Sandcastle, Currarong accommodation review: Weekend away

The location

Turn left at Nowra and Currarong (permanent population 456) is as far as you can go to the northern end of Jervis Bay on four wheels. There's cricket in the streets, cycling without helmets and Chinese at the bowling club - visitors could be forgiven for thinking they'd somehow travelled back in time.

The place

Sandcastle is the beach house from central casting, with painted timber floors, comfy lounges, nautical themes, blue-striped fabrics and a coffee table for jigsaws and card games. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a sizeable backyard, but the highlight is the large, covered verandah with 180-degree water views. From its raised setting, it's possible to view a daily parade of holiday activity, from fishermen using the public boat ramp to families following the grassy walkway to and from the beach and rockpool.

The experience

Currarong has everything an old-fashioned family beach holiday needs: tennis, bushwalks, snorkelling, surfing, safe swimming and fishing, most of which are easily accessible by foot. Zac's Place for fish and chips is a few minutes' stroll away, but it's hard to beat barbecuing on the deck with kangaroos dropping in as the sun sinks below the horizon.

Don't miss

Taking the walking tracks around Abraham Bosom Reserve. The towering sandstone cliffs have stunning views, with rock platforms accessed by sometimes challenging paths, including Gosangs Tunnel. Don't miss a swim at tiny Lobster Bay. Drive into Beecroft Peninsula (Ministry of Defence permitting; it usually does on weekends and during holidays) for access to walks, the Point Perpendicular Lighthouse and beaches.

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