Dragonfly Cottage: cosy retreat by Congo beach

Tucked behind the dunes and 1-minute from Congo beach, Dragonfly Cottage is perfect for a small family or two couples. Our gorgeous, sustainable low-fi retreat runs on tank water and solar power. It has a shady garden, a deck, wood fire and fans. The sound of the ocean will lull you to sleep. Congo is nestled within the pristine Eurobodalla national park: whale & dolphin watching all year round, and great surfing and walking tracks. For fab coffee and markets, Moruya is a 10-minute drive. Dragonfly Cottage is a place to be off-grid and to escape from every-day life. It's so close to the beach that you'll hear the ocean from the bedrooms - the waves will lull you to sleep each night. Sheltered and surrounded by rainforest plants, the cottage retains a stable temperature all year round. The cottage runs off tank water and solar power - our intention is that we're as sustainable as possible, with minimal environmental impact. Inside, there's a cosy wood fire to keep you warm in winter, fans to keep cool in summer, and multiple spots to sit, read, listen to music, relax and let go. Outside, there's a secluded, shady garden - a lovely respite after the heat of the beach and roar of the ocean. The garden is home to coastal honey eaters, wallabies and rainbow lorikeets. In the evening, listen out for a flock of black cockatoos flying overhead. You may also spot blue, green and gold dragonflies. In sunny weather, Congo beach and the adjacent creek beach and the Eurobodalla national park offer pristine golden sands, unspoilt vistas, crashing ocean waves for surfing, a gentle creek for paddling, and wildlife galore. The cottage and garden are a place to kick back and relax after beach adventures. The heated outdoor shower is fabulous for post-surf and swim rinsing. The covered deck is a good spot for outdoor meals. On rainy days, the cottage is a great place to cosy-up and read a book, relax and completely unwind. Congo beach is famous for surfing, and is one of the best surf beaches on the NSW South Coast, but the current and rips are strong, and it can be a bit wild. It's also not patrolled. Congo creek beach (also called Pedro's Beach) - next to Congo campground and a 10-minute stroll left from our cottage along Congo beach and around the headland - is perfect for children and less confident swimmers: it's warm in summer, shallow and sheltered. Moruya is only a 10-min drive and has excellent coffee, supermarkets, a butcher and a grocer, some great bakeries and a variety of specialty shops and restaurants. There's also a fabulous Saturday market with excellent local produce, quirky nick-nacks and bric-a-brack. We recommend you stock up before you arrive so you can relax and enjoy Congo's laid back vibe! For those keen to explore further south, Bodalla - a 30-min drive - is a gorgeous little village with a dairy, farm shop, pub and some very funky shops and cafes, and Bermagui - a 60-min drive - has a fantastic harbour, the Bermagui Blowhole, and some of the best fish and chips on the NSW South Coast. Dragonfly Cottage is at the end of a cul-de-sac - the parade road bordered by beach dunes. Parking is on site next to our shed. From the cottage, it's an easy 1-min walk to the main beach track and a 10-minute stroll from there to Congo creek and creek beach (Pedro's Beach) and the Bingie dreaming walking tracks. It's also a 10-min walk to the Congo road playground. Available for advice by text and email Congo Congo beach is perfect for surfing and swimming, and the creek is a great spot for young kids to swim, kayaking, and provides access to a gentle bay beach for ocean swimming. There's a children's playground adjacent the creek, on the Congo road as you enter the village. Congo beach is also the beginning of the Bingie Bingie dreaming track - a beautiful 8km coastal and bush walk through the national park to Bingie Bingie point, and on to Tuross Head (a further 5km). It's a 10-minute drive through the national park to Moruya, which has fantastic Saturday farmer's markets, and a range of great cafes, and restaurants, including an IGA and Woolies. Congo is accessible by car. Moruya has great biking paths. If you're looking for a suburban house in a beach town, Dragonfly Cottage probably isn't the spot for you. But if you're after a low-fi escape moments from a wild and pristine beach, and want to connect with family, friends and nature, you'll love Dragonfly Cottage and the Congo vibe. Guests supply own sheets and towels - this is part of our commitment to sustainability and minimising the cottage's environmental impact. Firewood for the wood burner is available from service stations in Moruya. We provide basic cleaning supplies and toilet paper. Guest supply other sundries and everyday items. There are no shops in Congo (except a ceramics and pottery gallery), so we recommend stopping in Moruya on the way in for supplies - groceries, toiletries etc. There is no TV at the cottage - when not at the beach, expect to unwind away from screens. The cottage comes with books and magazines to read, board games to play, and cosy spots to snooze in. Telstra (and other provider) internet connectivity at Congo is patchy and at times poor. Please bear this in mind if you are intending to work during your stay, and pre-plan activities before you come. We are in the process of getting NBN broadband. The kitchen does not have an oven or a dishwasher - for cooking, there's a microwave with an oven setting, an induction stovetop, an electric BBQ, and a jaffle maker. We ask that guests clean the BBQ and the jaffle maker after use, so they're in order for the next guest. Other things to bring: - USB connector to connect phone to stereo. Our stereo has Bluetooth but it can be unstable, so best results are with a phone usb. - insect repellent. Congo is in the Eurobodalla national park, which is largely cool temperate rainforest. We are so privileged to be in this location - but there are mosquitos and other rainforest insects, so recommend bringing repellent and coils (there are usually some at the property). - wet weather gear for rainy days. In the rains, a great activity is getting out to Bingie Bingie point, driving south to Bodalla for op-shops, cafes and the dairy farm store (30 mins), or further on to Bermagui for some of the best fish and chips on the south coast (60 mins). The cottage is set up for up to four adults and two children. In our listing, we've capped guest numbers at four. If your group is larger, please message us to discuss whether we can accommodate you. If travelling with children, please note there are stairs at the property and we do not have a baby gate. Please note we do not allow pets, and the house is strictly non-smoking and no parties.