street. Haven Street and Ocean Street are just a block apart with lots of parking between them. Ocean Street has a handy shower available and seating at the beach head partk. Walk down to Culburra Beach.
- This part of Culburra Beach is patrolled by Surf Lifesaving during summer school holidays. You will see their flags.
- As always, please swim between the flags. Swim with a buddy.
Warrain Beach
- Five minute drive. Turn left from Arches towards Penguin Heads. Turn right on Duke Street and veer left onto Eastbourne Avenue. Quickly turn left again on Farrant Avenue and proceed downhill to the Car Park at Nowra Culburra Surf Lifesaving.
- Warrain Beach is patrolled during school holidays and Surf Lifesaving holds weekly training at this surf beach.
- You will often see locals sitting on their boards waiting for the rollers to come in. At low tide, it can be quite steep and the sand is large grained, making walking challenging.
Lake Wollumboola
- While Lake Wollumboola had broken through the dune to the sea for several months, making a lovely protected swimming area, it has closed up again. The waters are still clear and shallow, so if it is warm, so are the waters. Worth a look-see.
- However, walking the distance to Currarong when the lake is open is impossible. When the Lake closes up, the long walk is fresh and offers a wild beach. Because it borders on Jervis Bay National Park, dogs should be on lead. (National Parks are conservation zones, and there are many programs you can tap into to contribute to conservation efforts).
Beaches off Prince Edward Avenue
- Most street-ends meet Culburra Beach east (right heading toward Crookhaven Heads) off Prince Edward Avenue. Each has a tiny unimproved car park and a path to the beach. Locals used these access points near their homes. These beaches are not patrolled. Watch for rips. And, sadly, not everyone has control of his/her off-lead woofie. Just sayin'.
Patrolled Beaches
- Warrain Beach at the Surf Lifesaving Club, and Ocean Street Beach are both patrolled during Summer school holidays and during Easter Holidays.
- Please swim between the flags.
- Rips form and dissolve rapidly and can take even the most seasoned swimmer by surprise.
- Always swim with a buddy. Always.
- Wave your arm if you get in trouble.
- Float til you are rescued or swim to the side of the rip to escape the pull if you are able. Do not try to swim against the rip current.
- See Welcome Book for an explanation of Rip Currents and protective measures.
Markets, Vets & More
Beaches & Water Access
Beaches & Water Access
Local Markets
- Berry Farmers' Market, each Thursday 3 PM-5 PM
- Berry Monthly Market, first Sunday of each month 8.30 AM-2.30 PM
- Pyree Market, 4th Sunday of the month (3rd Sunday in December), 9 AM-1.30 PM
- Callala Bay Market, 2nd Saturday, 8 AM-1 PM
- Jervis Bay Maritime Museum Twilight Markets, First Saturday of the Month during the Summer (5 Nov - 1 April)
- Culburra Beach Markets, 1st Sunday each month 8 am - 2 pm, Culburra Beach Community Centre
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Local Vets
There are two veterinary clinics in Culburra Beach, each with a terrific vet.
- Please note, in the Spring on the South Coast, snakes are just emerging from hibernation and ticks are about.
- We keep our woofies on regular paths to avoid startling the sunning snakes and use Nextguard Spectra to keep them tick-free. A quick spray with Aeroguard will keep your pets fly-free.
- Curleys Bay Vet. 4421 3528, 19 Weston Street, Culburra Beach -- across the street from Woolies. These vets are part of the much larger Bomaderry Veterinary Hospital, and vets rotate through their satellite clinics, including Culburra. There is always a good vet on duty.
- Culburra Vet. 4447 3852, 7 Weston Street, just past Woolies. Long-time local vet with great reputation.
- When you return from a walk or come off the beach, give your woofie the benefit of a good grooming to check for ticks. They'll love you for it.
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Beaches Farther Afield
Currarong is about a 20 minute drive.
Beaches at Currarong
- To get to the end of the road at Currarong, drive west along Curburra Beach Road to Coonemia Road. Turn left and proceed to the T at Forest Road. Turn left agin and proceed to Currarong. Turn left onto Fishery Road, and then left again onto Piscator Avenue.
- Grab a fish and chips at Zac's Place (ask for the local catch or fresh today fish). (Zacs has recently been purchased by Maeve OMeara and her partner, and is undergoing a bit of a change in focus.) Walk along the waterfront in either direction and find a great picnic spot. Fascinating little community with a huge spirit. Check out their Currarong Art Trail on the first Saturday of the month.
Beaches at Callala Bay & Beach
Just a 15 minute drive
- Callala Bay is completely family-friendly. Little wave-action, easy access at Callala Bay via various beach heads, it is gentle and lovely -- and well-used
- Dogs can be off-lead from 4 PM to 8 AM at the north and south ends of the beach but not where your family would like to plop on the beach.
- Callala Beach has much more wave-action and is a bit less busy. Same rules apply regarding dogs.
Thank you for your gentle presence on the beaches. Thank you for being mindful about taking everything you brought to the beach with you when you leave the beach.
Balloons, small bits of bags and cellophane, small plastic toys, cut fishing line, hair from your hairbrush (!), plastic bits and pieces -- all harm wildlife as they inevitably make their way into the sea where they are attractive to sea creatures and birds. And thanks for picking up and disposing of any plastic bits you see left behind by others -- we all live on this tiny blue planet!
What goes for your human your human family goes for your fur family. What your dogs bring in or leave behind, you must retrieve and dispose of in bins at the top of each beach entrance -- thanks for your thoughtfulness.
Doggie bags are available at Arches in the pantry drawer. Help yourself to a roll to take along with you! Ta.