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[title]Nestled in the NSW Southern Highlands, 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.
See and do
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. Minnamurra Rainforest has 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 watch the delicious goo go round and round in a big steel pot. 1209 Kangaroo Valley Rd, Berry 2535. Daily 9am-6pm. 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. 43B Scotts Rd, Kangaroo Valley 2577. Sat 10am-5.30pm; Sun 12.30-5.30pm.
Eat and drink
At dinner time, Café Bella at the top end of town is as praiseworthy for its Mediterreanean menu as it is for its decor, which features bookshelf-lined walls, strings of fairy lights and miniature dog statuettes. 151 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley 2577. 02 4465 1660. You can grab a cold one – or a bistro meal – at the Friendly Inn. 150 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley 2577. 02 4465 1133.
Stay
Cloudsong Bed and Breakfast has a number of self-contained cabins for extra privacy. It’s friendly, the mountain views are idyllic and packages include a hand-delivered breakfast hamper. 170 Moss Vale Rd, Kangaroo Valley 2577. 02 4465 1194.
Driving directions
Kangaroo Valley is two hours south of Sydney. Take the Princes Highway through Wollongong and Kiama, and at the southern end of Berry turn right into Kangaroo Valley Road.