As a regular camper, the opportunity to go 'glamping' on the picturesque South Coast was instantly appealing.
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Here was a way to enjoy the great outdoors - yet not have all the hassle of putting up tents, inflating air mattresses and setting up portable toilets and/or showers.
At Paperbark Camp at Jervis Bay, all the hard work's done for you. A quick glance at the website reveals luxurious safari-style canvas tents sitting among towering trees - and of course featuring the paperbark trees which gave the camp its name.
On arrival you receive a warm welcome, and help to transfer your belongings to a buggy which takes you from the car park to your cosy home among the trees.
The glamping tents look just as good as they do on the website. There's a wrap-around deck which is the perfect place to relax during the day; an open-air shower and tub out the back; and a large comfortable bed to climb into for a blissful night's sleep.
Spring and summer is understandably peak season for the camp at Woolamia - yet it's great for a wintry escape too. Yes, it can get a bit chilly at night - the eco-friendly resort means there's no heating in the tents - but there's plenty of bedding and hot water bottles readily available.
And while it seems like you're in the middle of nowhere - which is exactly what you want from a retreat like this - you're actually pretty close to Huskisson and the beautiful white beaches of Jervis Bay.
Paperbark provides bikes to pedal into town, or you can choose to take one of their canoes and row yourself there instead.
We took the car - not so eco-friendly - but we did take on the White Sands Walk from Greenfield Beach to Hyams Beach. While Hyams gets all the accolades - all the beaches along the coastal walk feature turquoise waters and white sand, and we even spotted a whale during its annual migration.
But back to Paperbark and one of the best things about the camp is its renowned treetop restaurant Gunyah, just a short stroll from each of the tents.
We indulged in delicious buffet breakfasts and also enjoyed candlelit dinners from top chefs who make the best use of premium South Coast produce. We were also able to enjoy a specially curated banquet dinner, designed to celebrate Paperbark's 20th birthday.
The eco retreat opened in April 1999 - the brainchild of Sydney couple Jeremy and Irena Hutchings who were inspired by the safari tents they'd stayed in while holidaying in Africa.
We can be thankful they brought the glamping concept Down Under, and led to the creation of many more.
