Visit the llawarra, Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and Kiama
The Illawarra region stretches from the northern-most boundary of the Royal National Park through the coastlines extending south 80 kilometres to Gerroa, south of Kiama. Following the coast road you will witness a variety of landscapes. The rugged cliffs and beaches of the coal districts from Stanwell Park down to Bulli, following down through the industrial regions of Wollongong and Port Kembla. Lake Illawarra offers a stunning contrast to the industry the thrives around this icon. Heading south the land opens up with rolling hills, the stunning hinterland of Kangaroo Valley and the coastal towns of Shellharbour, Kiama, Gerringong and Gerroa where you can surf and fish.
Walking trails abound in the Illawarra region. You can spend time at the Dharawal State Recreation and Nature Reserve doing the Maddens Falls walk. An easy 2km return walk following a narrow path through upland swamp, to Maddens Falls. You can also do the Mt Keira Ring Track. This walk takes around 3-5 hours and is a 5.5km track. Its rated easy but moderate in places. Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park has 2 walks to choose.The first, a 1 hour circular board walk (1.6km) with disabled access over the first section. Or an additional 2 hour return walk (2.6km) to the stunning Minnamurra Falls. The extended walk takes the views of the falls, as well as various flora and fauna.
Wollongong visitors can spend their leisure time parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing or scuba diving. They can climb a mountain or soar above the escarpment under a colourful hang glider and gracefully glide to the earth below. Bald Hill is arguably Wollongong's most well known and most popular lookout. Not only are the views unsurpassed, the area is also internationally known as a major hang gliding centre. View images of paragliding and hang gliding at Bald Hill here.
An excellent cycleway network skirts the famous coastline. Starting at Thirroul, the cycleway winds its way through spectacular scenery. The city boasts over 60 kilometres of shared cycleway. Not only is cycling an excellent recreational pursuit, it's a great way to explore the region.Wollongong's superb beaches are an excellent source of adventure, including swimming and surfing. With the numerous headlands producing top surfing conditions year round, the Illawarra has developed a reputation as being a top surfing spot . Scuba diving and snorkelling are also well established. The Wollongong coastline offers 17 surf beaches that are patrolled by lifesavers from September to April.
Lake Illawarra, a large natural saltwater lagoon is popular for fishing and watersports. It boasts a thriving sailing community with participation from small dinghies up to 7m trailer sailer yachts. I popular fishing estuary, Lake Illawarra supports local break, flathead, blackfish, whiting and prawns. Macquarie Pass National Park is home to a magnificent rainforest, impressive waterfalls, walking tracks and natural swimming holes.
Marlin, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, mulloway (jewfish),snapper, flathead & morwong are all within easy reach along the Illawarra coast. Other activities that are offered in the Illawarra region include horse riding, reel & game fishing, cycling, learn to surf, motorcycle tours, scuba diving, tandem microlight flights, hang gliding, outdoor rock climbing, abseiling, helicopter rides, windsurfing in Lake Illawarra, And lastly, why not drop into North Wollongong... literally, with regular skydiving every weekend landing in North Wollongong.
Getting to the Illawarra region couldn’t be easier. City Rail runs a regular train service to Wollongong along the South Coast Rail line with country services running to Gerringong and on to Norwra. Take the F6 from Sydney to Wollongong then join up with the Princes Highway for the run down to Kiama, Gerringong and Gerroa.
Major Towns
Albion Park Austinmer Bulli Corrimal Dapto Gerringong Gerroa Jamberoo Kiama Port Kembla Shellharbour Thirroul Wollongong
Major Lakes
Lake Illawarra
National Parks & Reserves
Budderoo National Park Dharawal State Recreation & Nature Reserve Illawarra Escarpment State Recreation Reserve Macquarie Pass National Park Minnamurra Rainforest Royal National Park
The South Coast including Jervis Bay, the Shoalhaven, Ulladulla and the Saphire Coast
Heading south from Sydney, just two hours drive will place you at the beginning of the South Coast region. This region starts at the Shoalhaven River and Berry and stretches along to coast to the Eden and the border of New South Wales and Victoria. The south coast region contains no less than 10 national and marine parks to explore. You'll also find a charming strip of unspoilt coastline offering pristine beaches, picturesque seaside towns and quaint rural villages. The Princes Highway is the main arterial link to the South Coast of NSW with various exits to national parks and nature reserves along the 510km stretch between Sydney and Eden
Nature lovers can enjoy a whale or dolphin watch cruise, an offshore fishing charter or a leisurely river cruise. You can mountain bike or four wheel drive through the various state forests and parks that are located in the hinterland.
