Stand Up Paddleboarding, Lake IllawarraCredit: Destination NSW
Stand up paddle boarding on Lake Illawarra is a must-do activity on the NSW South Coast.
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The first stretches of the New South Wales South Coast beyond Sydney are blessed with white sand beaches and sapphire-hued waters, but there’s also magnificent bushland, charming towns and plenty of little luxuries to find along the way. Driving south from Sydney, you’ll encounter the little beachside town of Shellharbour, followed by Kiama and Gerringong. Further down the coast, past the inland city of Nowra, you’ll come to Jervis Bay and then the neighbouring towns of Milton, Mollymook and Ulladulla. Here’s how to make the most of your journey through this most northerly section of the South Coast.
Where to eat and drink
In Shellharbour, grab some classic pub grub at the Shellharbour Club or sample local South Coast oysters and a glass of Coolangatta Estate chardonnay at local favourite Relish on Addison.
Try Silica Restaurant and Bar in Kiama, dining on the best local produce and ingredients sourced from a community farm. The restaurant is nestled on the beachfront at Kiama Surf Beach with impressive views over the coastline.
Coffee aficionados can get their fix at Hyper Hyper Coffee in Nowra or Maverick Coffee in Ulladulla, while those with a sweet tooth should make a bee line for Il Locale Gelato in the charming inland town of Berry.
Taste oysters straight from the farm at Jim Wild’s Oysters Service near Nowra. This is one of the top spots in the region to sample rock and Pacific oysters, opened while you wait, as well as fresh Australian prawns.
Visit Cupitt’s Estate, nestled in the countryside between Milton and Ulladulla. There’s a restaurant, bar, winery, brewery and fromagerie on site, as well as lovely boutique accommodation Cupitt’s Cottage. You can also sample local wines at Two Figs Winery in Berry and Coolangatta Estate.
In Milton, farm-to-table café Milk Haus is housed within an old cheese factory with an incredible kitchen garden and team of local producers that inspires its creative, seasonal cuisine.
Cupitt's Winery, Ulladulla Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy food and drink with scenic views across Cupitt's Winery in Ulladulla.
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Cupitt's Winery, Ulladulla Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy food and drink with scenic views across Cupitt's Winery in Ulladulla.
Jim Wild's Oysters, Greenwell Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy fresh south coast oysters at Jim Wild's Oysters.
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Jim Wild's Oysters, Greenwell Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy fresh south coast oysters at Jim Wild's Oysters.
Must-do activities
On Lake Illawarra, you can try stand-up paddle boarding with Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour, or do a self-guided cycling tour on one of the many lake circuits. Bikes are available to rent at Simple Cycles at Shellharbour.
Follow the 2km Cascades Walk in Macquarie Pass National Park, inland from Shellharbour, through shaded rainforest and eucalypt forest to a beautiful waterfall and natural pool.
For history buffs, take a tour of the HARS Aviation Museum in Shellharbour and join the Wing Walk tour — a stroll out onto the wing of an aircraft.
Stock up on local produce, arts and crafts at various markets on the South Coast. Drop into the Kiama Seaside Markets (third Sunday of the month), Berry Farmer’s Market (each Thursday) and Huskisson Markets (second Sunday of the month).
Hike along the spectacular Kiama Coast Walk, with its unspoilt beaches, incredible rock formations and breathtaking ocean views. Once you’ve seen the natural wonder of the Kiama Blowhole, do visit its little sister, the Little Blowhole, on Tingira Crescent.
Test your fitness by joining a bespoke rock-climbing experience with Outdoor Raw. You’ll climb above and abseil down some of the most breathtaking locations in the Shoalhaven.
Learn to surf on Mollymook, Narrawallee or Bendalong beaches with workshops run by former world champion Pam Burridge. Group and private lessons are available.
Where to stay
In Shellharbour, Escape 778 offers spacious accommodation with room for up to eight guests. A pleasant retreat for families or groups of friends, this house has all the creature comforts of home and breathtaking ocean views.
Also in the Shellharbour area, Ravensthorpe is a grand 19th-century manor house restored for contemporary stays, celebrations and dining. Stay overnight in one of its elegant suites with an open fireplace, private sitting room and French-inspired décor.
A 10-minute drive south of Kiama you’ll find a new bespoke guesthouse, Soul of Gerringong. There’s a farmhouse sleeping 14 to 16 guests and a three-bedroom cottage, all decked out in a coast meets country style.
For resort-style accommodation, the Sebel Kiama Harbourside offers premium accommodation overlooking Kiama Harbour and the Pacific Ocean. It is located a short stroll from the Kiama Blowhole, shops and cafés.
Offering luxury couple’s accommodation, Heavens Mountain Escape in Kangaroo Valley provides a private, self-contained getaway with unparallel views across the valley and pastures below. Stay in a one-bedroom cottage and enjoy log fires, double spa baths and the option of an in-house massage.
Perched on the clifftop at Mollymook, Bannisters By The Sea is a gorgeous coastal retreat with a solar-heated infinity pool, day spa and restaurant by celebrated chef Rick Stein.
Right on the beach at Shoalhaven Heads, Bangalay Luxury Villas is relaxed seaside luxury at its best. The stylish villas have garden or golf course views, as well as a fireplace and a private sunny deck, and in-house restaurant Bangalay Dining showcases local produce and native ingredients.
