This is a pleasant stop recommended by local. Although it's a little out of the way in our drive…read morefrom Syd to Brisbane, I'm glad we made it. The secluded beach was beautiful. On top of that, the hoard of wild kangaroos was fun to watch from afar. If you are arriving mid day, go further into the grassy area and you will see them resting under the shade in pack. They are very alert so keep your distance. Although I find that when I hop, they hop too.

A bit of a drive North from Sydney, but if you have done Jervis Bay and are looking for something…read moreelse, Blueberry Hill at Arakoon would be my choice for a luxury holiday escape amidst a green leafy backdrop in the South West Rocks / Arakoon area. The property is located on a quiet street, a short 2.1km drive from the sheltered waters of Trial Bay Beach and 4.7km drive to the town centre of South West Rocks with Main Beach, Horseshoe Bay, shops, restaurants and a decent local pub, a great base to explore this diverse and beautiful part of the world, which offers world class diving, fishing, whale-watching and more. If you don't fancy cooking there is a great cafe up the road called Trail Bay Kiosk which does great coffee and pancakes, with a view of the water and the historic Trail Bay Gaol. The accommodation consists of the main upstairs dwelling with two double bedrooms and bathroom along with the huge open plan kitchen with all the mod cons. There is a large lounge room with comfy leather lounges, large wall mounted TV, DVD player and soundbar. The indoor dining area seats 8. There are two verandahs, the larger has a gas BBQ and seating area for outdoor dining or entertaining, or enjoying breakfast while watching the kangaroos in the yard, and colourful birds in the trees, while the kids play in the huge cubby house with slippery dip. We even had a little colony of tiny bats sheltering under the roof. Additionally, downstairs has two separate areas with undercover access from the outside. The first area has a kids lounge-room with TV and DVD player, two more bedrooms - one queen and the other a tri-bunk. The second area includes the laundry with shower and toilet and a games room with a pool table, wall mounted TV and dart board. There is plenty of outdoor car parking for several cars with room for kids to zoom around on bikes or scooters on the long asphalt driveway. Altogether a great option for a getaway with a large group of friends or two or three couples with kids.

Well, as a beach this place isn't too bad, though it is a bit of a hike from the centre of town…read more That probably isn't too much of an issue though considering that there does happen to be some shops, and cafes, nearby. The beach itself is quite nice, and rather calm, but that is also not surprising considering that the area has been turned into a sheltered harbour. There are also quite a few facilities around here as well.

This is a good beach, nice ocean and water but sand taste like cows direhae. It smelt a little of…read morelike pigs breath but a good beach

My partner and I usually stay at Smoky Cape Retreat about 3 to 4 times a year. It's a convenient…read morespot to stop half way between Sydney and Byron Bay/Gold Coast. We needed a place to stay that was pet friendly as well as suitable for humans (clean!) and found that SWR doesn't offer much in the way of this. We were lucky to find Smoky Cape Retreat because it not only caters for our beloved pooch, but is well catered for a comfortable, peaceful stay. The rooms aren't decorated by a 5-star interior designer. If you're looking for luxe, this is not the place for you. It is however rustic, well equipped, clean, good value for money, quiet and the staff are friendly and hospitable. We never seem to arrive earlier than 7-8pm in the evening, but this doesn't seem too much of a problem for Mary - She lets us know she's reserved our preferred room and notifies us where to collect the key from. It's like arriving back home. Our pooch is instantly at ease, and so are we. I have specific food requirements due to intolerances. However Mel, Mary and the team are more than happy to cater for anyone with specific dietary requests. The food is like a great home-cooked meal, packed with flavour and really comforting. The portions are huge by the way. We had the pleasure of tasting the beef cheeks, and they are absolutely delicious! Highly recommended. The pool area is lovely, fully secure and allows you to have your dog by your side. There is a peaceful outdoor area to sit under the filtered sun, under the wrap around verandah or inside. The outdoors are bordered by an array of plants and flowers which Mary and Ken keep thriving all year round. There is also a very cheeky pet Galah called Coby and he and I really bonded this trip. He loves a scratch and to talk your ear off - he's very sweet. The retreat is quietly tucked away in Arakoon forest, minutes drive from the delightful beach of Little Bay, or minutes into town. We will definitely keep returning to Smoky Cape Retreat as we enjoy knowing our stay will be hassle-free, comfortable and relaxing.

We had a wonderful stay at the Riverview Boutique Motel. Rena and Ziggy were the perfect hosts -…read morediscreet yet there for our every need. Our room was modern and immaculately clean, and the room was perfectly quiet. Great location - close to amenities and restaurants. Our breakfast was tasty and healthy. Thank you for everything - we will be back! In fact, we've already recommended you to family who will be staying with you soon!

My colleague and I found ourselves stranded in Coffs Harbour without anywhere to stay because of…read morethe National Touch Football competition. The only place available was The Riverview Boutique Motel. I would normally balk at staying somewhere like this but IT WAS AMAZING!! Rena and Ziggy are gracious hosts and waited up for us to arrive. We had the most refreshing night's sleep and the vibe of the place was really peaceful. Very clean and comfortable. Rena cooks a mean bacon and eggs too! We'll be back again!