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nature

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From adrenaline-pumping adventure activities to delicious local produce, wineries, family discoveries, natural wonders, and too many beaches to count!

Grand Pacific Drive empasses 140km of NSW's most spectacular scenery and coastline. From the Royal National Park (the world's second oldest) to Wollongong and beyond, the route takes you through lush rainforests, quaint seaside villages and traverses over the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge and into the vibrant city of Wollongong. From here Grand Pacific Drive takes you to beautiful coastal towns of Shellharbour, Kiama passing rolling hills, wineries and dairy farms on your way to the Shoalhaven and the white sand beaches of Jervis Bay. Beyond the Grand Pacific Drive, you can make your way back to Sydney via the charming Southern Highlands or continue to head further south through the picturesque regions of Eurobodalla and Sapphire Coast to the Victorian border.

Grand Pacific Drive

Whether you're exploring the coast or the escarpment, spectacular loft lookouts or sea-level rockpools, pristine gardens or tasting the world's best cider, the perfect adventure is always within easy reach.

Wollongong Harbour is a fantastic family friendly area that's great for paddling toddlers and laid-back gatherings. It's here between the two lighthouses that you'll find plenty of picnic facilities, restaurants, cafes and playgrounds all within close proximity. Take a stroll along the Blue Mile or a dip in the Continental Pools.

Head south onto Five Islands Road and continue to Bass Point Tourist Road to Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve

Wollongong

Then take Jamberoo Mountain Road and turn right onto Knights Hill Rd to get to Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures.

Jamberoo Action Park

Darkes Glenbernie Orchard

Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise

Eagle Head Rock and Curracurrong Falls

It's a popular beach for surfing and picnics and an easy day trip from Sydney. Stanwell Park and Stanwell Tops have a special place in aviation history with Lawrence Hargrave performing many of his experiments with box kites in this location. The Grand Pacific Drive passes through Stanwell Park on its spectacular route along the coast to the South Coast. Stop at Sea Cliff Bridge, located between Coalcliff and Clifton, for a walk along this engineering masterpiece....

Rest your head at Headlands Austinmer Beach, Ocean Blue B&B at Stanwell Park or camp at Coledale Beach or Bulli Tourist Park overnight and enjoy dinner at South Sailor in Thirroul or Resin Brewery in Bulli.

Stanwell Tops

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventure Park

Learn to stand up paddleboard or master your skills with an accredited ASI SUP Instructor, with both private and group sessions available.

They are a mobile Stand Up Paddle Boarding School, and will ensure that you experience paddle boarding in the best conditions in a safe, fun environment.

Wake up with a sunrise paddle, cruise Lake Illawarra and Minnamurra River, or venture out with lights on an after dark paddle! They also specialise in SUPFIT (fitness class on fitness mats), SUPYOGAFIT (yoga fit classes on fitness mats), ocean paddling and SUPSURF - hit the waves for experienced paddlers.

They are open seven days/week from sunrise to sunset, and even for night SUP in summer!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour

Diggies

Australian Surf Tours

It's over 100 years old (the 2nd oldest in the world in fact) and boasts over 100km of bush walking tracks, set on 16,000 hectares. Experience nature amongst lush rainforests, stunning beaches, gorgeous picnic grounds and much more!

The Royal National Park features a multitude of landscapes from open grasslands to dramatic cliffs and secluded beaches that are definitely worth the walk. As you'd expect the scenery is sublime and everyone is catered for - from accessible short strolls through to a two-day excursion for the super keen. The annual Sydney to Gong bike ride also takes in part of the park, emerging at Ball Hill for a mesmerising first view of the Illawarra coastline.

Head south along Lady Wakehurst Drive to exit the Royal National Park and you will emerge at Bald Hill Lookout, Stanwell Tops. Head north, west on Lawrence Hargrave Drive and take a detour to Helensburgh for Symbio Wildlife Park and hand feed free roaming Kangaroos and cuddle up to Koala's. Following Symbio take the 1st exit onto the Princes Hwy towards Darkes Forest to tastes the world's best cider at Darkes Glenbernie Orchard.

Sydney

Kiama Coast  Walk

Tandem Sky Dive with Sky Dive Australia

Coolangatta Estate

One of the joys of New South Wales' national parks is that you can often find yourself in a place that feels completely wild. Macquarie Pass National Park, on the Illawarra escarpment, is an easy day trip from the southern suburbs of Sydney.

The park's steep sandstone ridges and gullies provide diverse habitats for local wildlife. Amid heathland, rainforest and tall moist eucalypt forest live lyrebirds, satin bowerbirds, koalas, possums, wombats, swamp wallabies, goannas and platypus. The park is also an important habitat for threatened tiger quolls and long-nosed potoroos.

With terrific bushwalking and birdwatching opportunities, wonderful waterfalls, views to the ocean and the blazing crimson of Illawarra flame trees, Macquarie Pass National Park is well worth a visit if you're looking for things to do on the south coast.

Mcquarie Pass National Park

The protected cove of Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve provides a perfect spot for snorkelling, here you will discover schools of Chromis and Damselfish, Blue Devil fish amongst others swimming within the rock crevices, along with numerous nudibranch species. Diving further into the depths of Bass Point Reserve there is so much more to discover and the local dive shops can show you the way.

Bass Point Reserve

Royal National Park

Wollongong  Harbour and Lighthouse

Visit Shellharbour Village and the brand new Shellharbour Marina, boasting great restaurants, cafes, boutique shopping and much more! The new Marina is positioned between 2 State Parks, Bass Point and Killalea Reserve.

From Shellhabour travel to Jamberoo and enjoy an action packed day at Jamberoo Action Park (check opening dates & times), then take Jamberoo Mountain Road and turn right onto Knights Hill Rd to get to Illawarrra Fly Treetop Adventures.

Shellharbour

Cupitt's Estate Tour and Taste

Symbio Zoo

Famous blowholes, unspoilt beaches, lush rolling hills, world class waves, ancient rainforests, and vibrant towns and villages with plenty of unforgettable events taking place year-round.

From Kiama continue along the Grand Pacific Drive around the Kiama bends to Gerringong. Take a pit stop and grab a coffee at The Blue Swimmer at Seven Mile Beach on your way.

Kiama

Audley Dance Hall Cafe and Events

A surfers paradise with waves that are perfect for beginners through to advanced surfers. A walk around the lagoon you will be immersed in the bird life, while the walk to Minnamurra Beach also known as Mystics, will have you feeling a million miles away!

Killalea Reserve

Maddens Falls

White Sands Walk and Scribbly Gum Track

The Shoalhaven Wine Coast showcases 9 cellar doors with delicious foodie experiences, a hop, skip and jump from beaches and rugged mountain hikes. Wide open spaces and wildlife are abundant with the whale watching season from May to November, and kangaroos that hang out on beautiful beaches. Aboriginal cultural experience will help welcome you onto country, then stay in laid back luxury, with glamping in nature to boutique hotels or pet friendly cabins to keep you warm overnight. Join one of our friendly local guides for a surf, stand up paddle, kayak or hike or visit Australia’s only regional art museum Bundanon. With many experiences in one destination, you’ll love cute country towns like Berry, and Kangaroo Valley, and coastal villages of Mollymook and Ulladulla.