The Northern Illawarra is situated just one hour south of Sydney, wedged between the Illawarra Escarpment and the sea - these suburbs of Wollongong have many spectacular natural features and offer easy access to a range of exciting activities.
Some of these features include Bald Hill (well known for its spectacular view and hangliding), the Illawarra Escarpment and Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge and Grand Pacific Drive, and Sri Venkateswara Temple.
As a touring destination, the Northern Illawarra is unsurpassed, offering motorists spectacular views as it hugs the coastline.
The carriageway between Stanwell Park and Thirroul includes the 665-metre-long SEA CLIFF BRIDGE, completed at a cost of over $49 million. The new bridge opened on December 11, 2005, re-connecting the villages of Coalcliff and Clifton. Lawrence Hargrave Drive now forms part of Grand Pacific Drive, from the Royal National Park to Nowra.
STANWELL PARK's sparkling ocean has been a draw-card for hot and flustered Sydney-siders for decades. One of the state's first surf lifesaving clubs opened here in 1908, and Stanwell Park continues to attract a wide range of beach-lovers. To get to the park, simply follow the signs from the F6 freeway, drive down Bald Hill and then, when you get to the bottom of the hill, look out for the turn-off on the left. Other features of the park include a picturesque creek, children's playground, BBQ facilities and kiosk. The beach itself is long and clean, with creeks at either end feeding into the sea. The sight of hang-gliders coming into land adds a sense of drama, as do the views of the Illawarra escarpment. Back on the main road, Stanwell Park has a range of eclectic shops housed in a complex that includes art galleries, jewellery store, antique shop, fashion boutique, as well as three cafes and a restaurant. On Stanwell Park beach in 1894, Lawrence Hargrave was lifted five metres off the ground in a series of box kites tied together with rope, providing valuable information to the Wright Brothers. Stanwell Park is thus known as "The Birthplace of Flight".
THIRROUL has become a lively and eclectic shopping hub with everything from lingerie shops to fashion boutiques, and exclusive gift and homeware stores. There are also a growing number of delis and cafes catering for locals and visitors keen for refreshment after a long day at the beach. Thirroul's shopping precincts are separated by a bridge over the railway line. The northern end has two major supermarkets, a club, delis, restaurants, fruit stalls, cafes, kid's stores, homewares stores and fashion boutiques, amongst other things. The southern shopping precinct has its own deli, bakery, cafes, homewares store, second-hand fashion store, and pub. In the centre of the strip (Lawrence Hargrave Drive) is another popular hotel, plus the historic Anita's Theatre, has been restored to offer additional shopping and banking facilities, while also retaining a large theatre upstairs. Thirroul has a strong arts community, and can trace its artistic heritage back to the days when D.H. Lawrence lived in the village and wrote his renowned novel, Kangaroo (circa 1922). Today, local artists regularly open their studios to visitors, while the hugely popular Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival exposes their work to the broader community.
AUSTINMER is situated between two low headlands - this pretty beach continues to attract visitors all year around, with two rock-pools at the southern end providing safe swimming options. After a refreshing swim many families choose to enjoy a picnic or fish and chips in the adjacent park, which has BBQ facilities, tables and chairs, public toilets, changing rooms and a playground. While the beach itself continues to be a major draw card for visitors and families, Austinmer is also home to a diverse range of businesses, many of which can be found along Moore Street. The Moore Street Precinct is a fashionably understated shopping hub, run by a small community of shop-owners - many of whom have relocated from Sydney - it includes a cafe, an art gallery, plus clothing and homewares stores.
The history of the COASTAL VILLAGES of Coalcliff, Clifton, Scarborough, Wombarra and Coledale is clearly linked to their coal-mining past. While several mining cottages remain - and Coalcliff still has an active coalworks - today the Coal Coast villages are better known for their great surfing spots and, increasingly, for being desirable locations in which to live. One remaining icon is the Clifton School of Arts (pictured), originally built in 1911 but renovated in 2003 after several years of fund-raising. The facility is now available for rent and regularly hosts yoga and art classes. Don't forget the Coledale Markets second sunday of each month.
Historic HELENSBURGH, Originally known as Camp Creek - which overlooks the Royal National Park - was built in the late 1880s when workers on the Illawarra Railway line discovered coal. Helensburgh has several cafes, a supermarket, a pub, a growing number of homewares and clothing stores, plus several key facilities for visitors to the area such as ATM, newsagent, petrol and post office. Other major draw-cards in Helensburgh include Sri Venkateswara Temple. Many visitors to the Northern Illawarra do a double-take at the sight of a genuine Hindu temple in the middle of the bush, plus Symbio Zoo, providing an intimate insight into the lives of native animals such as wombats, kangaroos and koalas, plus tasmanian devils and red pandas. Kellys Falls, on Kellys Creek, located off Lawrence Hargrave Drive, features lookouts and walks, part of which is the Princess Marina Walk from Stanwell Tops. Gills Creek Falls is just a short walk away to the north.
DARKES FOREST is surrounded on three sides by the Dharawal State Recreation and Nature Reserves and offers great bush-walking, horse-riding and golfing facilities.
BULLI is home to famous landmarks such as the Heritage Hotel which often has a great line up of bands and crowds from all over to travel to this great hotel for the music, company and bands on a week night or weekends. Bulli Markets are open the second Sunday of each month at the Bulli Showground which is also home to Bulli Greyhound Racing. Behind the showgrounds is Illawarra Grevillea Park where you will find sprawling gardens filled with amazing Australian natives. On the beach at Bulli is Ruby's Cafe at Bulli Beach - great lunches and views - kids park and ocean pools next door to Bulli Surf Life Saving Club.
CORRIMAL is home to an array of commercial services, banking and financial institutions along with a good collection of retail shopping outlets. Corrimal also boasts an olympic swimming pool, community centre and library, a wide array of sporting facilities, indoor tenpin bowling alley, quick access to the Northern Distributor, plus a well known Indian restaurant and local cafes. One of the most popular annual event is Spring into Corrimal which occurs in September.
FAIRY MEADOW, at the southern border of the Northern Illawarra, is home to a great collection of retail fashion outlets, an array of retail shops, a collection of coffee shops, a tennis complex and sporting facilities including skate park and model car race park, and two children's indoor soft play centers. Fairy Meadow is also home to the Science Center and Wollongong University's Innovation Campus, plus direct access to the Freeway (north and south bound) and a fast food outlet hub for travelers and locals.
