Region: Illawarra

The Illawarra is an attractive coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney, extending from the southern hills of the Royal National Park in the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong (the third-largest urban area in New South Wales), Shellharbour, the town of Kiama, Lake Illawarra, and a northwardly narrowing strip of coastal plain alongside the Illawarra escarpment, which leads up to the south-west fringe of Greater Metropolitan Sydney.

The Illawarra is part of the New South Wales South Coast region, which extends from the southern extremities of suburban Sydney down to the Victorian border, is similar to the NSW North Coast in that it is hemmed in by the mountains of the Great Dividing Range on one side, and the Pacific Ocean on the other. But the similarities between the two regions end there.

Set against a backdrop of craggy mountains, gentle hills, lakes and forests, the coastline to the south of Sydney is varied, with ribbons of white sandy beaches punctuated by rocky head lands, bays and inlets.

How To Get There

By road south from Sydney via Princes Highway. By rail from Sydney to the Illawarra region. The Illawarra railway line provides a frequent, effecient and inexpensive train service to the area from Sydney.

Entering the area by road at the southern end of Royal National Park, through what is now known as the Sea Cliff Coast, to Wollongong, and then Kiama, the line passes by many beaches and through numerous towns, giving the one-day visitor to the region a muliplicity of choices of places to go, and things to see and do on this picturesque stretch of coast.

Best Time To Go

Given its location, the best (and most popular) time to visit is during the summer or shoulder season (November to February). Outside of these months, the weather is generally quite acceptable and pleasant, but the water may be too cold to swim in.



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