A guide to the top Jamberoo accommodation

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Jamberoo is a wonderful rural village where one can simply retreat from the fray. Come see the historic buildings, explore its natural beauty and stay to enjoy its old-fashioned country charm.

This quaint historical dairy town is located at the top of a valley and flanked by the imposing Saddleback Mountain. Not much has changed here and that is part of its allure, and the best Jamberoo accommodation knows that.

It is almost as though time has stood still amid the rolling hills and emerald-green pastures here. There’s an old English theme to the village by way of its classic church structures and the dry-stone walls which separate the farmlands.

To make the most of this quaint part of the world, we’ve rounded up our top accommodation picks.

The Lodge Jamberoo

This riverfront resort is the bee’s knees when it comes to luxe country lodge offerings. The Lodge is only 10 minutes inland from Kiama and super close to the Jamberoo Action Park.

the property exterior at The Lodge Jamberoo
Step into your quaint accommodation at The Lodge Jamberoo. (Image: Krystal McKinley)

These 43 beautifully appointed rooms are surrounded by landscaped gardens, expansive acreage and regal pine tree towers.

trees and flowers surrounding The Lodge Jamberoo
The tree-lined entrance will give you an instant dose of tropical holiday vibes.

There are accommodation styles to suit everybody: adjoining rooms for large families, two-bedroom suites for groups of friends, or deluxe rooms with poolside views for a romantic weekend. In fact, it’s a divine South Coast wedding venue.

an outdoor pool with sunloungers at The Lodge Jamberoo
The retro-inspired pool is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. (Image: Krystal McKinley)

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Jamberoo Abbey

Discover a unique rural New South Wales travel experience complete with a side of spiritual awakening if that’s your thing. Jamberoo Abbey is a very real Abbey, housing an enclosed community of Benedictine nuns.

It can accommodate twenty to thirty guests at a time. There are nine hermitages (sleeping one to two people in each) on-site and two spacious cottages with communal facilities. It’s evident that the abbey is a place where people come to seek peace in silence, nature, and prayer.

Note: there are often Sisters available to provide retreat guidance – enquire directly with the property for detailed information.

Jamberoo Valley Farm

Farm stays are fast gaining traction as a wonderful way to reconnect with the essentials of life – nature, nurture and nourishing food. Jamberoo Valley Farm ticks all the boxes when it comes to rural holiday destinations.

the cottage exterior at Jamberoo Valley Farm
Get closer to nature at Jamberoo Valley Farm.

It’s a working permaculture farm that features luxury farm-stay cottages with hinterland and ocean views all throughout the property. Aside from the mixed fruit and vegetable market gardens it is also home to pasture-raised grass, fed cattle and free-range chickens.

the living room at Jamberoo Valley Farm Cottage
Lovers of elegant country style will delight in the cottage furnishings.

We love the outdoor Swedish-style hot tub, a wonderful place to warm up in the cooler months and admire the gorgeous vistas that abound – it transforms into a cold plunge pool in summer. The huge wrap-around entertainment deck only adds to this quintessential but extremely elegant country stay.

the cottage interior with huge windows at Jamberoo Valley Farm Cottage
Find a spot by the large windows and soak up an abundance of natural light.

These stunning cottages are suitable for all kinds of wanderlust devotees, including the solo adventurer, cosy couples and families ready to immerse themselves in an enchanting farm stay location.

the kitchen at Jamberoo Valley Farm Cottage
Jamberoo Valley Farm Cottage evokes a rustic feel.

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The Historic Jamberoo Pub

Get out of town, or in this case, get out of the city and get yourself to the only and therefore the best pub in Jamberoo. Built in 1857, the character-filled Historic Jamberoo Pub has always been a popular drinking haunt for locals and visitors.

a rustic staircase inside The Historic Jamberoo Pub
Find vintage memorabilia inside The Historic Jamberoo Pub.

There are nine original pub-style rooms which are great for accommodating group bookings – you can have the entire top floor, with the bistro and bar right downstairs. The pub also makes an excellent base to explore nearby attractions such as Minnamurra Rainforest and the Jamberoo Action Park.

a bedroom with window at The Historic Jamberoo Pub
Rooms are simple with a blend of modern and kitsch design touches.

In addition to the original pub-style rooms, there’s also a motel wing (this section was built more recently and is usually quieter) with rooms that offer air conditioning, an ensuite, tea/coffee-making facilities and a TV. It’s a basic yet tidy place.

It’s terrific that there are no pokies here, instead, the pub would much prefer to support live music and stack the walls with interesting memorabilia. And there are always classic pub bistro dishes on the menu at very reasonable prices.

the front of The Historic Jamberoo Pub
The Historic Jamberoo Pub is a must-visit in Jamberoo.
Ready for an exhilarating family-friendly outing? Try the fun waterslides and stacks of world-class rides at Jamberoo Action Park.

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Roxanne Andrews
Roxanne Andrews is a freelance travel writer and editor based in Yamba, Australia. Topics of expertise include; sports tourism, luxury travel, arts & culture, cuisine & dining, wellness, the adventure sector and all things marine. A professional scribe who occasionally goes gonzo to capture the moment.
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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
    The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

    Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

    The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

    Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

    1. Check in

    aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter
    Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

    After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

    2. Hunt for treasure

    couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral
    Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

    Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

    kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum
    Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

    Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

    4. A taste of France

    table spread at Lucette bowral
    Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

    For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

    Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

    5. Indulge in a tipple

    Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter
    Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

    This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

    6. Blend your own gin

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar
    Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

    7. Go for a walk at dawn

    Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

    8. Cosy up by the fireplace

    Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel
    Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.

    A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

    At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

    Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.