A SWEET ESCAPE

Festivals celebrated abroad are a very different matter. There aren't many relatives or close friends nearby for us to visit. However, even though we have a few consequential strangers and collateral relatives to mix with (pun intended), we are not free to gatecrash Khala's event on a packed Eid day. Since I migrated to Australia, I've observed that a typical Eid day involves more than just getting dressed up, seeing a family, and eating sheer khormas or biryanis. Eid is more of a two-day journey from Sydney to towns and beaches throughout NSW just to relax; eat new dishes and take a stroll along the beach to live up to the atmosphere of the holiday.

Planning an Eid holiday with a few people we know in this city every year has almost become a routine. Since I had just given birth, we were unable to organise a vacation for Eid-ul-Fitr, but we made sure to take advantage of Eid-ul-Azha to travel and enjoy the holiday. We have investigated a few undiscovered jewels close to Sydney over the past three years. This time, we intended to travel by car to Sanctuary Point, which is located on NSW's (New South Wales') South Coast. The City of Shoalhaven is in charge of the town of Sanctuary Point. It is undoubtedly a fantastic location for exploring the extensive rivers of St Georges Basin. The town offers many accommodation options - a shopping centre, restaurants and a Country Club with golfing and regular entertainment. This peaceful spot is perfect for the whole family to enjoy sailing, swimming, water-skiing, kayaking and snorkelling. There are also established walks along the foreshore. Palm Beach, Paradise Beach and John Williams Reserve both offer waterfront parks with accessible toilets. Sanctuary Point is a short drive to Booderee National Park, the White Sands Coast of Jervis Bay and the seaside towns of Huskisson and Vincentia.

A SWEET ESCAPE

We booked an Airbnb near Sanctuary Point hosted by Oz Combined Realty. It offered a space for 12 guests (we were 12 people in total) and had four bedrooms, seven beds and 2.5 baths. We went in July and July means peak winter season in Australia. The backyard of the Airbnb had a fire pit for bonfires which made it cosier and better. The house was beautiful, spacious and ticked all the boxes for us.

We only wanted a road vacation with beautiful scenery and coastal places because Sanctuary Point is about 2.5 hours from Sydney. Even though we only had two days and three nights, we nonetheless made the most of that time by visiting as many places as we could. We began the first day with Booderee National Park. If you use the Naval College Road, Booderee and Sanctuary Point are separated by 11 minutes.

A SWEET ESCAPE

Booderee is Aboriginal land. Parks Australia works hand-in-hand with the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community to manage Booderee, using a mix of traditional knowledge and modern science. Crystal-clear waters meet beautiful white sand beaches, while high cliffs overlook the majestic Pacific Ocean. Booderee National Park features extraordinary native wildlife and is adorned with expansive botanic gardens. You need a park pass to experience the cultural and natural marvels of Booderee National Park. Planning on staying in the park? Booderee offers beachside campgrounds nestled among pristine native bushland. Campsites fill up fast during peak periods, so we suggest booking early to avoid missing out.

After paying a short visit to Booderee, we went to Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay – the most popular activity to do there. Hyams Beach is known to have world’s whitest sand (as per Guinness book of record). This was one of the highlights of our trip. However due to cold weather, it was nearly impossible to enjoy a dip in the water but somehow the kids got to do that too. Jervis Bay is also home to many beaches that are just pretty but not as crowded. In order to discover them, take a White Sands walk from Vincentia which is a short walk but packs a punch and you will get to explore Chinaman’s Beach - a true hidden gem. It is interesting to note that here you can find many holiday houses that you can rent for the weekend. For couples, Huskisson and Vincentia are ideal but if you are visiting with kids, you should opt for accommodations in Callala Beach.

A SWEET ESCAPE

The next day was quite adventurous as we got to do more. Early in the morning we went for a boat ride to Huskisson. It was a two-hour boat ride with beautiful deep blue sea in sight and occasional glimpses of dolphins and fishes. The voyage started from Myola to Huskisson charging $25 per person. We clicked pictures, captured videos, laughed and chatted over a hot cup of coffee. We grabbed a few snacks for a quick fix afterwards and headed straight to our next adventure – a hike to Fitzroy Falls followed by several lookouts. Just 150 m from Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre, Fitzroy Falls lookout is a great wheelchair/pram-accessible spot to take in the sight of the waterfall. Follow the elevated boardwalk as it winds its way along a creek to the lookout platform at the edge of the escarpment.

From the lookout, you’ll see the top of Fitzroy Falls as it cascades over dramatic sandstone cliffs into the valley below. Watch the water descend nearly 100 m before it makes its way through Yarrunga Valley toward the Shoalhaven River. Bring your binoculars and see if you can spot the local birdlife as you look out across the rainforest canopies in the valley below.

A SWEET ESCAPE

Many species make their home in these pockets of sub-tropical rainforest, tall open forest and eucalypt forest. If you turn your gaze towards the horizon, you’ll see the views extend along the east and west rim towards Braidwood. Make sure you bring your camera to capture the sweeping panorama of Yarrunga River and Yarrunga Valley, with Mount Scanzi and Mount Carrialoo in the distance.

After witnessing the unmatched beauty of the Fitzroy Falls, we hopped on to the lookout platform to quickly see Jersey, Richardson and Twin Falls lookouts. We were tired but pumped up at the same time because we still had a few hours left to call it a day. Quickly went to the famous Kangaroo Valley which is one of the most picturesque destinations for a weekend getaway from Sydney and is close to the Fitzroy Falls.

A SWEET ESCAPE

There is also a cycling route for adventurous mountain bikers from Fitzroy to Kangaroo Valley combining scenic riding with some steep downhill runs. This gorgeous valley is located 150 km south of Sydney, provides perfect chance to enjoy some country comfort within easy reach of the city. It includes nature adventures which require a separate day to invest in. It is surrounded by towering walls of Illawarra Escarpment and is home to three epic waterfalls: Belmore, Fitzroy and Carrington Falls with plenty of stunning lookouts including the Cambewarra Mountain lookout that offers one of the longest panoramas in Australia.

Kangaroo Valley has so much to offer for everyone! One can immerse themselves in nature and have an adventure. Soak up some music at festival time. If food is your thing, take a chef led class, enjoy the freshest of local produce. In the village, fill up on lovingly made yummies at one of the many cafes. Explore pioneer history at the museum or browse the shops for treats or gifts. For ice creams we went to ‘Sweet as Valley’, a lolly shop in Kangaroo Valley, where you can find a variety of lollies, chocolate and gelato.

A SWEET ESCAPE

After browsing a few shops for antiques, we finally went back to our Airbnb where we just unwound in front of a bonfire. The closing night of this short and sweet trip withered away amid children roasting the marshmallows and making S’mores (roasted marshmallows) and lighting up the night with sparklers while the elders sat back for stargazing and jamming to their favourite music!