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 CoastFrom chefs hats to beachside fish and chips, orchards and oyster bars, atmospheric cafes and small bars - bon appetit!
The Grand Pacific Drive takes you to endless eating places, from scenic picnic grounds, fish and chips and café stops to some of the state's most renowned fine dining restaurants. There are many distinctive places to dine that really celebrate our part of the world, like eating almost right on the beach, to overlooking our harbours, amid grapevines in our many vineyards, in historic properties or perhaps even in a rainforest.
Glenbernie at Darkes Forest above northern Illawarra in the beautiful escarpment is a working orchard. You can taste and buy Royal Gala, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples or stone fruits such as nectarines, peaches, apricots and plums in season. There's rich bush honey and pick-yourself raspberries and other treats at times. They turn some of their fruits into Darkes Cider. One of the great experiences is exploring the orchard and the chance to ask the family owners anything you ever wanted to know about their fruit and farming.
Wollongong's small bar scene offers great atmosphere from three-level Humber with their rooftop bar to The Throsby for fine wines and cheeses and The Little Prince bar with a spacious garden and eclectic menu.
Others to discover too throughout the streets and lanes of our inner city. Downtown our many eating precincts offer every cuisine you'll find in a big city from beachside maritime-themed Pepe's with its variety-filled menu or stylish harbourfront levelone to Americana-themed Dagwood for burgers, sliders and pancakes and hundreds of other restaurants from casual to five star.
Located in Wollongong, Caveau is an award winning fine dining restaurant and has been awarded a hat by the SMH Good Food Guide every year since 2005.
Caveau uses organic and locally sourced produce, and sources fresh, whole and sustainable seafood from Sydney's premier seafood supplier.
Caveau caters for vegans and vegetarians and can accommodate all allergies and dietary requirements with advance notice.
Just follow your nose! Austinmer, Thirroul, Wollongong, Shellharbour Village, Kiama, Werri Beach and just about every stop on the Grand Pacific Drive. Fish and chips are an Illawarra art form! It's the dish that just goes with sand, towels and all those beachy things and most Aussies can pick a good fish and chip shop from way off. These days they'll help you out with a healthy salad and all sorts of food variety. Great places to look are the harbours at Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay and almost anywhere near a busy beach.
Set your compass by your taste to choose about 50 vineyards from either, Gerringong, Shoalhaven Coast or Southern Highlands regions.
Shoalhaven Coast is located from Shoalhaven Heads to Bawley Point including Kangaroo Valley. It produces a wide range of varieties including Arneis, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chambourcin, Tannat and Tempanillo. Some of the award winning wineries include Crooked River Wines in Gerringong and Coolangatta Estate and Silo's Estate in the Shoalhaven.
The Southern Highlands wine region is centred around Mittagong, Bowral, Berrima and Moss Vale. It produces high altitude cool climate wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot ,Cabernet Sauvignon and sparkling wines. Award winning wineries include Centennial Vineyards and Bendooley Estate Wines.
Australia’s Oyster Coast covers eight South Coast estuaries involving over 40 growers from Shoalhaven, Clyde, Tuross, Wagonga, Wapengo, Merimbula, Pambula and Wonboyn. They produce three oyster species - Sydney Rock, Angasi Oysters and Pacific Oysters. They maintain that in a similar way to how wine exhibits its distinctive terroir, oysters have a flavour reflecting their origin and the mix of nutrients in their habitat. To allow you to discover this, Australia's Oyster Coast has compiled a special self-guided oyster trail.
Hungry Duck in Berry is a modern Asian gem famous since 2008 for much more than duck. But then its duck is magic in so many different and unexpected ways thanks to chef David Campbell who lives on a farm where much of the produce is grown, otherwise it is mostly sourced locally.
The emphasis is on natural and organic. David has worked with trailblazers in modern Asian cuisine including Neil Perry at Star Grill and Wokpool, Kylie Kwong at Billy Kwong and Tetsuya Wakuda. Select from the menu for lunch or dinner or enjoy two banquet choices.
Biota Dining is located in Bowral in the Southern Highlands. Biota means faithfully presenting local produce on the table in this beautifully designed two hatted restaurant with fabulous kitchen garden, bar serving unique cocktails and beverages and comfy rooms on site.
The produce comes from places nearby or from right around the restaurant where you can see a biodynamic garden that underlines the Biota philosophy. Enjoy five or seven course lunch or dinner.
Enjoy the plethora of markets along the Grand Pacific Drive and tantalise your tastebuds with a huge selection of delicious food from Turkish Gozleme, Asian inspired curries to the freshest fruit and veg and homemade baked goods-it's time to stock up on your healthy groceries for the week!
Of course it wouldn't be a market without the talent of local traders selling jewellery, clothing, homewares and much more.
In Wollongong you're spoilt for choice with the Foragers,Eat Streetand Produce & Creative Traders Markets.
In Shellharbour you've got The Farm's Marketoverlooking the beautiful Killalea State Park and Harbourside Marketin Shellharbour Village. Kiama is home to Kiama Farmer’s Marketand Kiama Seaside Market.
Then there's the popular Berry Markets and Country Fairas well as a range of markets in the Southern Highlands-there's something for everyone!