Wollongong & The Illawarra

The Illawarra stretches from the Royal National Park in the north to Gerringong in the south and makes for easy Sydney Getaways. Between these two points is some of the best things ever to see and do on any day trip or weekend getaways. Best of all it's less than 90mins drive down the road from the Sydney CBD.



The northern coastal villages of Otford and Stanwell tops are elevated about 300mtrs above the ocean and are captive to spectacular coastal views rivalling those anywhere and must surely be seen to be believed. The sleepy hamlets and friendly villages nestled beneath the Illawarra escarpment beckon travellers to come closer and discover the many extraordinary things unique to the area. Don’t be like so many others that simply bypass this wonderful opportunity as they journey along the highway further south.

Leave the City Behind

Leaving the city limits behind and travelling through the Royal National Park via Audley or Waterfall you’re bound to be captivated by the rich beauty of nature that surrounds you. The abundant native flora of melaleuca’s, acacia’s and tall gums amongst the sandstone landscapes prevail in the first half of the National Park and the sub-tropical palms alongside the flowing waters of the Hacking and the wild calls of the Lyre Bird’s mimicking cries during the latter. This is definitely a place to go slow and enjoy the environment.

If you are driving this way on the weekend then you must stop and try some of the famous apple pie from the Otford Pantry on Lady Wakehurst Drive just as you exit the national Park. Take a walk across the road and check the view or maybe walk to the beach below and spend some time there.

Grand Pacific Drive

The main road that leaves Sydney and winds its way through the Royal National Park and southward towards Wollongong and on to Shellharbour and Kiama is now known as the Grand Pacific Drive. It is especially desirable to take this drive with the roof down on a sunny day but if you don’t happen to have a convertible handy don’t worry because the drive and scenery are just as enjoyable with a roof over your head. The journey should be about getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city to a more warming and calming mood of exploring, relaxing and chilling out.

If you don’t own or have a car handy its good news to know that Cityrail trains run down this lovely stretch of the New South Wales coast through Wollongong, Kiama and on to the sleepy hamlet of Gerringong which is located on the beach just south of Kiama and a few kilometres north of Nowra.

The small seaside villages that stretch the 20 odd kilometres or so to Wollongong lay quietly nestled at the base of the escarpment, most of them reminiscent of the coal mining hey days complete with historic, period, miners cottages. Along the way you’ll find the odd antique/gift shop as well as plenty of cafes, galleries, eateries and fine places to dine.

Some of these villages have their own festivals annually which make for a fun day out, others have regular market stalls, live entertainment stores where you can stock up on supplies, do some window shopping or send a postcard off to family or friends. Of course there are opportunities to do some bush walking, play golf, kick back and relax in a nearby park or spend some quality time soaking up sunrays, swimming or fishing around the many beaches and headlands.

Villages like Shellharbour and Kiama are a top place to visit. Shellharbour has a wonderfully confined main street with boutique shops and a grand pub on the corner opposite the park and harbour. A typical visit there can mean relaxing with some tasty fish and chips on the grass either in front of the pool or the harbour. A trip to Kiama means visiting the blow hole as the wind and ocean puts on a display of spray that can spout tens of meters into the sky. Again, there is boutique shopping available, markets as well as the holiday park located right on the harbourfront, an ideal location for a weekend stay.

























Here's a picutre of the beachfront caravan park in Shellharbour Village
















And here's a photo of the lovely sub-tropical rainforest on the Illawarra Escarpment







Finding the right Accommodation

When travelling this way on your getaway journey it’s reassuring to know where you can find clean, affordable accommodation because you’ll want to just be able to drive right to it and unpack without having to search street after street once you’re in town. There are plenty of great places to enjoy a short or long stay when looking for some Illawarra Accommodation. There are family friendly and pet friendly caravan parks and camping grounds to stay at, Hotels and Motels with warm and friendly hospitality and B&B’s that make visiting easy, comfortable, enjoyable. If you are on a budget there are backpacker hostels available with all the character that various travellers add along with some very unique experiences

Illawarra Attractions

Attractions are plentiful. There are many natural attractions such as the look outs perched on top of the escarpment with endless views to the beautiful sandy beaches like Austinmer, North Wollongong and Port Kembla. If beaches are not your thing you can always spend the day visiting studios and galleries or maybe a museum. Some people enjoy exploring the local vineyards and tasting the great wines that come from this region or browsing the bric-a-brac shops. Whatever you choose you won’t be disappointed. Lake Illawarra is a holiday makers delight for families as well as romantics. Take a visit and be impressed!

Illawarra Activities

For those desiring to pace themselves a bit slower there are many different walking trails to discover. Those that like the adrenalin rush can find adventures from hang gliding and sky diving to water skiing and kayaking. There are a few different tours that can be had if you want to learn and discover more and there is no shortage of boating and yachting with the lake being so prevalent to the district.

There's plenty of good fishing, swimming and relaxing to be had. Fish and chips shops around the lake foreshores are also worth a visit or maybe you would like to take a bicycle ride on the bike path? Perhaps you might enjoy sight seeing while enjoying any one of a number of walking trails Would you like to find out about Lake Illawarra or become a friend? click here.


As you can see there is a lot to see and do with cool winter days you can relish in romantic weekends by the warmth of an open fire, in spring and autunm go for wonderful scenic drives and enjoy dining at any of the fine restaurants. In the summer take advantage of the many pools and world class beaches to keep cool and maybe even try some prawning on Lake Illawarra.