Ideal beach escape three hours from Sydney will suit all types
The accommodation
Pebbly Beach Escape, NSW
Check-in
It’s late afternoon, and on this summer’s day, the road to Pebbly Beach is stirring up memories of family holidays spent along this stretch of the NSW South Coast. The green of Murramarang National Park, the near-perfect arc of white sand and the sweep of the blue ocean, it’s all still here, only now there’s a new way to enjoy it.
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A 3½-hour drive from Sydney, Pebbly Beach Escape makes an ideal getaway or a leisurely holiday. A set of old-school instructions – follow the road to the end, veer right at the grassy roundabout – brings us to Ushka’s, an oceanfront, 1940s beach house that’s just undergone a complete makeover. The welcoming committee is a lazy bunch – stretched out on the grass below our deck, the famous, beach-loving kangaroos barely raise their heads.
The look
Ushka’s is equal parts relaxed beach house – glass louvres, worn floorboards, shelves filled with books and board games – and sophisticated seaside residence. Surrounded by Murramarang National Park, there’s also a second house plus five cabins and studios dotted across the 1.2-hectare property. In recognition of the custodians of the land, each renovated cabin has been bestowed a Yuin language name.
Black and white photos from the 1940s tell the story of the pioneering Ushka, founder of the original Pebbly Beach cabins. I’m not sure what she’d make of the modern comfort, but she’d certainly approve of the low-impact, solar-powered set-up.
The house
Ushka’s is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house that sleeps eight. We take the main bedroom, which has the bonus of its own north-facing deck. Decor throughout is all rattan and timber with linen furnishings in white, olive and charcoal. A deft hand has kept the styling simple, letting the views take the lead.
A giant dining table invites card games, jigsaw puzzles and conversations that last all night. If Monopoly gets too intense, retreat to the comfy window seat with a book and a cuppa. There are other thoughtful touches: kindling and cut wood for the outdoor fire pit, a picnic basket and beach cabana hanging near the door, Breville Barista coffee machine and Leif bathroom products.
Food + drink
There is no restaurant on site, but the well-equipped kitchen is made for long, lazy feasts, plus there’s an outdoor barbecue. Settle in on the deck, with views across to the beach and coloured cliffs of the headland, and you’ll never want to leave. If you can pull yourself away, Sam’s Pizza at Batemans Bay is worth the 20-minute drive. Finish with a Paddle Pop from the local servo for peak nostalgia.
Out + about
I’d happily stick with the “swim, eat, nap” routine, but the bordering Murramarang National Park also calls. Allow two and a half hours for the return hike to Snake Bay, a sampler of the three-day Murramarang South Coast Walk (opened 2023).
SUP, kayaking, snorkelling and diving can all be arranged with local guides. If wine-tasting is more your style, Cupitt’s Estate is an easy 45-minute drive (or do as we did and call in on the way down from Sydney). Hand-crafted wines, paddock-to-plate dining, live music on Sundays – it’s a fitting way to open or close a weekend.
The verdict
Want a front-row seat to Pebbly Beach’s famous kangaroos? This renovated 1940s beach house is just the ticket, offering a prime beach escape suitable for couples, families or groups. Low-impact, high-comfort at its very best.
Essentials
From $1750 for two nights in Ushka’s; $790 for two nights in Waru studio (minimum multi-night stays apply for three-bedroom properties, weekend stays and peak travel periods, see website). Lot 115 Pebbly Beach access road, Pebbly Beach, NSW. No accessible rooms. Phone: (02) 4478 7581. See pebblybeach.com.au
Our rating out of five
★★★★
Highlight
It’s all about the location; secluded, surrounded by nature (oh, the birdsong!) and perched above one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Lowlight
The lack of a television. Weekends away are meant to be about switching off, but for me, rare downtime is also an opportunity to enjoy a movie.
The writer stayed as a guest of Pebbly Beach Escape.
Kerry van der Jagt is a Sydney-based freelance writer with expertise in Australia's Indigenous cultures, sustainable travel and wildlife conservation, and a descendant of the Awabakal people of the mid-north coast of NSW.