What it’s like to stay at Anchorage Farm Narooma, a nature-hemmed hideaway on the NSW South Coast bound to make you melt inside.
A stillness has settled over the Wagonga Inlet. Gums frame the horizon like tall custodians of dusk, the water beyond flushed copper and luminous in the waning light. Bellbirds drown out distant car engines. Chickens, absorbed in their small, earnest excavations, peck about the garden. It’s the kind of place that shrinks your everyday worries to their proper size, reminding you how little they matter in the grand scheme of things.
We’re staying at Anchorage Farm Narooma’s Shucker Shack, an annexed van turned tiny home offering a unique nature-hemmed hideaway on the far NSW South Coast. The 40-hectare farm is owned by the Dudley family and is also home to five off-grid campsites, along with three more tiny homes set to open in the coming months. On our hilltop perch, we coax open a bottle of sparkling and pare away at a generous wedge of local Tilba cheese.
Cheers to relaxing at the Shucker Shack.
Everything here feels crisper than usual, as if someone has grabbed hold of the lens of life and sharpened its focus. The produce feels brighter, the horizon vaster, the air purer, the sky darker. Away from the hullabaloo of the city, my mind feels clearer, too. My partner and I tuck into the dozen famous Narooma oysters – fresh as they come – our host Merri Dudley has kindly left in our fridge, and we find ourselves chatting about what it might be like to live here one day.
Where is Anchorage Farm Narooma?
The Shucker Shack sits on a hill with views over the Wagonga Inlet.
Anchorage Farm Narooma is situated 3.5 kilometres from the main street of Narooma, a township on NSW’s South Coast that’s about three hours’ drive from Canberra or five from Sydney. The farm lies within easy reach of all Narooma’s attractions (including its world-class mountain biking trails) yet still feels secluded thanks to its peaceful perch on a hill overlooking the stunning Wagonga Inlet. Around two minutes’ drive away is the popular Oyster Farmer’s Daughter, a much-loved waterfront spot for beer, light bites and super-fresh seafood.
The backstory
Family-owned and operated Anchorage Farm Narooma is welcoming to all.
Chickens roam freely around the farm.
Wake to the peaceful sounds of birdsong.
Anchorage Farm Narooma is owned by the Dudley family, with husband-and-wife duo Brad and Merri Dudley managing the guest-facing side of the accommodation. Brad and his brother Mark inherited the farm when their father, Bill, sadly passed away in 2023. When asked why they decided to open the farm up to overnight guests, Merri says it is a way of honouring Bill’s love of boat building, turning his projects into spaces for others to enjoy.
“Bill welcomed others to the farm and Narooma with a natural generosity and a strong sense of community that left a lasting impression on us, and has helped shape the foundation of what we’ve created here," Merri elaborates.
Anchorage Farm Narooma is readying to open three brand-new tiny homes expected for mid to late 2026: two that have been converted from boats Bill had built and a renovated bus that served as the original Narooma school bus in the 1980s.
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Staying in the Shucker Shack
The Shucker Shack features a firepit and terrace where guests can soak in the views.
Open since January 2025, Anchorage Farm Narooma’s Shucker Shack feels like a warm hug. There is no Wi-Fi (our phones still have reception, however). Furnishings are comfortable but not ultra-modern. But there’s something that feels very homey about it all.
The shack exterior is laden with planks of wood and features a terrace area with two seats and a firepit. Cradled on one side by bird-filled gum trees and boasting beautiful inlet views on the other, it’s a magical place to switch off and disconnect from day-to-day stress.
The bedroom sleeps two and features a small kitchenette.
Small touches make for a memorable stay.
The lounge area is simple and homey.
Step inside the Shucker Shack and you’ll find a clean, self-contained space. Ideal for couples, it is separated into two main areas: a living space with a small ensuite, and a bedroom housing a double bed and small kitchenette, plus breakfast stools overlooking the inlet.
If you’re a stickler for sleek contemporary finishes and flashy design, I suggest you look elsewhere. But if you’re willing to overlook a leaky tap here or there, you’re in for a treat.
Guests can enjoy fresh eggs from the farm.
In the morning, I receive a text: ‘Hope you slept well! I have a fresh sourdough loaf here…let me know if you’d like me to bring it over’. How could one decline? Oven-warm, it is truly delicious. We have to restrain ourselves to just two pieces each so as not to fill up before the breakfast we’ve booked nearby.
Granola and fresh eggs from the farm’s chickens wait on the bench; local cheese and oysters fill the fridge. There are plenty of great places to eat in Narooma, but those who prefer a home-cooked meal can make use of the shack’s electric fry pan, microwave, toaster, kettle and gas barbecue.
Enjoying oven-warm sourdough.
Later, after returning from dinner at Quarterdeck – one of the most popular restaurants in Narooma, we step out of the car to an unexpected delight. Up above, the sky is dark and exceptionally clear, studded with a carpet of stars so dense I don’t know how anyone could possibly count them all. Both our jaws gape open; it is extraordinary.
After a hot shower, we’re drawn back outside again with cups of tea in hand. In the distance, Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere echoes across the inlet. I’m not sure how long we remain out here in silence, enjoying the stillness, enjoying each other’s company.
The perfect place to find pure peace.
“Guests seem to love the tranquillity, the wide-open space, the wildlife, the views and the sense of peace they feel while they are here," Merri tells us, waving us off as we reluctantly head home the following morning. “Many tell me they don’t want to leave!"
We certainly don’t.
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The verdict
A peaceful, tiny home retreat surrounded by birdlife and gum trees, where phones are gladly cast aside. The Dudley family have created something very special – Anchorage Farm offers warm, heartfelt hospitality with personal touches you won’t find when staying at large hotel chains. I want to tell everybody and nobody about it at the same time.
The details
Address: 360 Riverview Rd, North Narooma NSW 2546
Best for: couples (the tiny homes) and families (the campsites) longing for a grounding return to nature
Price: from roughly $240/night in the Shucker Shack (two-night minimum stay) and $49/night at one of the farm’s campsites
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.
The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.
The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.
By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.
Dive into the world’s best beaches.
That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.
But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.
Beyond the beaches
Dining
Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.
The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.
By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.
Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.
A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.
Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.
One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.
Pristine walking trails
Cool off with a coastal stroll.
Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.
Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.
Enjoy whale watching
Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)
Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.
Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.