The Shoalhaven boasts a wide range of popular natural attractions. As well as its magnificent beaches and waterways, Jervis Bay, the Kangaroo Valley, Ettrema Wilderness, Budawang Ranges and Morton National Park are all located within the Shoalhaven area.
The waters of Jervis Bay range from aquamarine to indigo. They offer some of the very best diving on the South Coast. There are wildflowers, native animals and plenty of birds, Aboriginal middens dating back 20,000 years, dunes and quiet coves, and beaches as remarkable for their undisturbed length as for their silica-white sand. The southern part is also where you'll find Booderee National Park and within it Jervis Bay's best-known camp sites. Booderee has three campgrounds: Green Patch, Bristol Point and Cave Beach. Jervis Bay Marine Park is famous for its crystal-clear waters. It has beaches, rocky platforms and reefs, extensive seagrass beds, estuaries and deep-water cliffs with caves. Dolphins are a regular sight. Scuba diving, swimming, surfing, boating and fishing are all popular.
The southern Shoalhaven features the popular destinations of Milton and Ulladulla and their beautiful district, known as The Coastal Resort. The year round holiday areas of Mollymook, Narrawallee, Burrill Lake and Lake Tabourie are nestled in this area. The beautiful coastal Murramarang National Park is famous for its rugged coastline and varied native wildlife.
When it comes to bushwalking in NSW, the South Coast is often overlooked in favour of more popular destinations like Kosciuszko, Barrington Tops and the Warrumbungles. But for those who do penetrate this lightly trodden area, so much the better! Depending on the season, you can be all alone in a secluded cove or feel nature's fury on a coastal headland blasted by wind and waves.
Further south just west of Ulladulla, experienced bushwalkers can tackle the climb up Pigeon House Mountain in Budawang National Park. Captian Cook being the first to notice and record this visually stunning mountain. Experienced bushwalkers seeking an challenging adventure can continue on to Deua National Park, inland from Moruya. This remote and wild park hides its main attractions, like Mother Woila, from all but the most determined and well-prepared visitors. This is a wilderness area where self-sufficient, low-impact camping expeditions of up to one-week are necessary to reach the highlights. Not so challenging options further south along the coast include Eurobadalla National Park near Narooma, Mimosa Rocks National Park near Bega and Ben Boyd National Park north and south of Twofold Bay near Eden.
The Deua and Wadbilliga National Parks (and the State Forests that border them), make for some exciting four-wheel driving in very spectacular country. Beach, rock and inland fishing is a popular pastime at Moruya Near Narooma, Tuross Lake and Lake Corunna offer great angling opportunities.
The Sapphire Coast, known as the Bega Valley, is the most southerly coastal region in NSW. From Wallaga Lake in the north, where you can explore aboriginal culture, through to Wonboyn Lake, a great fishing spot just north of the Victorian border, this region offers many alternatives for the adventurer. Bermagui is famous for its gamefishing and fishing and tourism are still the town's main focuses.
Eden, situated on the deep harbour of Twofold Bay, is rich in fishing and whaling history and remains a fishing town, while whaling has now become 'whale-watching' one of the key tourist attractions in the town. Eden offers a wide variety of waterway, forest and mountain attractions.
