Luxury Eco camping at Jervis Bay

It was a much loved trip to Africa that saw Irena and Jeremy Hutchings build their own safari-esque dream, The Paperbark Camp at Woollamia, Jervis Bay on the New South Wales' south coast, in the late 1980s. Track forward to today and the site has developed into an eco haven for those who like a little dose of rustic in their holidays. Far more than a mere camping tent, visitors to Paperbark Camp will sleep in one of 12 luxury 'safari tents', set on raised timber platforms within the stunning paperbark forest, in the unspoilt natural beauty of Jervis Bay. 

Your hut has all the amenities that make it more comfort than camping. There's no public toilet or shower blocks here, but rather guests each have their own private bathroom. And you won't need to pack your sleeping bag when you have a full timber bed, complete with linen. The cabins are simple but stylishly done, with small decks to relax on, and polished timber floorboards throughout. There's also four Deluxe Safari Tents, which have the bonus of a clawfoot, cast iron bath.

You're in a designated National Marine Park here, so an eco adventure is assured. The camp offers plenty of packages for day trips that connect you to the surrounding environment, and when you're done exploring you can come back to rest and relax in to the comfort of your cabin or enjoy a meal at the onsite Gunyah restaurant, perched high in the forest in the bush canopy.

Sounds pretty special. And it sure beats pitching tent! 

A FIELD KITCHEN IN THE FOREST

If you have a passion for cooking or just a keen interest in learning more about it all in a beautiful wild environment, then you may just like to check out Foragers in the beautiful Southern Forests region near Pemberton, Western Australia. 

Run by Sophie and Chris Zalokar - she is a qualified chef who has worked with Australian food icon Maggie Beer; he is a builder and artisanal craftsman - this is a place where wilderness and food combine in a passionate and unique setting. Guests can come and stay in one of the seven farm-based, private cabins and a cosy farmhouse, with sweeping views over farmland and forest, while partaking in a unique culinary travel experience at the Forager's Field Kitchen, with a variety of dinners and cooking classes held here throughout the year.

Dining is nothing short of an indulgent feast, and changes according to the seasons. Much like a private dining room with long tables rather than a traditional a-la-carte style restaurant, places are pre booked for a fixed price set menu meal that will often be themed and feature local seasonal produce. There are demonstration-style workshop days in the kitchen, as well as weekend hands-on workshops where local produce takes centre stage, while the more intrepid types can set out in to the surrounding bush to source ingredients on the Foraging the Southern Forests experience. 

Nourishing country food served up in a contemporary and hospitable setting, with the delights of the Margaret River a mere day trip away ... sounds like a good way to enjoy some of life's most simple pleasures!