Our Shoalhaven 100 Beach challenge is a fun family activity all year-round. During the warmer months, find lesser-known beaches to escape the crowds or explore one of our 16 white sand beaches. It’s a great time to pack a picnic, grab the kids and take advantage of the warmer weather – explore our list of favourite family beaches, kindly curated by the experts at South Coast Kids.
Narrawallee Inlet – Narrawallee
A lovely and protected bay of water is Narrawallee Inlet, where the smaller kids can paddle in the shallows without having to struggle with waves. Walk through the mangroves at low tide or ride your bike along the bush track that leads to the headland point. There’s also a great little play park close to toilet facilities right next to the carpark at the inlet. Bordering Narrawallee Beach is just footsteps away and is excellent for older kids who love to surf. And if you don’t feel like heading into the water, walk along this beautiful stretch of sand or play some family beach cricket.
Abraham’s Bosom Beach – Currarong
Currarong’s main, protected beach, Abrahams Bosom, is an excellent swimming spot for kids of all ages. There’s a natural rock pool plus a lovely reserve with great picnic grounds and barbecue facilities. Abrahams Bosom Reserve also has two exciting walks that are fantastic to venture upon during cooler weather. Both Abrahams Bosom walks feature coastal seascape scenery of family beaches, estuaries, ocean, rock formations, massive sandstone cliffs and headlands.
Callala Beach – Callala Bay
This hidden gem is tucked away in beautiful Callala Bay. With crystal clear waters, the bay is calm and protected. There aren’t huge waves here, making this family beach perfect for younger kids. The beach also boasts a leafy grassed area that includes play equipment. The local store is close by if you need to stock up on some lunch during your visit. There’s also a cute wooden jetty and boat ramp to explore. Or be a little adventurous by climbing the rock wall! Callala Beach boasts some of the whitest sands along our Shoalhaven coast. It is usually very peaceful and quiet, with hardly any crowds in sight, especially in winter.
Seven Mile Beach – Shoalhaven Heads
Welcome to Seven Mile Beach, a beautiful bush to beach location with plenty to offer all year round. At the massive Beach Road picnic area there’s ample parking plus barbeques, picnic tables, clean amenities and beach showers. From here you can explore the surrounding forest along the Sandy Beach Walks and be greeted by the resident rooster, or just take in the serene views from the boardwalk. The beach itself, as you might have already guessed from its name, is very long and has plenty of room for everyone to secure their own little pocket of paradise. Parts of the beach are also dog-friendly so feel free to bring the family pooch along too! It’s a great spot to laze about for the whole day and the surf club has a nice little café serving up delicious lunch options and parent can grab a freshly brewed coffee. A wonderful treat for children who love horses is a riding session along the sand with Regal Riding School, a truly special experience for the little ones to remember.
Tilbury Cove, Culburra Beach
The last of our popular family beaches is Tilbury Cove, located on the eastern end of Culburra Beach. This quiet and sheltered nook usually boasts minimal waves and is a fantastic swimming and wading spot for younger children, often calmer here than the surrounding beaches. The lovely grassy area is a great picnic zone, with amenities and a kid’s playground right next to the carpark on Penguins Head Road. We all know how hard it is travelling with little ones but it really is super easy for parents to set up at Tilbury Cove for the day. Come here to soak up the serene ocean views while the kids stay entertained for hours. And if you don’t quite feel like packing a hamper for the day, then drive into the main strip of shops at Culburra Beach and feast on the delicious fish and chips at Little Snapper – the perfect accompaniment to a day at the beach!
