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The glittering ocean. Scenic coastal walks. Native wildlife. There’s plenty of opportunities to connect with nature at Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven region, just three hours’ drive from Sydney. Happiness, they say, is a day at the beach. Check out the whitest beach you will ever see at Hyams Beach, known for its crystal clear waters and a fringe of national park.

Other beaches where you could swim, snorkel, walk or just throw a towel down, include Murray’s Beach, MoonaMoona Creek, Cave Beach, Blenheim Beach, Collingwood Beach, and Nelson Beach.

The calm turquoise waters at Jervis Bay Marine Park are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, fishing and stand-up paddle boarding.

It is a haven for bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, little penguins and whales during their annual migration. Tours depart from Huskisson. Some stunning walking tracks here allow you equal opportunity to get close to nature.

The Hyams Beach trail through Jervis Bay National Park, also known as the bird spotter’s walk, is a 2km return track designed by birdwatchers and is a great place to spot local birdlife such as colourful rosellas.

The 90-min White Sands Walk takes in the coastal forest of Jervis Bay National Park and white sand beaches. To see 270-million-year-old marine fossils, follow the Gondwana Coast Fossil Walk. Don’t miss the prospect of learning more about Australia’s Indigenous heritage here.

At Booderee National Park, guided tours with Aboriginal rangers teach you about traditional bush tucker and medicinal plants. The 2.2km Murramarang Aboriginal Area walking track, which loops past ancient middens and other significant indigenous sites is an immersive cultural experience.

Unplug, unfurl, unwind. It’s Australia’s oldest wine region, but the Hunter is also a popular destination for partygoers of all ages.

For wine lovers and foodies alike, Hunter Valley offers the ultimate getaway with over 150 cellars. Leave behind the bustle of Sydney streets for the warm embrace of the countryside. From wine tours, and cheese and chocolate tasting to hot air balloon rides and horse riding, it holds something special for everyone.

Start your day right with bubbly breakfast at Restaurant Cuvee - a rite of passage. Then, it’s time to hop on to tasting tour buses enroute to Australia’s most distinguished winemakers, including Tyrell’s Wines, Cockfighters Ghost, and Tulloch Wine in Pokolbin; Gartelmann Wines and Lucy’s Run in Lovedale; and Winmark Wines and Krinklewood Vineyard in Broke. For the perfect sunset shot, head over to Allandale Winery in Lovedale. And if wine isn’t quite your alcohol of choice, there are tons of breweries like Hope Estate or Hunter Beer Co, promising craft beers and ciders, all made on site. The certified organic Hunter Distillery produces a top range of spirits - including a special chilli vodka that comes with a warning, though it might be considered mild for our South Asian palettes.

Of course, there’s more to Hunter Valley than just drinks, as the region boasts of many hatted and acclaimed restaurants. Meat lovers, try Blaxland Inn for delicious steaks. Yellow Billy, the new kid on the culinary block, Emerson’s Café and Restaurant, Circa 1876, EXP Restaurant, and Hunters Quarter are other suggestions. Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival is currently on.

HUNTER vALLEy FreedoM

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), Bhagwan

Swaminarayan’s fifth spiritual successor, had very little formal education, leaving school after Year 6. Yet, for over 75 years as the administrative president from 1950 onwards and for 45 years (1971-2016) as the spiritual head of BAPS, his leadership skills were outstanding. He faced many make-or-break and crisis situations, and his responses were nothing short of inspiring.

Here are some incidents that illustrate his exemplary approach to critical situations.

EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE

The tragic events of 26 January 2001 will live long in the memory of the people of Gujarat, India. The devastating 7.7 earthquake, with its epicentre in Kutch, caused enormous and widespread damage and loss of life throughout the region.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in the village of Bochasan on the day. He was at breakfast when the tremors were felt at 8.46 am. Shortly thereafter, he began receiving reports about the scale and spread of the disaster. Wasting no time, he began contacting the senior sadhus at BAPS centres throughout Gujarat and especially in Bhuj, instructing them to initiate emergency relief efforts.

As a socially responsible leader, Pramukh Swami Maharaj took the initiative to direct all his available resources in the service of the needy. His continued attention to detail amid the larger picture revealed an extraordinary degree of empathy