The apiarist's property at Pointer Mountain north of Ulladulla was swept by the last year's New Year's fire and he lost millions of bees, hives and honey.

Today, he's re-homed his bees to Harden and will soon move 167 hives again to Temora in the state's Riverina region. Where there's flowering trees, there's Vince's bees.

While the Shoalhaven is looking green and lush again, Mr Ingold said grass recovers at a much quicker rate than trees, which take upwards of 20 years to fully regenerate.

The flow on effects from the nation's long-lasting drought are still felt but Mr Ingold said things are looking much better in recent times. If he can get another four to five years of good seasons, he should be able to get back on his feet again.

"I was talking to a farmer the other day who said 'it's easier to make money from mud than dust' and it's true," Mr Ingold said.

Mr Ingold visits his bees every couple of weeks and is kept busy building a shed and rebuilding his house which was partially destroyed in the fire - including the floor he'd just cut himself.

He and his daughter Rachel stayed to defend their property and watched the hives go up.

They also saw the drums of honey explode, sending lids hundreds of metres into the air. The house they have been building over the years also got damaged, with windows in aluminium frames melted and flooring burnt. None of it was insured.

And while it's going to be a long road to recovery, Mr Ingold won't be going anywhere. He grew up in the region and said there's nowhere else that's more home than here.