South Coast NSW
Spectacular rainforest hugs the edge of the ever-eroding sandstone cliffs of the Illawarra Escarpment, a 30-million-year-old feature that rises to 534m at Mt Kembla's pointed summit. A winding, 15-minute drive from Wollongong, through knotted tunnels of trees, leads to the dramatic Mt Keira Lookout (464m) across Wollongong and the coast.
Signs point to the 5.5km Mt Keira Ring Track; it's steep with many stairs, so allow up to 4½ hours for the full loop.
20.86 MILES
The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…
2.7 MILES
In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and…
International Cricket Hall of Fame
26.76 MILES
Bowral is where the late, great cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, Australia’s most legendary sporting hero, spent his boyhood. Incorporating the Bradman…
27.73 MILES
This superlative crescent of sand, stretching south from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads, is one of the South Coast's most memorable beaches thanks to its pale…
19.91 MILES
At the eastern edge of Budderoo National Park, 15km inland from Kiama via Jamberoo, this is a surprisingly lush subtropical rainforest. A 1.6km loop walk…
28.99 MILES
Tumbling 81m from near-vertical sandstone cliffs, Fitzroy Falls can be a dramatic torrent or, in the heat of summer, a mere trickle. Regardless, you can…
3.3 MILES
Stretching north from the harbour, North Beach is an excellent all-rounder: shallows for kids to splash in, breaks suitable for various levels and…
26.46 MILES
This family-run cellar door offers wine tasting with genuine hospitality. Swish a mouthful of the chardonnay, buttery as brioche, or the verdelho with its…
2.48 MILES
Buoyancy, inertia, the Stroop effect and other scientific laws and phenomena are explained with cranks, bubbling tubes and even a mechanical elephant at…
2.7 MILES
In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and…
3.22 MILES
Eight kilometres north of Wollongong, this fine-sand headland – formerly a tool site and burial ground, with a large shell midden – was legally recognised…
3.3 MILES
Stretching north from the harbour, North Beach is an excellent all-rounder: shallows for kids to splash in, breaks suitable for various levels and…
3.81 MILES
Presently more of a landmark than an attraction, this heritage lighthouse on the harbour was built in 1871 (and switched on the following year). It was…
3.86 MILES
The basin, cut from solid rock in 1868, is a good place to orient yourself in Wollongong. The harbour beach is great for young children, with sand and…
3.96 MILES
The work of local creators, including Aboriginal artists, is displayed in this attractive four-floor gallery. Much of the permanent collection centres on…
3.98 MILES
The larger and newer of Wollongong's two lighthouses, this 25m concrete tower is still active. Picnic benches close by on the grassy headland, and…