There are a few gems ticked away in the tiny coastal village of Vincentia along the shores of the Jervis Bay marine park, including some great casual dining options and long stretches of white sandy beaches.
Where to Eat in Vincentia
The shopping village on Burton Street and Elizabeth Drive has breakfast covered with two fantastic cafes facing onto the central courtyard, Phoebe’s Kitchen and The Local Jervis Bay, with indoor/outdoor seating, great coffee and seasonal menus.
Chef Steve and his wife Charlie at The Local love to put on specials too, like Taco Tuesdays and ramen nights, often collaborating with other producers in the local area (like fresh ramen noodles made by Pasta Buoy in Huskisson). The pair also arrange great live music and some cocktails or bubbles to go with their evening specials.
La Vespa Italian Restaurant in the arcade is popular with locals for its family-style dining and ever-changing pasta specials created by chef Dean from fresh seasonal produce.
Bunya Wholefoods
So much more than pantry staples, Bunya Wholefoods is a community hub for food the way it used to be – organic, local, ethical and delicious. Owner Bronte wants customers to think about it differently. “We buy in bulk so you can buy what you need,” she says, whether it’s 100g of dried chick peas or a refill in your bathroom cleaner bottle.
One of their popular “bulk” items is milk in a keg from Tilba Tilba, housed in a special fridge and topped with a tap. Just one keg stops the production of up to 9,000 plastic milk bottles, which is a staggering number. The keg itself can be re-used by the dairy around 800 times. Bunya is selling 1L glass bottles, in the classic milk bottle shape. Or customers can bring their own bottles and pay for the milk per 100mL.
Fresh veggies, dairy products like cheese and yoghurts, and frozen take-home meals are also part of the Bunya product range, along with bread from Husky-based Kraken.
White beaches to rival Hyams
If you want to get a good head-start on the Shoalhaven Tourism 100 Beach Challenge, Vincentia is a great place to visit, with two handfuls of beaches to choose from. Collingwood Beach is right across the road from the shopping village, so you can pick up some lunch and head down to the powdery white sands, turquoise waters and perfect patches of springy grass in the shade. This is a no-dogs beach so it’s ideal for young families who want to paddle in the shallows and build a sandcastle. The white sands arealmost identical to the more-famous Hyams Beach – without the Insta-crowds.
Dog lovers choose Nelsons Beach, which has off-leash hours and is pawfect for swimming breeds. We have even seen the resident bottlenosed dolphins hunting along quite close to the shore!
A little further around (and another no-dog option) is beautiful Blenheim Beach nestled into its own cove, and further along still is Greenfield Beach, which is an ideal spot for some bird watching (and it’s in the national park). There are BBQ and picnic facilities here above the beach which make it a great base for a family day out.
White Sands Walk
Arguably the highlight of Vincentia is the White Sands Walk which is part-pathway, part-bush track and all stunning.
It’s a fairly easy flat walk through peaceful coastal forest and stunning ocean views. The shorter version starts at the Greenfield Beach picnic area and loops around through Chinamans Beach and Hyams Beach, for around 90 minutes. If you prefer a longer walk, start at Platation Point. The path is easy to follow and there are lovely spots to stop for a rest and soak up the scenery along the way.
Where to Stay
Vincentia has a wonderful range of holiday houses, from beachfront along Elizabeth Drive to luxury homes perched up the hill with breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding mountains.
Our pick is The Nest on Collingwood, a luxurious yet laid back 4-bedroom entertainer’s home right on the boardwalk at Collingwood Beach. Wander in from the beach and enjoy a BBQ and al fresco dining, sea breezes from all the balconies, and plenty of room for several families to sprawl out for a fantastic summer holiday.
