Not far north of Tathra, just over three hours’ drive from Canberra, is my new happy place – Tanja Lagoon Camp (affectionately known as TLC) – the perfect location for a restful and restorative getaway.
Arriving around 4pm on a late winter Friday afternoon, it was still a mild, sunny 20oC as we parked beside our spacious yet cosy eco-cabin, named the Samphire, after the edible native succulent that grows in cooler coastal zones.
One of just two eco-cabins and four glamping tents set on the slope above the lagoon, the Samphire’s floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors open onto a spacious deck that affords stunning views across the water. Following a short walk to explore our glorious surrounds, we enjoyed drinks and nibbles on the deck as the sun set over the lagoon, where several black swans glided by as birdsong filled the air. To enhance the idyllic scene, we lit a campfire in the drum beside the deck, before retreating inside to cook dinner in the full kitchen, and light the eco-friendly efficient and effective Italian wood-pellet heater.
Waking on Saturday to the songs of so many different birds in the trees and wallabies munching on grass by the deck, after breakfast we boarded one of TLC’s double canoes and paddled the length of Tanja Lagoon to the sandbar separating it from the ocean. The lagoon and surrounds are teeming with birds – a majestic sea eagle soared overhead, a flock of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos screeched above, a black swan landed gracefully to join seven others swimming away from us, and a variety of shorebirds, such as Pied oystercatchers, scampered amongst the dunes. At a leisurely pace, we walked the length of Middle Beach to the lookout, stopping to appreciate the ocean views and winter sunshine. I even braved an invigorating, albeit brief, dip in the sparkling sapphire sea near the rocky outcrop at the northern end of the beach.
Walking back to our canoe, we then circumnavigated the small island at the eastern end of the lagoon before heading back to base. After lunch, we ventured off on a bushwalk through the adjoining Mimosa Rocks National Park; the well-signposted path is accessed directly from TLC. Over a couple of hours, our (moderate level) walk took us through spotted gum forests to headlands and stunning coastal scenery. As well as abundant birdlife, we spotted a curious swamp wallaby at beautiful Bithry Inlet (the mouth of Wapengo Lake, famed for its pristine waters and oysters), and an elusive echidna seeking refuge in the hollow of a giant gum near Myer House.
Back at TLC, we again enjoyed refreshments on the deck overlooking the natural beauty of the lagoon, before tucking into dinner and dessert again cooked in the Samphire’s well-appointed kitchen.
After a light breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed off on the shorter walk by the edge of the lagoon, which leads you past a magnificent eucalypt that is several hundred years old (500 years, locals suggest). Then it was time to restart the car, and head off to explore other secluded beaches nearby where I’d never been before, followed by a delicious lunch in the sunshine at the stunning Tathra Wharf cafe, before heading back to Canberra. The car’s thermometer had reached a balmy 20oC in Tathra on Sunday, dropping to just 5oC at the top of Brown Mountain.
About Tanja Lagoon Camp
Our hosts, Sam and Loz, took over ownership and stewardship of this now idyllic property around two decades ago, after it had been bought in the late 1990s as a place for Sam’s parents to retire to. Formerly used as a saw-milling site, a dairy farm, and a B&B, Sam, Loz, and their children continue their noble vision to restore the property to a more natural state, as a reserve for native vegetation, wildlife and birds.
Their eco-conscious philosophy extends to the on-site accommodation, which is designed to have minimal impact on the environment and allows guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural surrounds.
The Accommodation
Guests can choose from two luxury eco-cabins and four glamping tents, all perched above the lagoon, generously spaced from one another for privacy. Following the 2019-20 Black Summer fires that swept through much of the region (fortunately sparing TLC), a newly constructed meeting place for groups doubles as a certified bushfire shelter and its roof supports banks of solar panels that power the entire Camp.
Our eco-cabin, the Samphire, is self-contained with a full kitchen, spacious ensuite, sofa, dining table and chairs, a queen bed and a single, plus a highly effective eco-friendly Italian wood-pellet combustion heater in the corner that casts a warm glow on a chilly night. There’s an outdoor setting on the deck and folding chairs to set up by the campfire. The cabin has no television and mobile reception can be patchy, so it’s a great place for a digital detox.
We brought ingredients to prepare our own meals (though you can pre-order a gourmet meal delivery from Eastwoods in Bermagui), amply supplemented by the breakfast supplies provided – farm fresh eggs, milk, butter, honey, granola, and a fresh sourdough loaf from Blend Providore in Tathra. As a result, we didn’t need to use our car to fetch food (or to go sightseeing) between arriving on Friday and departing on Sunday.
Tanja Lagoon Camp is highly recommended for some TLC, a relaxing getaway in nature, reconnecting with yourself and loved ones, and is an ideal place to embrace the benefits of shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”).
To find out more, visit tanjalagooncamp.com.au
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