Your Guide to Shoalhaven Heads' Community Spaces, Parks & Public Areas
One of the best-kept secrets about Shoalhaven Heads isn't the beach — it's just how well this little coastal village looks after its own. From world-class skate facilities to a volunteer-run botanic garden, here's your guide to every community space the village has to offer.
Shoalhaven Heads Native Botanic Garden
9 Celia Parade | Open daily during daylight hours | Free entry
If you haven't been to the Native Botanic Garden, you're missing one of the true gems of Shoalhaven Heads. Developed entirely by local parkcare volunteers on a one-hectare council reserve, this is community pride made visible — and it shows.
Wander the thoughtfully designed paths through a carefully curated collection of Australian native plants, including rare, endangered and bush tucker species, each with informative labels. Artwork in timber, stone, mosaic and metal is woven throughout the garden, making every corner worth exploring. Even the toilets get a mention — they're beautifully illustrated.
It's also a brilliant spot to pack a picnic. There's an electric BBQ, picnic tables, a children's playground, and public toilets on site. Birdwatchers will love it — native birds are a constant presence. Entry is free, though donations help the volunteers keep this incredible space going. There's also a water station on site for refilling your bottle.
Perfect for: Families, nature lovers, birdwatchers, a slow morning with coffee and a BBQ breakfast.
Jerry Bailey Oval, Skate Park, Pump Track & Off Leash Dog Park
Jerry Bailey Reserve, Wagin Street
The kids — and plenty of adults — have been stoked about this precinct for years, and rightly so. Tucked in what locals know as Lion Park, the Jerry Bailey Oval complex is home to one of the South Coast's best skate and ride facilities.
The skate park features a large concrete bowl with multiple sections — roll-in, extension, hips and a deep end — as well as a street section with quarters, banks and rails. Whether you're learning your first tricks or you've been skating for decades, there's something here for you.
The pump track, opened in June 2019 and professionally designed by Brett Barnes of DirtZTrack, is a continuous loop of crests and berms that you ride by pumping rather than pedalling. Suitable for scooters, bikes and skaters, it's one of those facilities that's genuinely hard to leave once you get started.
The oval is also home to an off-leash dog park — bring the dog along and let them burn some energy while the kids do the same.
There are two water bottle refill stations and picnic tables on site. Toilets are available nearby. A great spot for a full afternoon of outdoor activity.
Perfect for: Kids and teens, skaters, BMX and scooter riders, active families.
Shoalhaven Heads Public Swimming Pool (Village Pool)
Open December – March
Come summer, this little pool is pure Australiana. Surrounded by shady gum trees, a tall pine, and colourful locally produced murals, the Shoalhaven Heads Village Pool has a charm that bigger aquatic centres simply can't replicate.
The 25m lap pool is ideal for morning swims and keeping up fitness through the warmer months, while the shaded toddler pool means the littlest swimmers are well catered for. There are covered picnic areas, warm change rooms, and disabled access via a pool chair.
It's the kind of place where you end up staying longer than you planned — which is exactly as it should be.
Facilities: 25m lap pool, toddler pool, change rooms, showers, toilets, covered picnic areas. Season: Late November to late March.
Perfect for: Lap swimmers, families with young children, a hot summer afternoon out.
McIntosh Playground (Charlie Gumley Reserve)
McIntosh Street, next to Shoalhaven Heads Surf Lifesaving Club | Public Toilets
A local favourite for families, the playground at McIntosh Street gives kids a great place to burn energy in a relaxed neighbourhood setting — and with the Surf Club right next door, it's a well-placed stop for a full beach day out.
Perfect for: Young families, after-school afternoons.
River Road Reserve
River Road | Public toilets, tables, BBQ, water bottle refill station
This reserve is everything you want from a riverside park. Sitting on the picturesque banks of the Shoalhaven River, it offers stunning views — particularly at sunset — alongside a small jetty, brand new playground, BBQ facilities, picnic tables and a water bottle refill station. Toilets are on site at the end of the road. Shoalhaven Heads Holiday Haven is right next door.
Birdwatchers will appreciate the reserve's position along the river — it's a well-known spot for pelicans, spoonbills and a range of coastal species.
Perfect for: Families, fishing, sunset picnics, birdwatching, a lazy afternoon by the river.
Pepper Park
Oval Drive / Towers Road
Pepper Park is a green community space serving the local residential area — a good spot to catch some fresh air, kick a ball around, or simply unwind in the open. A quiet, unhurried corner of the village.
Perfect for: Local residents, a casual outdoor break, bird watching.
Carters Corner
Public toilets & tables
A convenient stopping point in the village with public toilet facilities and tables — handy for visitors and locals alike when you're out and about exploring the Heads.
Vic Zealand Reserve (Memorial Reserve)
100 Shoalhaven Heads Road | Public toilets
Centrally located in the heart of the coastal town, Vic Zealand Memorial Reserve is a community cornerstone. The reserve, including the oval, is a key gathering point for local sports and events, and public toilets are available on site.
Perfect for: Community events, local sport, open-air recreation.
Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre
Central Shoalhaven Heads
The Community Centre is the social heartbeat of Shoalhaven Heads. Community managed and centrally located, it hosts everything from local meetings and events to classes and group activities. If you're looking to connect with what's on in the village, this is the place to start.
Check local noticeboard & community socials for upcoming events.
Boat Ramps
Three ramps, two currently operational
Shoalhaven Heads sits at the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, and getting a boat on the water here is straightforward — there are three public boat ramps in the village, though current conditions mean only two are fully recommended for standard use.
Hay Avenue Boat Ramp is a reliable concrete ramp also accessing the Shoalhaven River, featuring a fish cleaning station and a wash-down tap. A small memorial park with a bench seat sits alongside it, and there's a break in the mangroves that makes it ideal for kayak and canoe launches without dragging your hull across concrete. Public toilets are available just a short walk up the road.
River Road Boat Ramp (Holiday Haven end) features a floating pontoon, making it a versatile option for boarding and disembarking. While this end of the river is prone to sand build-up, the ramp remains operational for smaller vessels and tinnies. Whether you're chasing flathead and bream in the estuary, heading upstream for a lazy river cruise, or putting in a kayak for a paddle through the river mouth, the Heads is a brilliant base for a day on the water.
Wharf Road Boat Ramp, Use with caution. Located at the end of Wharf Road in the central village, has historically been a popular launch spot. However, the ramp is currently dilapidated and awaiting funding for a major upgrade. Boaters must use extreme caution here, as significant drop-offs have occurred where the concrete surface has broken away at the end of the ramp.
Reminder: A valid NSW recreational fishing licence is required for fishing from a boat in NSW waterways.
The Bottom Line
These community spaces are part of the fabric of Shoalhaven Heads. Whether you're visiting for a weekend or you've called this place home for decades, these parks, reserves and facilities are a big part of what makes the village such a great place to be. Pack the kids, the dog, a rod, a picnic — and go make use of them.
Know something we've missed or want to share what your favourite spot is? Let us know in the comments or tag us on socials. @visitshoalhavenheads