OverSixty July 2023 Digital

Road tripping WA’s Coral Coast Highway ZOË MEUNIER DESTINATIONS E xperience the essence of Western Australia on this ultimate road trip. Stretching along 1,100km of breathtaking coastline, the Coral Coast Highway will take you on an unforgettable journey ex- ploring some of the most iconic and best loved attractions in Australia. !e southern gateway to the Coral Coast is two hours north of Perth. From here, you can gape at the majesty of the Pinnacles Desert (pictured above), sky- dive over Jurien Bay, befriend a rare Aus- tralia sea lion, or enjoy fresh lobster by the ocean at the Lobster Shack in Cervantes. !e Coral Coast extends inwards to cov- er wild"ower country, which becomes a riot of colour from late July to early Oc- tober – must-visits include the wild"ow- er carpets at Coalseam Conservation Park, walking the wild"ower trail around Badgingarra and unforgettable stargazing at Yarra Yarra Lakes or Mullewa. Geraldton, the Coral Coast’s only city, boasts culture, history, cafes, street art and galleries, to complement its laidback Doggy delights of the Shoalhaven ZOË MEUNIER DESTINATIONS F or many of us, a holiday without our furry friends just wouldn’t be right – they are valued members of the family, after all! When seeking out a dog-friendly destination, it’s hard to go past the Shoal- haven region on the NSW South Coast, which includes Jervis Bay, Nowra, Berry, the Kangaroo Valley, Milton, Ulladulla andMollymook. Not only does the region o#er a wide range of on- and o#-leash ar- eas, glorious beaches and walking trails, but your good boy or girl is also well ca- tered for when it comes to cafes, accom- modations …and even their own day spa! With over 170km of jaw-dropping coastline and some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, both you and your canine friends can bask in the beauty of the area. !e region o#ers numerous o#-leash beaches – some 24 hours a day, such as Gerroa’s Seven Mile Beach, Cor- morant Beach in Bawley Point and Ullu- dulla Harbour North Beach, while others o#er o#-leash hours throughout the day, including the popular Huskisson Beach and Reserve and Culburra Beach, along with laidback Nelson Beach in Vincentia, where our shoodle Benji had the time of his life splashing through the foam, dig- ging sand holes and making new friends. Still more beaches, including the world famous Hyam’s Beach with its pristine white sand, allow dogs on leashes. You can download the o#-leash guide from shoalhaven.com/pets. On-leash walking trails of the region’s bushland and coastline also abound, such as Bens Walk along Nowra creek, with its dramatic cli#s and suspension bridge crossing a weir, or Corramy Re- gional Park, an easy trail walk through forest, wetland and boardwalks, o#ering $shing and birdwatching opportunities. When all that action and adventure has worked up an appetite, your pooch will be welcomed in many venues, whether you fancy a country pub experience at !e Shoalhaven Heads Hotel, or a deli- cious culinary experience in the open- air courtyard of !e Garden Berry, while vego diners will love Pilgrims Milton. Wine lovers can also savour a tasting or two with their doggy by their side. !e South Coast wine region is visually stun- ning, so you can enjoy breathtaking views at pet-friendly wineries such as Silos Es- tate, Mountain Ridge Winery and Cam- bewarra Estate. Dog-owning beer lovers, meanwhile, can enjoy a schooner at Jer- vis Bay Brewing Co’s cosy beer garden. Whether your accommodation pref- erences are for a rustic camping ground, a luxury hotel, or anywhere in between, there are pet-friendly stays to suit all tastes. Enjoy bush camping by the Clyde River at Shallow Crossing Camping Ground or Yadboro Flat, head to Glen- mack Park in the beautiful Kangaroo Val- ley to camp alongside alpacas and hors- es, or visit Merry Beach Caravan Park or Surfside Cudmirrah Beach for oceanside camping, the latter of which also o#ers cute pastel cabins with enclosed