If you prefer the simplicity of pitching a tent, there are some family-friendly spots in beautiful Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay. Camp footsteps to the sand at Cave Beach and Green Patch, or try glamping at peaceful bush retreat Paperbark Camp.
Outdoor Raw, Nowra Credit: Destination NSW
Abseil off a clifftop in the Shoalhaven region near Nowra.
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Outdoor Raw, Nowra Credit: Destination NSW
Abseil off a clifftop in the Shoalhaven region near Nowra.
Bannisters by the Sea, Mollymook Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Take in ocean views from the swimming pool at Bannisters by the Sea.
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Bannisters by the Sea, Mollymook Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Take in ocean views from the swimming pool at Bannisters by the Sea.
Newcastle Memorial Walk, NewcastleCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic coastline of the city of Newcastle with views of Merewether beach.
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Golden beaches, postcard-perfect ocean pools, a busy harbour and intriguing history make New South Wales’ second-largest city, Newcastle, a favourite travel destination just 170km north of Sydney. It’s also the gateway to some of the state’s best wines, 50km northwest in the Hunter region, and yet more beaches and whale-watching waters in Port Stephens, 60km to the northeast. Regardless of whether you’re a gourmand, adventure enthusiast or lover of luxury, here is a guide to discovering Newcastle— and beyond.
Newcastle
Take a dip in Bogey Hole: There are more than 100 ocean baths across New South Wales, but none are quite as enticing— or important— as Newcastle’s Bogey Hole. Thought to be the oldest of its kind in Australia, this sea-fed pool was cut into the rocks off Shepherds Hill by convicts in 1819. Splash about in the turquoise water, or soak up views of the coastline from any number of cliffside perches; just arrive early in summer, as it’s a popular place to cool off.
Get cultural in Cooks Hill: The inner-city neighbourhood of Cooks Hill is distinguished by its lovely leafy streets, lined with grand Victorian mansions and timber cottages home to some of the city’s most happening restaurants, bars and cafes. In between you’ll discover the Newcastle Art Gallery (with a collection of more than 6,000 works), bookshops and independent galleries. Small wonder it draws an eclectic crowd.
Explore the Honeysuckle precinct: Once a busy industrial area, the Honeysuckle precinct has been reinvented as Newcastle’s hippest waterfront hangout. Many visit to walk, cycle or rollerblade along foreshore promenades— many more arrive to gaze over the busy harbour from buzzing restaurants and bars. You’ll also find the Newcastle Museum here, hosting an exciting calendar of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Stay a stone’s throw from the ocean as well as the city’s attractions at Novotel Newcastle Beach, featuring contemporary and well-appointed guestrooms and modern Australian dining at Bistro Dalby.
Newcastle Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Newcastle is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
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Newcastle Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Newcastle is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
Camel Riding, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Sunset camel riding experience with in Anna Bay, Port Stephens.
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Camel Riding, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Sunset camel riding experience with in Anna Bay, Port Stephens.
Port Stephens
Cruise out to see whales: Every year between May and November, more than 25,000 humpback and southern right whales steam up and down Australia’s east coast on their annual migration. While you’ll likely spot them breaching and blowing from the shore (the headland in Tomaree National Park is an ideal lookout), there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as getting within a flipper of these majestic creatures on a cruise— there are a number of Port Stephens operators to choose from.
Stay and dine at Bannisters: The retro Salamander Shores motel was a Port Stephens icon for decades— it’s been reborn as Bannisters Port Stephens, its 80 barefoot-luxe rooms and suites done up in a coastal palette of blue and white. Slide into the infinity pool overlooking the glittering bay, dine on fresh seafood by celebrated chef Rick Stein or explore the national parkland and crystal-clear waterways that characterise the Port Stephens region.
Discover the sand dunes: The longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere, the Stockton Sand Dunes reach heights of more than 40 metres, their steep sides often hitting an incline of 60 degrees. Speed freaks will want to sign up for dune surfing or a quad-bike tour, while more leisurely ways to explore the area include camel rides and cultural tours, visiting ancient Aboriginal sites while learning about bush foods.
Hunter Valley
More than 6,000 trees, 60,000 shrubs, and a million other plants and bulbs create a floral wonderland at the Hunter Valley Gardens. Across the 14 hectares there are 8km of walking trails, leading to cool waterfalls and themed areas, including an Italian grotto and the Storybook Garden, taking you on a journey through childhood fantasies. After wandering the grounds, pop in to Harrigan’s Irish-themed bistro for a glass of Hunter Valley wine and the signature beef-and-Guinness pot pie.
Stay and dine at Spicers Guesthouse: Set in the heart of the Hunter Valley— arguably the state’s premier wine region— Spicers Guesthouse is the ultimate country retreat, from the elegant manor house to the stylish rooms. After a day hopping between cellar doors, return for a dip in the infinity pool overlooking native bushland, and a meal at modern-Italian éRemo Restaurant, its menu showcasing the region’s finest producers.
Take a tour: Leave your car behind at your hotel and explore the Hunter Valley’s top wineries on a bespoke tour. The range of offerings is diverse, from chauffeured vintage vehicles cruising between cellar doors— perhaps with an indulgent lunch included— to soaring above the vines at sunrise in a hot-air balloon, with a champagne breakfast when you touch down.
Note: The Newcastle Art Gallery is currently closed for major refurbishments and will reopen in 2024.
Zenith Beach, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk along Zenith Beach, Port Stephens.
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Zenith Beach, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk along Zenith Beach, Port Stephens.
Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking the manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.
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Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking the manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.