The 140km Grand Pacific Drive starts in the Royal National Park, located just outside of Sydney, about an hour's drive from both Sydney's CBD and Wollongong. Experience the 15,000 hectare expanse of bush, beaches and waterfalls at one of the world's oldest national parks. Highlights in the park include; Audley, Wattamolla, Garie Beach, The Coast Track, Governor Game Lookout and Bonnie Vale Campground. Tip: Follow the Grand Pacific Drive directional signage from Farnell Avenue, at the start of the National Park, and it will direct you along the entire drive passing through Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama en route to the Shoalhaven region.
Discover Royal National ParkGlistening beaches, a spectacular green backdrop, a brand new city centre, several vibrant eating and entertainment zones . This dynamic changing city is just the perfect size. You'll see skydivers descend to the beach, surf schools and hang gliders. Enjoy 17 amazing patrolled beaches, beautiful botanic gardens, a spectacular historic harbour and the beachfront 'Blue Mile', the entertainment centre, art gallery, small bars and now a brand new world class shopping centre and city mall. The Illawarra escarpment is the Great Dividing Range as it adjoins the coast with its dramatic cliff faces, spectacular lookouts and many moods and colours. The northern villages of Bulli, Thirroul, Austinmer and Coledale are beachside playgrounds with great food and shopping.
Discover WollongongYou'll marvel at the shades of blue, green and yellow as the Grand Pacific Drive takes you across the Lake Illawarra estuary, the start of our aquatic playgrounds.You're soon in one of Australia's most forward-looking and fastest growing communities, a leader in urban design and planning. The latest shopping and community services are alongside lovingly preserved nature along our beaches and coastal reserves with an outlook that embraces the past and builds an innovative future. The city is building a marina to complete its excellent array of facilities that include a stunning golf course and other sporting venues. At the Illawarra Regional Airport an aviation museum features flying examples of historic planes as well as an F-111 and the first ever Qantas 747. You can often sit in the pilot's seat for a selfie!
Discover ShellharbourThe first settlers called it Kiama for 'the Place where the sea makes a noise' but today the noise comes not just from the famous Blowhole and its cousin the Little Blowhole, but from a picturesque caf scene set amid historic buildings housing unique shops, the maritime atmosphere of our harbour and famous lighthouse and attractions such as the breathtaking coastal walking tracks around places like Bombo and Jamberoo Village with its awesome action park. Kiama is surrounded by coastal beauty in areas like Gerringong, Gerroa and the cool tranquillity of Minnamurra Rainforest and its roaring waterfalls and soothing streams. The rolling hills around Kiama offer picturesque drives along lanes lined by dry stone walls past classic dairies and farmhouses. Saddleback Mountain lookout allows you to get a bird's eye view of the entire district and coastline.
Discover KiamaWhen George Bass named the 'Shoals-haven' he couldn't have imaged it would become so loved as a holiday destination. The very names of the dozens of towns and localities of the Shoalhaven conjure up images of great vacations ranging from placid relaxation at beaches or national parks to some of Australia's best fishing, to wineries and restaurants. Think places like Kangaroo Valley, Berry, Shoalhaven Heads, Coolangatta, Greenwell Point, Culburra, St Georges Basin, Bendalong, Manyana, Lake Conjola, Milton, Narrawallee, Mollymook, Ulladulla, Burrill Lake, Dolphin Point, Durras - all holiday favourites.Accommodation ranges from various styles of camping or cabins, to Australia's first 'glamping' resort, to luxury stays with dinner like Rick Stein's Bannisters.
Discover ShoalhavenThe Southern Highlands is an atmospheric destination where magnificent homes and gardens dot the rolling hills and towns like Bowral, Mittagong, Berrima, Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Robertson have a character all their own. Bowral is famed for its boutiques, gourmet restaurants, gardens, galleries and Tulip Time Festival. It's aptly the site for the Bradman Museum as young Don grew up in the town, practising his cricket against a water tank. The highlands have some of Australia's best country accommodation from magnificent manor houses to cosy B & Bs. Natural treasures include Fitzroy Falls, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk and Wombeyan Caves with their surrounding wilderness area. The town has some of the most interesting shopping and galleries. The area has many quality wineries with welcoming cellar doors and top restaurants.
Discover Southern HighlandsThe Clyde River is one of Australia's most beautiful with a backdrop of green hills, national parks and state forest. It runs through the famous resort town of Batemans Bay with its endless attractions from great food (especially oysters), accommodation from luxury to camping. From beaches to the famous foreshore walk, to world class fishing, to diving and snorkelling in Bateman's Marine Park to family attractions like Birdland Animal Park-Eurobodalla has it all!
