# Best Things to Do in Kangaroo Valley | Attractions & Activities
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/shoalhaven/kangaroo-valley/best-things-to-do/
Type: ActivityGuide
Location: Kangaroo Valley, Shoalhaven, NSW
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> From kayaking the Kangaroo River and walking historic Hampden Bridge to Fitzroy Falls, wombat-spotting and the village pie shop — the best things to do in Kangaroo Valley NSW, with who each suits and what to skip.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: First visits & families
- Price range: Many are free
- Vibe: River, rainforest, wildlife
- Distance: ~2 hrs from Sydney

## Featured Properties
- Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley: 4.2/5 (193 reviews)
  Book direct: https://holidayhaven.com.au/kangaroo-valley/
  Holiday Haven Kangaroo Valley — Kangaroo Valley
- Broger's End Kangaroo Valley: 4.9/5 (23 reviews)
  Book direct: http://www.brogersend.com.au/
  Broger's End Kangaroo Valley — Kangaroo Valley
- Greenwood Cabin in Kangaroo Valley: Unrated
  Book direct: https://maps.google.com/?cid=3205079741204804827&g_mp=Cidnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLlNlYXJjaFRleHQQAhgEIAA
  Greenwood Cabin in Kangaroo Valley — Kangaroo Valley

## FAQ
Q: What are the best free things to do?
A: Walking Hampden Bridge, dusk wombat-spotting on the river flats at Bendeela, Cambewarra Lookout, and wandering the village are all free. Fitzroy Falls has only a small parking fee. For many visitors the free experiences end up being the highlights.

Q: Can you swim in the Kangaroo River?
A: Yes — there are calm swimming spots upstream, best in the warmer months. There are no patrolled areas, so judge conditions yourself, supervise children, and always check current river levels, which can rise quickly after rain.

Q: How many days do you need?
A: Two days covers the river, the bridge, Fitzroy Falls, a walk, the village and the dusk wombats without rushing. One day forces you to choose, and a day trip from Sydney spends half its time in the car.

Q: Is it good for families with young kids?
A: Excellent — double kayaks and canoes on calm water, the sealed Fitzroy Falls lookouts, the village lawn for a pie, and the reliable dusk wombats are all high-reward and low-effort with children. It’s one of the best family nature weekends near Sydney.

Q: What can elderly or less mobile visitors do?
A: Plenty — the Fitzroy Falls main lookout is sealed and short, Hampden Bridge and the riverbank are flat and central, and Cambewarra Lookout’s view is reachable from the car park. Build the day around lookouts, the village and a gentle paddle rather than the escarpment trails.

Q: Is it good in winter?
A: Yes, differently — misty mornings, fireplaces and far fewer crowds. The walks, falls, bridge and wombats are excellent year-round; river swimming is really a summer thing.

## At a Glance
- State: New South Wales, Australia
- Region: Shoalhaven — Southern Highlands hinterland
- From Sydney: ~160km — about 2 hours
- From Canberra: About 1.5 hours
- Nearest towns: Berry (30 min), Bowral, Nowra
- Landscape: Green dairy valley ringed by rainforest escarpment
- Known for: Hampden Bridge, the Kangaroo River, wombats, Fitzroy Falls
- Best season: Autumn & spring; summer for paddling, winter for fireplaces
- Getting there: Car essential — via Moss Vale Road or the valley pass
- Minimum stay: Two nights — it’s a proper weekend

## Featured
- 1. Paddle the Kangaroo River — The signature experience
  - Why people love it: It’s the experience that turns a pretty drive into a proper trip — the calm water makes a first-time paddler look like they know exactly what they’re doing.
  - Don't miss: The quiet upstream stretch from Hampden Bridge, paddled early before the hire crowd arrives.
  - Good to know: Skip the water entirely after heavy rain — the river rises and browns fast, and there are no patrolled areas. Judge conditions and don’t launch if you’re unsure.
- 2. Walk Hampden Bridge — The icon
  - Why people love it: It’s a genuine piece of history that’s also just lovely to stand on — the photo back up from the riverbank is the one everyone takes home.
  - Don't miss: The classic view back up at the castellated towers from the riverbank below, in early-morning or late-afternoon light.
  - Good to know: It carries live traffic on a single lane — keep to the footway and keep an eye on small children near the road.
- 3. Fitzroy Falls — The big waterfall
  - Why people love it: It’s a major waterfall made effortlessly accessible — a five-minute walk from the car park to a view that feels like it should take a hike.
  - Don't miss: The West Rim lookouts after decent rain, when the falls are in full flow.
  - Good to know: Visit after a long dry spell and the falls can be a thin trickle — check recent rainfall, and note there’s a small parking fee.
- 4. Wombat & wildlife spotting at dusk — The free crowd-pleaser
  - Why people love it: Reliable, free, properly wild wombats — it’s the thing kids talk about the whole drive home, and adults quietly love it just as much.
  - Don't miss: Several wombats grazing the Bendeela flats at last light, watched quietly from a blanket.
  - Good to know: Don’t feed, chase or get close to the wombats, and keep dogs away — for their sake and yours. Bring a torch for the walk back in the dark.
- 5. The village & the pie shop — Slow afternoon
  - Why people love it: The pie on the lawn is the valley’s simplest pleasure — the unfussy classic everyone remembers fondly.
  - Don't miss: A pie from the Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop eaten on the lawn, then a stroll across the bridge.
  - Good to know: The village fills with day-trippers mid-morning on weekends — go early for coffee and a quiet wander.
- 6. Cambewarra Lookout — The view
  - Why people love it: A genuinely big view for the price of a short drive — the easiest sunset in the area, with tea at the top.
  - Don't miss: Sunset over the valley and out to the coast, scones from the tearoom in hand.
  - Good to know: The access road is narrow and winding — drive carefully, and check the tearoom’s hours before relying on it.

## What travellers say
- [positive] River + bridge combo: The paddle-and-bridge half-day is the most recommended way to spend a first visit — calm water, a free icon and the escarpment all in one morning.
- [positive] Wombats with kids: Families consistently call the dusk wombat-spotting the trip highlight — reliable, free, and unforgettable for children.
- [mixed] Stay the second night: Day-trippers see the busy version; the visitors who stay over and catch the quiet dawn and dusk rate the valley far higher.
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: