Wollongong's coastline is famous worldwide and has been a major drawcard for tourists since the 1890's. The regions many lookouts provide breathtaking views both north and south - rugged cliffs, sheltered bays, azure blue waters and infinite stretches of golden sandy beaches.
Bald Hill is Wollongong's most well known and most popular lookout. Unsurpassed views and a major hang gliding centre. It was here that Lawrence Hargrave, an Australian pioneer of flight, experimented with box kites in the early part of the 20th century. The Lawrence Hargrave Memorial is located at the lookout.
Bass Point Reserve - Littoral rainforest with Aboriginal middens of national significance. Picnic facilities.
Blackbutt Forest Reserve - Unique because of its location in an urban area. Last remaining viable remnant of coastal plain forest in the Illawarra region.
Bulli Scenic Reserve - several lookouts and bushwalking tracks from easy to difficult. Incredible views
Killalea - South of Shellharbour. Picnics, top surfing beach, scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing.
Macquarie Pass National Park - 10Km west of Albion Park. Waterfalls, picnic areas. Camping only permitted at the picnic area at Macquarie Rivulet
Mt Keira Lookout Breathtaking scenery
Royal National Park Visitors Centre and Wildlife Shop. Exhibition of photos and lots of friendly advice. Open 9- 4 daily. Closed 1-2pm w/ends. Over 150 km of walking tracks. Track info available at visitor’s centre. Lady Carrington Drive is relatively flat and wide and closed to motor vehicles making it ideal for cycling.
Black Diamond Heritage Centre Open Sundays 10-4 . Old Bulli Railway Station, Franklin Avenue, Bulli.
Illawarra Museum Furnished period rooms. Local history. 11 Market Street, Wollongong. Thur 12-3,weekends 1- 4,
Tongarra Bicentennial Museum - Exhibits of Aboriginal and early pioneers artifacts. Russell St, Albion Park. Wed 10 -4; sun 1-4.
Kiama
The Blowhole - the most famous landmark for miles around, situated at Blowhole Point near the lighthouse and attracting visitors to Kiama for many years. Best seen on a day when a strong south-east wind is blowing and the tide is rising.
The Lighthouse - Built in 1887 to save shipping from the dangerous rocks of Blowhole Point.
Pilot's Cottage Museum -Built 1881 and now beautifully restored by the Historical Society, serves as an historical museum and tourist venue. Open Friday to Monday 11am to 3pm.
Robertson Basin - The name given to part of Kiama Harbour completed in 1876 after 16 years of construction to cater for the increasing shipping trade to this town. Iron rings, originally used to moor ships and boats in the harbour can still be seen attached to rocks.
Christ Church - The little white church on the hill. Built in 1859, the ceiling resembles an upturned boat. One of the graves nearby is of First Fleeter John Gowan who arrived in New South Wales as a corporal of marines.
Town Obelisk - Seen on the northern side of Terralong Street, a point from which all distances were measured.
Post Office -Built in 1887/89 and was described as a red brick building with facings of Pyrmot stone in the Italian style.
Courthouse and Police Station - Built in 1860 and 1883 respectively in Terralong Street.
Kiama Railway - Commenced on 9 November 1887, trains from Wollongong to Bombo where passengers had to board a horse drawn carriage for last 2 miles to town.
Saddleback Mountain Lookout - West from Kiama toward Jamberoo fabulous views from Wollongong to Gerringong.
Jamberoo Hotel - Built in 1857 and renovated in mock-tudor style with an interesting collection of artifacts.
The Bakery in Jamberoo is most definitely worth a stop
Minnamurra Rainforest - Drive through Jamberoo and turn left just outside town up Jamberoo Mountain Road. Take the first turn right to reach Minnamurra set in the National Park where native birds and animals abound. Elevated boardwalks take you through the canopy of trees among the remains of a dense rainforest.
Cronin's Hotel, Gerringong - Belinda Street. Held by the same family for three generations is a great meeting place for locals and visitors to relax with a hearty country-style meal and a drink and to ponder the view.
Gerringong Bowling Club -In Pacific Ave is always a popular spot to have a quiet meal and a drink after a visit to the surf beach while further south the golf club offers ocean views while smacking the white ball around.
Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa - is of particular interest to aviation buffs since this is where early flights were commenced. In fact Kingsford Smith and crew left from 7 Mile Beach for New Zealand.
There are many fine buildings in the bustling township of Berry, some of historic interest such as the Old Courthouse in Victoria Street and the School of Arts in Alexandra Street. Be in Berry in February to enjoy the Annual Berry Show and in October witness the spring grandeur of the lovely gardens on display. Berry stages a monthly market at the Showgrounds and a blues band plays at the Great Southern Hotel. At Coolangatta Estate Winery jazz and blues feature every month on the first Sunday.
Cambewarra Mountain Lookout - Views across the Shoalhaven River basin taking in the City of Nowra, Coolangatta Mountain and the confluence of the Shoalhaven and Crookhaven Rivers at Greenwell Point.
Kangaroo Valley offers many gorgeous views and history like the Hampden Bridge with its castellated stoneworks, the Pioneer Farm Museum, right beside the northern approach to the bridge with its displays of farming implements and techniques of times past. This is also a good place to stop for a snack.