court- yards for you and your pup to stay in. For an upmarket experience, !e Pa- vilion at Bannisters has some dog friend- ly rooms, while Bangalay’s Angelsea at Shoalhaven Heads o#ers a stylish, com- fortable retreat. You could also simply search for pet-friendly accommodation at Stayz or AirBnB. We stayed in a stylish and comfortable AirBnB called Dacres Retreat, which along with panoramic views, included a bag full of doggie treats, as well as complimentary dog towels and leashes to use during our stay. With any accommodations, read the $ne print carefully, as some have restrictions on the size and/or number of dogs allowed. Should you want to explore the nation- al parks or enjoy other activities where dogs aren’t allowed, the region also has a great range of day care options. Paradise Pet Parks at Falls Creek has a great dog day care service, while Petcharm Lodge at Jaspers Brush goes one step further with candles, soothing music and a dec- adent Doggy Day Spa, where your doggo can enjoy an aromatherapy bath. !is vast stretch o#ers an untold wealth of experiences Pack your pooch for a doggy inclusive getaway to the stunning NSW south coast Shoalhaven region FLY+DRIVE Until 31 October 2023, Avis $XVWUDOLD LV R΍HULQJ D JUHDW RQH ZD\ KLUH FDU UHQWDO GHDO EHWZHHQ 3HUWK DQG ([PRXWK ZLWK D VLJQLȴFDQWO\ UHGXFHG RQH ZD\ UHORFDWLRQ IHH VR \RX FDQ ȵ\ LQ DW RQH HQG DQG OHDYH IURP WKH RWKHU DOORZLQJ \RX WR FRPIRUWDEO\ H[SORUH WKH HQWLUH &RUDO &RDVW LQ DURXQG GD\V Book via www.avis.com.au or 136 RU YLD \RXU WUDYHO DJHQW coastal vibe. Just south lies Ellendale Pool, a gorgeous natural waterhole along the Greenough River, while heading west takes you to the Houtman Abrolhos Is- lands, a pristine archipelago that can be explored via scenic "ight or charter boat. Renowned for its adventure and oth- erwordly natural attractions, the Kalbarri region incorporates the soaring gorges of Kalbarri National Park and protected swimming bays such as stunning Blue Holes, while seaside town Port Gregory is also home to the unforgettable ‘pink lake’, Hutt Lagoon. Enjoy indigenous experi- ences visiting Willigully Caves in North- ampton, or take the Kalbarri Skywalk. Further north, the World Heritage list- ed Shark Bay is also rich with Indigenous culture and home to the iconic 70km- long Shell Beach, and the idyllic spots of Denham, Monkey Mia, Francois Peron National Park and Dirk Hartog Island. Last but de$nitely not least, the Nin- galoo Coast World Heritage Area is home to Australia’s largest fringing reef system, stretching 300km from Red Blu# (near Carnarvon) to the Muiron Islands o# the coast of Exmouth in the north. Accessible from pristine beach shores, Ningaloo Reef is home to over 500 spe- cies of $sh, as well as turtles, rays, sharks, dolphins, dugongs and hundreds of types of coral, plus the ‘big three’ – manta rays, humpback whales and whale sharks. !e towns of Carnarvon, Coral Bay or Exmouth all o#er their own special charms and make ideal bases for explor- ing this spectacular part of the world. Where to stay Some of the Coral Coast’s most unique accommodation experiences include: • Bullara Station: an authentic outback station stay o#ering camping, homestead and eco-tent options, plus reimagined outback dining. bullarastation.com.au • Wooramel River Retreat: a quaint sta- tion campground on the bank of the Wooramel River, wooramel.com.au • Sal Salis: an exclusive beach camp on the shores of Ningaloo Reef, salsalis.com.au • Dirk Hartog Island Eco Lodge: camp, or stay in a villa or eco-lodge at this pristine paradise, dirkhartogisland.com.au • Sail Ningaloo: sleep onboard a luxury catamaran, sailningaloo.com.au OVERSIXTY.COM.AU |ISSUE 5 | JULY 2023 37 TRAVEL Vincentia’s Nelson Beach (pictured) is just one of many dog-friendly venues in NSW’s stunning Shoalhaven region 3KRWR =R0HXQLHU To !nd out more about the Coral Coast and plan the road trip of a lifetime, head to www. australiascoralcoast.com 3KRWR *HWW\ ΖPDJHV DESTINATIONS DESTINATIONS