The Chair’s Where? Narooma, New South Wales

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TIME TO DISCOVER NAROOMA

Comes a point where you have enjoyed checking out the bigger cities, like Melbourne and Sydney, but feel it is time to do some beaches, do some chillin’ out, and maybe go for a road trip. I couldn’t agree more, so grab yourself a vehicle, perhaps hire a motorhome rental, and look no further than the Sapphire Coast and the wonderful township of Narooma.

LOCATION

The relaxed township of Narooma is a steady four hour drive south of Sydney, or a slightly longer six hour drive from Melbourne.

All roads are fully sealed major routes and are all weather accessible. The journey to Narooma will allow for numerous scenic photo opportunities from seascapes to landscapes and stunning hillside viewing platforms in between. Smaller townships along the way will provide options for ‘bric a brac’ browsing, antique purchases, local farmers' produce, and everywhere will have a bakery with ‘the best meat pie’ award.

In other words, the drive itself will already be a pleasurable experience, and an overnight stop might well be a worthwhile thought. Your arrival in Narooma then puts you in a town often mentioned as the ‘jewel of the Sapphire Coast’.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Narooma township, and the broader adjacent region, allows for a multitude of pleasurable activities and endeavours. It ranges from water sports to watching wonders of nature such as humpback whales, to great wine, to great cheeses, tasty farm produce and great seafood – this area has much to tempt both locals and visitors alike.

LET'S GET MORE SPECIFIC

Some must dos, some must tries and some great fun. In no particular order...

Eco1 Extreme – Discover your wild side! Go snorkeling with the seals at Eco1 Extreme adventures.

Tilba Valley Winery and Ales – need I say more? And only 10 minutes from Narooma.

Whale watching – Another must do, in season, as the Humpback Whale migration route brings them in shore for some terrific viewing opportunities.

Music with a difference – Attend Narooma during the Australian National Busking Championships (you might just hear the next Aussie super star).

Artisans Nest – be wowed when you attend a venue that showcases the very best of local regional artists, across a range of textiles, art, jewellery, sculpture, clothing and home accents.

Oyster Festival – OK, so at any point have I mentioned this is a great location for the freshest of seafoods? Doesn’t get any better than their very own Oyster Festival. A must do for sure.

So there you go, a lot of great reasons to take a drive to the wonderful Narooma and enjoy many and varied experiences. As they say, ‘the world is your Oyster!’ But where to stay...

WHERE TO STAY

Multiple options exist for a ‘good night's sleep’ in Narooma. From private lodgings through to motels, B&Bs and an array of holiday and tourist parks. There exists a range of quality and price to suit most tastes. But I have a favourite. Given the fact I often travel in a motorhome, I wisely choose to stay at the Island View Beach Resort.

ISLAND VIEW BEACH RESORT

Do not be fooled by the word resort – as this is a terrific full-on Tourist Park with multiple accommodation opportunities across a range of prices, all available at the one location. Indeed, from basic holiday cabins to luxury spa accommodation, from a multi-person beach house to stylish luxury safari tents, and from en-suite powered sites to large grassed camping areas – this venue can cater to all your needs and is a proud member of the Family Parks group.

I chose an en-suite powered site and could not fault same. A short stroll took me to several beach access points and quickly I was on the sand and enjoying the local beach. I chatted with people fishing and noted several people from the park out there catching some sun. It is a great spot with views to Montague Island.

Facilities are great and too numerous to mention but I loved the resort-style pool, used the BBQ area and was impressed with the local tourist information available in reception. Such a big venue caters to some relaxed and quiet areas for those of us wishing some peace, but there are some great activities for those looking to entertain younger folk – a modular pump track and jumping pillow being just the start.

The venue is only a few minutes from the heart of town – and did I mention bring the dog? Yes, this venue is pet friendly.

Narooma. Part of the Sapphire Coast, part of a wonderland, a must-visit land. Take the drive and I will see you there.

THE CHAIR

(DriveNow has teamed up with "The Chair", none other than Dennis Werthenbach, the enigmatic and super popular chairman of the board for Family Parks Holiday Parks & Campgrounds - for more than 26 years, Family Parks has represented independent caravan parks and camping grounds, promoting fantastic holiday destinations for travellers young and old. With so many great caravan and camping parks throughout Australia and New Zealand, Family Parks is more than just a holiday, it’s a unique holiday experience.)

Scott Podmore

Award-winning writer, editor, photographer, videographer and owner of October Grey Media. Specialising in travel and lifestyle content and a full member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. Has contributed regular content for the NewsCorp stable of newspapers and magazines, TravelTalk mag, The Departure Lounge and many more publications in Australia and internationally. Follow on Twitter & instragram #scottpodmore