Paperbark Camp

Comfortable tented eco-camp and excellent restaurant, perched amid paperbark forest near stunning Jervis Bay, 3 hours south of Sydney

After a 3-hour journey down the Pacific Highway from Sydney, a brilliant flash of parrots in the canopy of gum trees welcomes you to Paperbark Camp. It centres around 'The Gunyah', an architect-designed, high-stilted house of timber and corrugated iron, which houses an airy restaurant, kitchen and reception. Paths leads to turquoise Currambene Creek where you can launch canoes; other trails lead into deep eucalypt forest for kangaroo-spotting and choirs of birds at dawn.

Irena and Jeremy Hutchings were inspired by their visit to Honeyguide in Africa to create a luxury tented camp on home soil. It took 10 years to realise their vision. They chose the white-sand horseshoe of Jervis Bay for its wonderful national parks, its wealth of activities from whale-watching to diving, and its sheer beauty. After waiting 4 years for planning permission, they created one of Australia's most eco-sensitive lodges on its protected wetlands: no large trees were felled, furniture is hand-crafted from offcuts, and the 12 treehouse-style canvas tents are solar-powered.

Highs

• This is grown-up camping: comfortable, romantic and great fun
• Delicious and inventive gourmet menu at the tree-level restaurant
• Pristine creeks, beaches, birds and woodland to explore on foot, bike or horseback
• Delightful welcome and friendly helpful service from your hosts

Lows

• Camping, albeit of a posh kind, isn't for everyone
• The ground is quite swampy - ideal breeding ground for mozzies - so prepare to be bitten when outside (the tents themselves are meshed and good repellent provided in the tents)
• Activities are outdoor-based, so not much fun if it rains, and staying in the tents would get a bit claustrophobic