Pete Seaward

South Coast NSW

The South Coast is paradise without pretension, a place to wriggle your toes into brilliant white sand while guzzling down a meat pie. The stretch unfurls south from Sydney to Eden along coves, saw-toothed sea cliffs and bays where emerald waves lavish foam onto soft, squeaky sand. It's not as popular as NSW's North Coast and, frankly, locals couldn't be happier about that.

The Indigenous Yuin and Dharawal peoples have long enjoyed the region's bounty, for millennia gathering oysters that now grace restaurant tables up and down the coast. The land has deep significance for Aboriginal communities: Montague Island (Barranguba), with its multitude of seals and bird life; pert Pigeon House Mountain (Didthul); and ancient sites across Murramarang and Booderee National Parks.

Mass tourism has unquestionably altered destinations like Jervis Bay. But thrilling isolation isn't hard to find, especially amid the Sapphire Coast's untamed national parks and whale-rich shores.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout South Coast NSW.

  • Nature Reserve

    Montague Island (Barranguba)

    Wildlife thrives on this small, pest-free island, 9km offshore from Narooma, where fur seals frolic and 90 bird species wheel overhead. Little penguins nest here from September to February, while, offshore, whales are most numerous from September to November. Book ahead for tours by park rangers. Boat operators can combine the island visit with snorkelling and whale watching. Snorkelling and diving are made even more exciting by the presence of fur seals, whose underwater acrobatics are enchanting to watch.

  • National Park

    Ben Boyd National Park

    Divided into two sections north and south of Eden is 104.85-sq-km Ben Boyd National Park. Boyd was a Scottish entrepreneur in agriculture and whaling who left a trail of failed business ventures in the 1840s. The park contains some of his follies, such as a still-impressive lighthouse, along a dramatic coastline peppered with isolated beaches. Other scenic highlights include the Disaster Bay Lookout, the vivid Pinnacles rock formations and the Pambula River Walk, which threads together important Yuin sites.

  • National Park

    Booderee National Park

    Occupying Jervis Bay’s southeastern spit, this sublime national park, jointly managed by the government and the local Indigenous community, offers good swimming, surfing and diving on both bay and ocean beaches. Walking-trail maps and camping information are available at the visitor centre.

  • Gardens

    Wollongong Botanic Garden

    In a region already awash in scenic spots, Wollongong's botanic gardens still delight visitors with their attractive lily ponds, manicured lawns and contrastingly gnarled gum trees, all against the rugged green backdrop of the Illawarra Escarpment. Don't miss the rose garden with its dedication to the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal Australians who, as children, were forcibly institutionalised away from their families.

  • Nature Reserve

    Minnamurra Rainforest Centre

    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 weaves through the rainforest following a cascading stream (an early section is wheelchair accessible). Look out for water dragons and lyrebirds scurrying among more than a dozen types of fern. A secondary 2.6km walk on a steepish track leads to the Minnamurra Falls; allow two hours to combine the walks.

  • Winery

    Coolangatta Estate

    Founded on a 19th-century wine-growing estate, Coolangatta has been bottling its signature creamy semillons and stone-fruit scented savagnins since 1990. The wine's fantastic, and the cellar-door experience is informal and friendly. It's on the north side of the estuary, 13km east of Bomaderry and just before Shoalhaven Heads. You can also sleep here.

  • Waterfall

    Fitzroy Falls

    Tumbling 81m from near-vertical sandstone cliffs, Fitzroy Falls can be a dramatic torrent or, in the heat of summer, a mere trickle. Regardless, you can rely on mesmerising views across the Yarrunga Valley (640m) from various lookouts along the easy trails in Morton National Park.

  • Winery

    Silos Estate

    Beautifully set on a verdant former dairy farm between Berry and Nowra, this crowd-pleasing winery makes a range of tasty drops. Swirl a glass of bright sauvignon blanc or robust shiraz in the tasting room or linger over a meal in the excellent restaurant.

  • National Park

    Murramarang National Park

    Stretching along a secluded section of coast, this scenic park offers excellent beaches, opportunities to learn about Indigenous culture, and plentiful animal and birdlife. Surfing is good at several beaches, and marked walking trails access views of rainforest and shore; a standout is the tough Mt Durras walk (up to five hours).

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