To nab an outside table to properly experience the spectacular panoramic views over the Shoalhaven River and beyond is all about luck and timing. I’ve visited a couple of times and it really depends on the weather and the time of year, but either way expect groups of cyclists and camera wielding visitors – it’s that kind of place, a destination in itself. The Lookout Cambewarra Mountain is a 100 plus year old tea room perched on the Cambewarra Range. It’s strategically placed between Kangaroo Valley and the Princes Highway, so it’s easy to slip it in to an itinerary if road tripping between Berry and the Southern Highlands. If heading north or south along the Princes Highway, it’s a short diversion that’s definitely worth it for the views and the scones. The Devonshire Tea has been greatly improved with the latest change of ownership. The scones are fresh with a creamy and fluffy texture, and along with the view, a definite drawcard. The mixed berry jam tastes homemade with none of the syrupy sweetness that comes with commercial grade jams, but a bigger serving would be good considering the size of the scones. Ditto with the cream, which is thickly whipped.
Tea: A vast variety of loose-leaf teas, it is a tea room after all, served in an adequate sized teapot
Price: $$
Overall: Smashing views but be prepared for crowds if you visit on weekends, especially if the weather is good.
Location: 1 Cambewarra Lookout Rd, Beaumont NSW 2540 Ph: 02 4465 1321
Reviewed July, 2015