Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

SOUTH OF SYDNEY ALONG THE PRINCES HIGHWAY 199
larger of the two can jet water up to 60m (197 ft.), but you need a large swell
and strong southeasterly winds to force the sea through the rock fissure with
enough force to achieve that height. The smaller of the two is more consistent,
but still fares better with a good northeasterly wind.
Pick up a map from the Kiama Visitors Centre (see below) to guide you on
a Heritage Walk through the historic district of this quaint village, where you
can tour a row of National Trust workers’ cottages built in 1896. There’s little
reason to stay the night in Kiama, as plenty more scenic places await further
south.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE From Sydney, travel south on the Princes Highway via
the steel-works city of Wollongong. There’s also a regular train service from Sydney
and a Greyhound–Pioneer (& 13 20 30 in Australia) coach service. The
trip by coach takes about 2 hours, the train trip a little less.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Kiama Visitors Centre at Blowhole Point,
Kiama (& 02/4232 3322; fax 02/4226 3260; www.kiama.net/default.htm)is
open daily from 9am to 5pm.
JERVIS BAY: AN OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK GEM
182km (113 miles) S of Sydney
Bouderee National Park (formally known as Jervis Bay National Park), at Jervis
Bay, is nothing short of spectacular. You should come here even if it means
missing out on some of Sydney’s treasures. How does this grab you: Kilometers
of deserted beaches, the whitest sand imaginable, kangaroos you can stroke, lorikeets
who mob you for food during the day time, and possums who do the same
at night, pods of dolphins, some great walks through gorgeous bushland, and a
real Aboriginal spirituality-of-place? I could go on, but see for yourself.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE It’s best to reach Jervis Bay via Huskisson, 24km (15 miles)
southeast of Nowra on the Princes Highway. Approximately 16km (10 miles)
south of Nowra, turn left onto the Jervis Bay Road to Huskisson. The entrance
to Bouderee National Park is just after Huskisson. It’s about a 3-hour drive from
Sydney. You’ll probably need at least 2 days to get to know the area. Watch out
for the black cockatoos.
Australian Pacific Tours (& 02/9247 7222; fax 02/9247 2052; www.aptours.
com.au) runs a dolphin-watching cruise to Jervis Bay from Sydney every day
between early October and mid-April, and Monday and Thursday in winter.
The 12-hour trip—7 of which are on the coach—includes a visit to the Kiama
blowhole, a 3-hour luncheon cruise looking for bottlenose dolphins, and a stop
off on the way back at Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands. The trip costs
A$117 (US$76) for adults and A$109 (US$71) for children.
East Coast Adventure Tours (& 1800/666 000 in Australia; www.beachn
bush.com.au) takes backpackers and other adventurous sorts on a 2-night trip
to Jervis Bay every Friday evening. You walk deep into the huge Morton
National Park, go on a dolphin cruise, and spend the rest of the weekend in
Jervis Bay. The trip costs A$219 (US$142).
VISITOR INFORMATION For information on the area, contact the Shoalhaven
Visitors Centre, at the corner of Princes Highway and Pleasant Way,
Nowra, NSW 2541 (& 1800/024 261 in Australia, or 02/4421 0778; www.
shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au). Pick up maps and book camping sites at the Bouderee