Wilderness Lodge · Woollamia

The luxury case for Paperbark Camp.

A luxury glamping retreat set among paperbark trees near Jervis Bay, Paperbark Camp offers 12 elevated safari-style tents, a celebrated treetop restaurant, and an eco-accredited immersion in the South Coast bushland.

The mood

Immersive, wild, and gently luxurious

Ideal stay

2 to 3 nights

Why it earns the rate

There is no other accommodation in NSW that combines this level of bushland immersion with a celebrated restaurant and genuine eco credentials. The all-inclusive model means you simply arrive and let the bush take over.

Some hotels compete on thread count and marble bathrooms. Paperbark Camp competes on birdsong. Set among paperbarks and eucalyptus on the banks of Currambene Creek near Jervis Bay, this luxury glamping retreat has been doing something quietly radical since 1999: proving that sleeping under canvas does not require giving up comfort, excellent food, or environmental responsibility.

The 12 elevated safari-style tents are scattered through the bush on timber platforms, each with an ensuite bathroom, proper beds, and a private deck that functions as your personal birdwatching hide. The canvas walls mean you hear the creek, the kookaburras at dawn, and the possums at dusk. It is immersive in a way that no conventional hotel room can replicate. Categories range from the original tents to the King Deluxe, which adds more space and a more secluded bushland position, but the experience is consistent across all: you are sleeping in the landscape, not next to it.

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The Gunyah is the camp's treetop restaurant, built among the paperbarks and open to the bush on all sides. Dinner and breakfast are included in the rate, and the kitchen works with native Australian ingredients and South Coast produce that changes with the seasons. Eating among the trees as the light fades and the bush comes alive around you is one of those meals that stays with you long after you leave.

Complimentary kayaks and canoes are available for paddling Currambene Creek into Jervis Bay. Bicycles, bushwalking guides, and the camp's own network of trails round out the on-site options. Jervis Bay's white sand beaches, including the famous Hyams Beach, are a short drive away, and Booderee National Park offers walking trails and secluded coves.

Paperbark Camp is the kind of place that travellers remember years later. Not because of luxury in the conventional sense, but because the experience is irreplaceable. The Advanced Eco Accreditation from Ecotourism Australia confirms that the environmental credentials are genuine, not performative. The all-inclusive model means you arrive, settle in, and let the rhythm of the bush set the pace. There is no need to drive anywhere, plan anything, or think about restaurants.

For travellers who believe that the best luxury is not about more things but about being more present, Paperbark Camp is one of the most compelling stays on the NSW coast.

Is It For You?

Is Paperbark Camp right for you?

Visit Paperbark Camp
Best for
  • Couples seeking a nature-immersive romantic escape
  • Eco-conscious travellers who want comfort without environmental compromise
  • Guests wanting an experience they cannot get anywhere else on the South Coast
Less ideal if
  • Guests wanting a conventional hotel room with full climate control
  • Travellers with limited mobility (elevated tents accessed by steps)
  • Families with very young children

Atmosphere

Gently wild. You wake to birdsong, watch kangaroos from the deck, and fall asleep to creek sounds. Safari-inspired rather than resort-manicured.

Ideal stay

Weekend (2-3 nights)

Why splurge

There is no other accommodation in NSW that combines this level of bushland immersion with a celebrated restaurant and genuine eco credentials. The all-inclusive model means you simply arrive and let the bush take over.

Rooms

Rooms & suites

Editorial pickA King Deluxe tent for the most space and best bushland position; the Original tents are charming for a more intimate experience.

Original Safari Tent

The original canvas tents that started it all. Elevated on timber platforms among the paperbarks, with ensuite bathroom, king or twin beds, and a private deck for morning birdwatching.

Sleeps
2 adults
Best for
Guests wanting the classic Paperbark experience
  • Elevated timber platform
  • Canvas walls and bush sounds
  • Ensuite bathroom
  • Private deck

Eat and Drink

Dining

The restaurants, bars, and rituals that shape how the hotel feels after the room itself.

The Gunyah

Start here

The Gunyah

restaurant

A treetop restaurant built among the paperbarks, The Gunyah celebrates native Australian ingredients and South Coast produce. Dinner and breakfast are included in the rate, and the menu changes with the seasons. The setting, elevated among the trees with bush views, makes every meal feel like an event.

Go here for
Treetop dining with native Australian produce, included in the stay
Expect
Open-air, elevated, and magical at dusk when the bush comes alive
Book ahead
Dinner and breakfast are included for all guests. No need to book, just arrive.

What to Do

Signature Experiences

The on-property or destination moments that justify choosing this hotel over a generic luxury base.

Morning for calm water and birdlife

Kayaking on Currambene Creek

Complimentary kayaks and canoes let you paddle the creek that runs alongside the camp, through mangroves and into Jervis Bay.

Any day, especially in autumn when the crowds thin

Jervis Bay white sand beaches

Hyams Beach and the surrounding Jervis Bay Marine Park are a short drive away, with some of the whitest sand and clearest water on the NSW coast.

Any season

Booderee National Park

An Aboriginal-owned national park at the southern tip of Jervis Bay, with walking trails, secluded beaches, and the Booderee Botanic Gardens.

Dawn and dusk

Bushland birdwatching from your tent

The camp is home to a remarkable variety of native birds. Sit on your deck at dawn with a coffee and let them come to you.

Location

Getting to Paperbark Camp

Approximately 2.5 hours south of Sydney via the Princes Highway. The camp is on Woollamia Road near Huskisson. Unsealed access road for the last section, so take it slow and enjoy the transition from highway to bush.

Jervis Bay / Hyams Beach

15 min

Car

Berry

25 min

Car

Nowra

15 min

Car

Sydney CBD

2.5 hrs

Car

Jervis Bay Marine Park

Nature

Crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches, and dolphin watching.

15 min drive

Berry

Town

Charming South Coast town with cafes, boutiques, and a renowned farmers market.

25 min drive

Booderee National Park

Nature

Aboriginal-owned park with pristine beaches, walking trails, and botanic gardens.

20 min drive

Shoalhaven wine region

Wine

Emerging cool-climate wine region with cellar doors and farm-gate producers.

20 min drive
Open the map 571 Woollamia Road, Woollamia NSW 2540

What to Know

Before you book

What is included in the rate?

Dinner and breakfast at The Gunyah restaurant, plus complimentary kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and bushwalking guides. It is effectively all-inclusive for food and on-site activities.

Are the tents weatherproof?

Yes. The tents are canvas on elevated timber platforms with solid roofs, ensuite bathrooms, and proper beds. They are open to the sounds of the bush but protected from rain. Some tents have ceiling fans; air conditioning is not provided as the bush canopy keeps temperatures comfortable.

When is the best time to visit?

Autumn (March–May) for warm days, cool nights, and fewer crowds. Spring is lovely. Summer is peak season and can be hot. Winter is peaceful and the bush is lush.

Editorial Verdict

The verdict on Paperbark Camp

Why book it

  • A genuinely unique experience with nothing else like it on the NSW coast
  • All-inclusive dining at The Gunyah removes the need to drive anywhere
  • Advanced Eco Accreditation means the environmental credentials are real

Know the trade-offs

  • Canvas tents mean bush sounds and temperatures, not for guests wanting sealed rooms
  • Limited accessibility for guests with mobility challenges

Explore the Area

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