Pioneer Village Museum

Top choice in South Coast NSW


This open-air museum, with meticulously recreated 19th-century cottages set in seven hectares of bushland, thoroughly immerses visitors in the sounds and sights of Kangaroo Valley in the early days of European settlement. Recordings of the settlers' descendants give voice to those who gambled on starting their lives anew in Australia, and the well-preserved collection includes treasured bibles and a mouse-proof church organ.

It's near the picturesque Hampden Bridge, and walking trails and a barbecue area offer enticements to linger.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby South Coast NSW attractions

1. Yarrawa Estate

5.32 MILES

This family-run cellar door offers wine tasting with genuine hospitality. Swish a mouthful of the chardonnay, buttery as brioche, or the verdelho with its…

2. Fitzroy Falls

5.86 MILES

Tumbling 81m from near-vertical sandstone cliffs, Fitzroy Falls can be a dramatic torrent or, in the heat of summer, a mere trickle. Regardless, you can…

3. Cambewarra Lookout

6.29 MILES

Signposted off the Cambewarra Lookout Rd between Kangaroo Valley and Nowra, this vantage point (678m) offers a stupendous perspective over the winding…

4. Silos Estate

8.7 MILES

Beautifully set on a verdant former dairy farm between Berry and Nowra, this crowd-pleasing winery makes a range of tasty drops. Swirl a glass of bright…

5. Shoalhaven Zoo

10.22 MILES

Meet wallabies and other native animals, and ever-popular imports such as monkeys and lions, at this 6.5-hectare private zoo on the north bank of the…

6. Berry Museum

10.71 MILES

In an attractive 1884 bank building, complete with tinted glass and high ceilings, this small museum on the high street gives an overview of local history…

7. Meroogal

11.06 MILES

Guided tours reveal the history behind this attractive mint-green mansion that's pretty as a picture with its gabled roof and lace-like balconies. Built…

8. Shoalhaven Regional Gallery

11.12 MILES

Four small galleries house temporary exhibitions by local creators, including Aboriginal artists, at this diverting art space near the library.