In Nowra make sure to visit Australia's Museum of Flight at HMAS Albatross, Nowra Hill, just south of the city with its most interesting aircraft and other paraphernalia of flight. Also worth a visit is the historic Graham House renovated to its original 19th century glory , and the Nowra Museum. Meroogal House, a museum dedicated to the lifestyles and domestic hardship of women of yesteryear And of course Bundanon, a property at Cambewarra to the west of Nowra which was owned by artist Arthur Boyd. Bundanon is now run as a campus for aspiring artists as well as a gallery of works.
Nowra Wildlife Park at North Nowra allows you to get up close and personal with native animals and reptiles.
To see the whitest sand beaches in the world visit Jervis Bay, Vincentia, Huskisson and Hyams Beach. Watersports are popular on Jervis Bay during spring, summer and autumn plus fishing all year round. Other attractions here include Lilliputland and Lady Denman Maritime Museum at Huskisson.
Sussex Inlet is the place to catch a fish, go hiking, camping, waterskiing, surfing, horse riding, golfing, bowling or just relaxing. Every July the giant Family Fishing Contest offers prize money of more than $30,000
The town of Milton has some charming old buildings, quaint shops and galleries.
Mollymook is more modern and has an attractive surf beach, two golf clubs, bowling club plus an abundance of accommodation in motels and apartments.
Ulladulla, the commercial hub of the area, boasts wonderful cafes, restaurants, galleries and other retailers, most with views of the harbour's sparkling blue waters. Every Easter there is the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony, July there's the Tabula Rasa Festival and August the Food & Wine Festival.
A morning or evening tour of Montague Island, just offshore from Narooma, should not be missed. All tours start and finish at Narooma Town Wharf, and include a 30 minute ocean voyage in a high speed charter boat. During the 30 minute voyage to the Island you may see migrating whales and dolphins (Sep-Nov) and a variety of sea birds. On land, your guide will share his/her knowledge about the history of the Lightstation, Aboriginal heritage and the remarkable animals and plants of Montague. Experience life as a lightkeeper 100 years ago and learn the many stories the island holds. All tours circumnavigate the Island and visit the seals before landing at the jetty. Step back in time in the Lightstation precincts, visit the gravesites, soaking up the history and natural beauty before boarding the boat for the trip home.Evening tours conclude the tour by watching the sunset and waiting for any Little Penguins coming ashore.
The Triangle Tourist Drive - Tilba, Cobargo and Bermagui.
Central Tilba - the National Trust village where the historic character of the buildings has been maintained. Many of the buildings contain interesting art and craft shops with a wide range of goods.
Tilba Tilba with its marvellous Foxglove Spire Gardens and complex where you can browse the wide array of plants, oldwares, crafts and collectables.
Cobargo - the working village where you can see the wide range of crafts being assembled. Enjoy fine food and purchase some freshly picked vegetables.
Bermagui, famous for its fishing. Visit its harbour, stroll along the main street, breathe the fresh seaside air.
Eden Killer Whale Museum right in the heart of Eden features different travelling exhibitions as well as numerous permanent exhibitions including "Whaling & Twofold Bay", "Replica Lighthouse", "Davidson Gallery Whaling Exhibition" and Old Tom's Skeleton".
Pambula (meeting of the waters) offers bird-watching, picnicking, cycling, walking or just sitting and enjoying the view. Picnic tables and seats have been installed in Tips Billabong and the Waterbird Sanctuary and there’s plenty of space for a picnic blanket. Next door to Tips is the Waterbird Sanctuary, with its bird hide, winding walks through groves of recently planted trees and the Koori Art Installation, featuring hundreds of plants laid out in the shape of a basket that traditionally was used by Aboriginals for collecting food.
Potoroo Palace is only minutes away from Merimbula, 9km north on the Princes Highway. An abundance of wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, emus and other native birds as well as reptiles - including crocodiles! Open 10-4 every day in holidays, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon in off season. Education talks throughout the day.
The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre is located in the grounds of Bega Cheese, Lagoon St, North Bega and is open 9am to 5pm 7 days. Watch cheese being made, buy cheese and gourmet fudge. There's a picnic area, and a playground
Grevillea Estate Winery, Buckajo Road, Bega is open 7 days from 9am to 5pm, offering visitors wine tastings and cellar door sales, a country style lunch at the Bails Restaurant and family farm fun.
Fruit Ballad Country Wines, corner of Princes Highway & Verona Road, Quaama is open 10am-5pm Wed-Sun and 7 days at school holiday times.
There are two wonderful self-guided walks to do around Narooma produced by Narooma Historical Society. 1. Mitchells Mill Walk - starts at the Visitors Centre and follows the path around the foreshores all the way to the northern breakwater.
2. Ringlands Rotary Walk - follows a bush track from Shell Point to the rainforest at the Ringlands Estate. This outlines some of the history and natural features of the inlet.
Foxglove Spire Gardens, Corkhill Drive Tilba is open to the public 7 days and was voted one of the best gardens in Australia
Tilba Valley Wines, 4km north of Central Tilba is open 7 days a week for tastings, cellar door sales, morning coffee, lunches and Devonshire teas.
