South Coast NSW
Built in 1886 and heritage listed, the Scarborough Hotel boasts one of Australia's finest beer gardens. The ocean view is truly spectacular and the main reason to come: there are long queues for decent but fairly standard pub seafood ($24 to $32).
Grassy play areas and pint-size meals ($12) make the Scarborough a hit with kids. You'll have to wait for a table at weekends if you haven't booked.
12.13 MILES
The 15,091-hectare Royal National Park was established in 1879, making it the oldest national park in the world after Yellowstone in the USA. Stretching…
29.96 MILES
Acclaimed local artist Brett Whiteley (1939–1992) lived fast and without restraint. Many of his multimillion-dollar paintings were created in this hard-to…
10.92 MILES
In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and…
29.42 MILES
Within the University of Sydney's quadrangle, this is a great under-the-radar attraction. Combining modern ideas with ancient artefacts, it's an…
29.71 MILES
In many ways Sydney's best contemporary-art gallery, White Rabbit is tucked away behind the Central Park development in Chippendale. It's the project of…
29.03 MILES
Built between 1880 and 1889, this intriguing group of huge Victorian-era workshops was part of the Eveleigh Railyards. The rail workers chugged out in…
28.54 MILES
At the eastern edge of Budderoo National Park, 15km inland from Kiama via Jamberoo, this is a surprisingly lush subtropical rainforest. A 1.6km loop walk…
29.45 MILES
Australia’s oldest tertiary institution (1850) has around 50,000 students and boasts its own postcode. You don’t need a PhD to grab a free campus map and…
4.12 MILES
Bone-white and richly decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities, Helensburgh's temple is a rewarding detour on the drive between Wollongong and Royal…
4.48 MILES
Friendly kangaroos are the highlight at this private zoo, 34km north of Wollongong. Native animals such as emus, echidnas and koalas (plus imported…
6.77 MILES
This eight-shaped pool on a rock shelf near Burning Palms Beach is an Instagram favourite. However it is imperative to pay attention to conditions: tides…
7.12 MILES
Eight kilometres north of Wollongong, this fine-sand headland – formerly a tool site and burial ground, with a large shell midden – was legally recognised…
5. Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area
8.74 MILES
Spectacular rainforest hugs the edge of the ever-eroding sandstone cliffs of the Illawarra Escarpment, a 30-million-year-old feature that rises to 534m at…
9.09 MILES
Three kilometres down a turn-off from the main road, this excellent surf beach is a picturesque spot. Like all of the Royal National Park surf beaches,…
9.75 MILES
Buoyancy, inertia, the Stroop effect and other scientific laws and phenomena are explained with cranks, bubbling tubes and even a mechanical elephant at…
10.57 MILES
Stretching north from the harbour, North Beach is an excellent all-rounder: shallows for kids to splash in, breaks suitable for various levels and…