Tourism ACT Tourism NSW

Wollongong Harbour and Gerringong countryside

Sydney to Nowra 165Km-2hrs 05min

Shoalhaven Area Shoalhaven Area Kiama Area Shellharbour Area Wollongong Area

Few could miss the start of the Illawarra on the South Coast of New South Wales, where the mountains meet the sea and the postcard views rival any you’ll find along the coast.
It’s an easy drive from Sydney, with lots to see along the way. Turn off into the Royal National Park – the second-oldest in the world – and take a scenic drive to the popular hang-gliding site of Stanwell Tops. Or drive down the coast and explore the Northern Wollongong Coastal Villages, famous for their beaches, cosy cafes, arts and antiques. Of course, you won’t want to miss the lookouts – there are glimpses of the dramatic escarpment, lush hinterland and sparkling coastline at Bald Hill, Sublime Point and Mount Keira.

New South Wales’s third-largest city, Wollongong, is just an hour’s drive from Sydney and offers everything from adventure sports to relaxation, great shopping and gourmet restaurants but if you’re searching for
some calm and inner peace visit the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple – the largest Buddhist Temple in the southern hemisphere.
Water sports abound in nearby Shellharbour, home to Lake Illawarra, plus the famous local surf spot The Farm in Killalea State Park. There’s also great hiking and refreshing swimming holes to be found in Macquarie Pass
National Park on the Illawarra escarpment.
Further south is Kiama, a picturesque fishing village famous for its ‘Blowhole’. This natural spout is fed from the sea below and can shoot a stream of water up to 60 metres high! In the area, there’s everything from cooking classes
at Elise Pasco’s International Cooking School to walks in Minnamurra Rainforest on offer.
Adrenalin junkies can also get their kicks at Jamberoo Recreation Park, which is just a short drive from Kiama. Or if you’d rather relax on a beach with a good book, you’re sure to find a slice of heaven around Werri Beach,
Gerringong and Gerroa.
Shoalhaven Heads can be found at the southern end of historic Seven Mile Beach, which was used as a runway for aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on the first commercial flight from Australia to New Zealand in 1933. These days however, the beach is more of a haven for sun-worshippers and surfers keen to catch a wave!
The nearby historic village of Berry offers fantastic shopping and is a great place for a hearty pub lunch or Devonshire tea. A short but very scenic drive from Berry you’ll find
Kangaroo Valley, famous for its lush pasturelands, antiques and restaurants. Heading to Nowra, check out the spectacular views from Cambewarra Mountain.