Hi!
welcome to my blog, I hope you have a lovely time here.
Love Anna x
welcome to my blog, I hope you have a lovely time here.
Love Anna x
(Niche - I know)
Step back into a retro-lover’s dream — an oasis of kitsch op shops, nostalgic homes, and glorious beaches.
Welcome to the Shoalhaven ✨
This retro op shop adventure will absolutely blow your socks off.
These places are dripping with treasure — vintage gold at every turn.
You’re gonna find gold, folks. Gold, I tell you! ✌️
We based ourselves in the tranquil and wonderfully retro Jervis Bay for two nights — staying at the groovy-as Retro Sands beach shack, and let me tell you, it was every bit as relaxing as it was nostalgic.
Jervis Bay makes the perfect home base while exploring the Shoalhaven region — everything’s within a cruisy 30-minute drive, give or take.
We also rented bikes for two days, which was such a fun way to wobble between Vincentia and Huskisson. Everything’s super accessible — even with a toddler in tow!
Check out the short bike ride we filmed — it's super cute and captures the laid-back magic of the bay.
First port of call? Vincentia Village, right by the beach — the perfect spot to stock up on snacks and supplies.
💡 Hot tip: there’s a hidden op shop tucked down the alleyway beside Coles. Total blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gem ✌️
We picked up the most incredible hamper from Vincentia Butchery — these legends specialise in pasture-raised, ethically farmed, locally sourced produce, and they even cater for vegetarians. It’s less butcher, more boutique deli (and we were very impressed).
Then it was straight to our retro beach shack to unpack, unwind, and get ready for a full day of treasure hunting the next morning.
Sussex Inlet is going to blow your op shop-loving mind — no joke.
This little gem is packed with secondhand magic:
🛍️ Two seriously cool op shops
📚 The quirkiest secondhand bookshop you’ve ever seen
🧵 A local craft store
🏠 Retro bungalows galore
🌊 A calm, peaceful inlet
🍣 And the most delightfully kitsch food joint of all — Island Sushi
Sussex Inlet deserves at least half a day of your full, undivided attention — trust me, it’s a treasure-hunter’s dream.
✨ Bonus tip: If you’ve got the time (make the time), try to squeeze in Culburra Beach and Callala Bay.
Culburra Beach especially — it’s home to two ripper op shops, and Callala Bay has a super sweet Vinnies that’s well worth a peek.
Funky Huskisson is home to one of my all-time favourite spots —
the Buy Back Centre.
This place will always hold a special place in my heart... it’s where we scored our beloved retro bar stools (yes, we totally strapped them to the roof racks and drove them all the way home to Melbourne 😄).
The Shoalhaven Buy Back Centres are next-level amazing — bursting with pre-loved treasures, quirky finds, and vintage gems.
If you can, visit as many as possible. Honestly, I’d bring a trailer next time. No regrets.
If you're after a bit of adventure, there's absolutely no question — you must visit Chinamans Beach in Jervis Bay.
It’s a stunning 20-minute walk through lush rainforest, and then — bam — you’re greeted by the whitest sand and the most turquoise water you’ve ever seen. 🌴 Pure magic.
We were lucky enough to have the entire beach to ourselves on an early spring morning, and it felt like an absolute dream.
Also not to be missed: Green Patch in Booderee National Park — it’s just as breathtaking and totally worth a wander.
Culburra Beach & Callala Bay
Anglicare op shop
Canal St, Culburra Beach
Open Mon - Fri 9am - 4pm
Sat 9am - 1pm
DIRECTIONS
Culburra Beach Community op
Canal St, Culburra Beach
Open Mon - Fri 9am - 3pm
Sat 9am - 1pm
DIRECTIONS
Vinnies Callala Bay
59 Emmett St, Callala Bay
Open Mon - Sat 8.30am - 4pm
DIRECTIONS
Huskisson
Uniting Church
53 Hawke St, Huskisson
DIRECTIONS
Recycling & Waste Buy Back Centre
235 Huskisson Rd
Open 10am - 4pm 7 days a week
DIRECTIONS
Sussex Inlet
Inasmuch op shop
195 Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet
Open 9am - 1pm Tues - Sat
Closed Sun & Mon
DIRECTIONS
Seek & Find Community Op
2/176 Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet
Open Mon - Fri 9.30am - 3.30pm
Sat 9am - 12pm
The Inlet Spot (unique craft store)
Nelson Road, Sussex, Sussex Inlet
Open daily 9.30am - 4pm
DIRECTIONS
Sussex Inlet Buy Back
40 The Spirngs Road
Open 9am - 1pm Sat & Sun
DIRECTIONS
Vincentia
BOP op shop
Vincentia Village (by Coles)
DIRECTIONS
Huskisson
Pilgrims Vegetarian Cafe
DIRECTIONS
Vincentia
Vincentia Butchery & deli
DIRECTIONS
Albert & Miso cafe
DIRECTIONS
Sussex Inlet
Island Sushi
194 Pacificana Drive, Sussex Inlet
Open Tues - Sat 11am - 2pm
(check for winter & summer hours)
DIRECTIONS
Sleep
Retro Sands Beach House - Vincentia
Chinamans Beach Jervis Bay
we did the White Sands Walk, we parked our car at Greenfield Beach Picnic Area, the walk was a breezy 20mins to the beach
DIRECTIONS
Green Patch Booderee National Park
DIRECTIONS
Jervis Bay Bike Hire
We hired bikes for 2 days while in Jervis Bay, truly is the best way to get around.
The bike path Round The Bay is superb and so easy to cruise along.
all photos by me Pixie Rouge Photography
Filmed by my husband Sean - Pale Forest Films
