Australia
There is a new travel trend that satisfies both your craving for the great outdoors and your penchant for the finer things in life. The perfect blend of being at one with nature, yet still enjoying a hassle-free getaway, where you can put your feet up, enjoy a good meal and a comfortable bed.
Yes, my friends, it’s GLAMPING!
Paperbark Camp, in Jervis Bay on the stunning South Coast of NSW. The ultimate luxury and ecofriendly bush retreat, where you are immersed in Australia’s unparalleled flora and fauna, and is the perfect hideaway to do as much or as little as you like.
Close to Paperbark Camp you’ll also find some of the NSW South Coasts most picturesque beaches, including Hyams Beach, which is renowned for having the whitest sand in the world (as recognised by the Guinness Book of Records).
From the moment, we padded lightly up the stairs (so as not to disturb the serenity of this quiet and mesmerising location), and into ‘The Gunyah’ (which is Aboriginal for meeting place, or place of shelter) we were immediately at one with our bush surroundings.
Perched high on stilts, among the Eucalyptus trees, The Gunyah is where we were greeted with a very warm welcome, checked in and swiftly orientated with the main building and guided to our ‘tent’. Set on a hardwood timber platform, the large canopy housed our twin beds (real beds, not camp beds), solar lighting and a beautifully designed outdoor shower and toilet, with handmade soaps and bath products, not to mention the crisp white sheets and fluffy robes!
The wood platform also allowed space for a generous balcony area, where there was a small table and two reclining deck chairs. With 12 luxury safari style tents at the property, some also offer full day beds, stand-alone bath tubs and a king bed.
As for the food, both of our evenings consisted of a scrumptious 4 course menu, paired with local Australian wines, served at The Gunyah Restaurant.
As for the “things to do”, you can enjoy relaxation massage on the privacy of our balcony, others packed a picnic and commandeered push bikes to head along the tree lined paths and into the coastal village of Huskisson. Other guests took advantage of the camps kayaks and paddle boards, to paddle along tranquil Currambene Creek, for more water based exploration of the area.
After just two nights at the camp, it was time to head home. Whilst I felt as though I had only just begun to switch off and unwind, the weekend certainly served its purpose as chance for me to spoil myself with a unique experience that left me rejuvenated.