Discover EurobodallaThe Sapphire Coast on the NSW South Coast is the ideal adventure landscape where you can reconnect with nature. All year round the national parks are natural playgrounds and the lagoons and seas are our wonder-filled aquarium. Explore artisan galleries, taste the freshest of produce from the land and the sea, sample local wine, study Aboriginal history and culture, and the history of the pioneers. Or lose yourself in nature, in whatever way you choose.
Discover Sapphire CoastThe family that travels the Grand Pacific Drive together stays together and plays together! Apart from the beaches, the scenery and other natural attractions, there are dozens of stops along the way that mean fun for every age, no matter what your family is interested in. This includes discovering the fun and fascinating animals of land and sea, the great attractions of our forests and national parks and the many active experiences that simply exhilarate.
See Australia's and the world's favourite wildlife from the cutest koala to the crankiest crocodile in a natural setting where you can get up really close. Symbio Wildlife Parkis a unique wildlife experience where animals are displayed in natural surrounds - from big cats to crocodiles to cute meerkats. You'll find all Australia's favourite animals and birds along with creatures from every continent.
Symbio Zoo offers a range of special Behind the Scenes experiences with a focus on different wildlife. The Australian experience is particularly popular.
At the Science Centre and Planetariumexperience over 100 hands-on exhibits which demonstrate science and technology in action along with dinosaurs, fossils, motors and electricity. Explore stars and constellations in the largest planetarium in NSW.
The Early Start Discovery Spaceis the most innovative centre of wonders for 0-12s, an exhilarating hands-on destination for activities that inspire imagination and ignite a love of learning. All experiences are designed for children and adults to play together. Both attractions are located at our beautiful university; the Science Centre at the Innovation Campus.
Go up the walls tall or small at Hangdog Climbing Gym amazing climbing gym or bounce into Hangtime Trampoline Park.
Hangdog has over 140 different climbs on 40 ropes and over 1000 square metres of climbing wall. The gym features include indoor caving. Hangdog also provides regular outdoor climbing days to Nowra and abseiling off Mt Keira.
Hangtime provides jumping for all ages from 2 with slides, platforms and different sized tramps and foampit and rebounding wall for fitness and fun. Dodgeball is also played through the day.
A Segway is quite easy to use, you'll get the hang of it in no time.
Segway Tours South Coastare available at Killalea State Park in Shellharbour or Coolangatta Estate in the Shoalhaven, both are located along the Grand Pacific Drive. You can zip along paths, past beaches and vineyards, twist and turn through tracks and cover so much ground without your feet even touching the ground. The operators can show you a number of courses they travel regularly, or put together something especially for you. Segway travel is great alone, better for two and often a real riot in a group.
How much fun do you want to have?
Jamberoo Action Parkis the place for the greatest thrill rides in the world. The Funnel Web is the world's longest and biggest, most exhilarating water thrill ride of its kind. Clover leaf rafts loop and twist down the hill before dropping into the huge funnel and shooting out into the splash pool. And then there's the Taipan, Billabong Beach, Rapid River, Outback Bay, Surf Hill, Mountain Toboggans, The Rock and more. Every member of the family will love Jamberoo, it has everything for a memorable and refreshing day out.
The Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventurestakes you over the rainforest, 50m from the forest floor. More than 700 metres above sea level, there are stunning views of the rainforest, the beautiful surrounding countryside and the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a guided tour at 11am daily and the 'meet the ranger' session at 2pm at no extra cost.
The Zipline Tour is officially the highest in Australia 35 metres above the forest floor! You'll fly on a series of cable spans and suspension bridges through the treetops, giving amazing insights into the rich forest and the territory beyond.
We've got some of the best beaches and there are many places you can learn to surf in classes for every age and ability. They're held at Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Seven Mile Beach, Shoalhaven Heads, Mollymook, Culburra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma and many other locations.
Stand up paddleboarding is something everyone can try easily and economically in numerous places along the Grand Pacific Drive. It's a great way to enjoy the waterways we have so many of, from the serenity of our lagoons, lakes and rivers to the more challenging open water.
Located in the beautiful Shoalhaven region, Jervis Bay is renowned for its beauty and wildlife, such as dolphins, seals, sea birds, fairy penguins and migrating whales.
It's also famous for its diving and exceptionally clear water. Jervis Bay Wildis the way to access all this with experts. They operate year-round dolphin tours, whale watching (May to mid-Nov), Summer Eco-Tours, Seal Colony Tours, Boom Netting, Twilight Tours, Kayak Tours and many more. Private tours can be arranged for groups.
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