Daniel Jadric didn’t need much of a nudge from authorities to evacuate from the South Coast town of Malua Bay before Saturday’s expected extreme fire danger hits the region.

Mr Jadric, along with his brother Josip and friend Nikolas Barisic, watched on in shock as smoke and fire turned the postcard-perfect beach and headland just south of Batemans Bay into a red and black nightmare in the middle of New Year's Eve.

Daniel Jadric from Canberra (in yellow) at Malua Bay with his brother Josip (centre) and friend Nikolas Barisic (left). Credit:Kate Geraghty

“It was horrific,” he said, showing the Herald images captured on his phone. “I thought we were all pretty stuffed.”

Now, two days after losing electricity, with little if any phone connection and amid a scramble for scarce fuel supplies, the men are ready to return to Canberra.