Kangaroo Valley

Nestled in the NSW Southern Highlands, two hours drive south of Sydney, Kangaroo Valley is a place of bucolic charm, perfect for those seeking some time away from the bright lights. Tourism has replaced agriculture as the valley’s primary source of income, meaning you won't be left wanting when it comes to finding a place to stay. Cloudsong Bed and Breakfast has a number of self-contained cabins for extra privacy. It’s warm, friendly, and includes a hand-delivered breakfast hamper.

One of the best ways to see the what the region has to offer is by minibus on the Flavours of the Valley Foodie Trail, which runs 10am-4pm every weekend and includes olive, wine, cheese and chocolate tastings as well as a number of hands-on activities like fruit picking, lunching in the home of one of the local farmers, and watching olives getting pickled.

If relaxation features strongly on your agenda, Minnamurra Rainforest is a great day trip in the making, with a network of elevated walkways and suspension bridges providing a brilliant forest view. Both forest walks cover around 4.2km distance and take around two hours to complete in total. Make sure you leave enough time for a quick trip to Fudge Addiction, where the Blanch family have been making fudge since 1986. They have a small fudge-making room adjoining their property where you can spend hours watching the delicious goo go round and round in a big steel pot.

The Yarrawa Estate is also worth a visit - the winery won silver and gold in the South Coast Wine Shows and their wines feature in the most recent Luke Mangan cookbook. Say hi to the hosts, sample some of the estate-grown macadamia nuts, pecans or avocados, and watch the sun go down behind the Southern Highlands Mountains.

At dinner time, Café Bella at the top end of town is as praiseworthy for its steak as it is for its decor, which features bookshelf-lined walls, strings of fairy lights and miniature dog statuettes.

For more info go to www.kangaroovalleytourist.asn.au

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