Major Towns
Batemans Bay Bega Eden Kiama Huskisson Moruya Narooma Nowra Sussex Inlet Ulladulla
Major Rivers, Waterways & Lakes
Shoalhaven Area Burrill Lake Jervis Bay Lake Conjola Shoalhaven River Sussex Inlet Tabourie Lake
Eurobodalla Coast Batemans Bay Clyde River
Sapphire Coast Twofold Bay Wallaga Lake Wonboyn Lake
National Parks & Reserves
Shoalhaven Area Booderee National Park Budawang National Park Budderoo National Park Conjola National Park Cudmirrah National Park Jervis Bay Marine Park Jervis Bay National Park (NSW) Morton National Park Murramarang National Park Shoalhaven Area Seven Mile Beach National Park
Eurobodalla Coast Budawang National Park Deua National Park Eurobodalla National Park Gulaga Flora Reserve Montague Is Nature Reserve Murramarang National Park Wadbilliga National Park
Sapphire Coast Ben Boyd National Park Biamanga National Park Bournda National Park Mimosa Rocks National Park Mt Imlay National Park Nadgee Nature Reserve South East Forest National Park Wadbilliga National Park Wallaga Lake National Park
NSW National Parks can be closed at times because of bushfire and bushfire danger. We advise you check with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you set off. Phone 1300 361 967 (within NSW) or (02) 9253 4600 or visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au. Remember, play it safe and tell others where you go and when you will be back.
Disclaimer: The information contained about this region is provided as a guide only. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Break Loose Publishing disclaim any liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. For our complete Disclaimer please follow the link at the foot of the page.
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Visit the llawarra, Wollongong, Lake Illawarra and Kiama
Wollongong visitors can spend their leisure time parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing or scuba diving. They can climb a mountain or soar above the escarpment under a colourful hang glider and gracefully glide to the earth below. Bald Hill is arguably Wollongong's most well known and most popular lookout. Not only are the views unsurpassed, the area is also internationally known as a major hang gliding centre. 
Lake Illawarra, a large natural saltwater lagoon is popular for fishing and watersports. It boasts a thriving sailing community with participation from small dinghies up to 7m trailer sailer yachts. I popular fishing estuary, Lake Illawarra supports local break, flathead, blackfish, whiting and prawns. Macquarie Pass National Park is home to a magnificent rainforest, impressive waterfalls, walking tracks and natural swimming holes.
Marlin, yellowfin tuna, kingfish, mulloway (jewfish),snapper, flathead & morwong are all within easy reach along the Illawarra coast. Other activities that are offered in the Illawarra region include horse riding, reel & game fishing, cycling, learn to surf, motorcycle tours, scuba diving, tandem microlight flights, hang gliding, outdoor rock climbing, abseiling, helicopter rides, windsurfing in Lake Illawarra, And lastly, why not drop into North Wollongong... literally, with regular skydiving every weekend landing in North Wollongong.
Major Towns
Albion Park
The South Coast including Jervis Bay, the Shoalhaven, Ulladulla and the Saphire Coast
The waters of Jervis Bay range from aquamarine to indigo. They offer some of the very best diving on the South Coast. There are wildflowers, native animals and plenty of birds, Aboriginal middens dating back 20,000 years, dunes and quiet coves, and beaches as remarkable for their undisturbed length as for their silica-white sand. The southern part is also where you'll find Booderee National Park and within it Jervis Bay's best-known camp sites. Booderee has three campgrounds: Green Patch, Bristol Point and Cave Beach. Jervis Bay Marine Park is famous for its crystal-clear waters. It has beaches, rocky platforms and reefs, extensive seagrass beds, estuaries and deep-water cliffs with caves. Dolphins are a regular sight. Scuba diving, swimming, surfing, boating and fishing are all popular.
Further south just west of Ulladulla, experienced bushwalkers can tackle the climb up Pigeon House Mountain in Budawang National Park. Captian Cook being the first to notice and record this visually stunning mountain. Experienced bushwalkers seeking an challenging adventure can continue on to Deua National Park, inland from Moruya. This remote and wild park hides its main attractions, like Mother Woila, from all but the most determined and well-prepared visitors. This is a wilderness area where self-sufficient, low-impact camping expeditions of up to one-week are necessary to reach the highlights. Not so challenging options further south along the coast include Eurobadalla National Park near Narooma, Mimosa Rocks National Park near Bega and Ben Boyd National Park north and south of Twofold Bay near Eden.
Eden, situated on the deep harbour of Twofold Bay, is rich in fishing and whaling history and remains a fishing town, while whaling has now become 'whale-watching' one of the key tourist attractions in the town. Eden offers a wide variety of waterway, forest and mountain attractions.
Major Rivers, Waterways & Lakes
Shoalhaven Area
