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.

Explore South Coast NSW

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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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Beach

    Seven Mile Beach

    This superlative crescent of sand, stretching south from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads, is one of the South Coast's most memorable beaches thanks to its pale…

  • Museum

    Pioneer Village Museum

    This open-air museum, with meticulously recreated 19th-century cottages set in seven hectares of bushland, thoroughly immerses visitors in the sounds and…

  • Gardens

    Booderee Botanic Gardens

    Lichen-splashed rocks, big ferns and mossy paths make for an enriching ramble at these 80-hectare gardens off the road to Cave Beach. The gardens are…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Beach

    North Beach

    Stretching north from the harbour, North Beach is an excellent all-rounder: shallows for kids to splash in, breaks suitable for various levels and…

  • Winery

    Yarrawa Estate

    This family-run cellar door offers wine tasting with genuine hospitality. Swish a mouthful of the chardonnay, buttery as brioche, or the verdelho with its…

  • Viewpoint

    Cambewarra Lookout

    Signposted off the Cambewarra Lookout Rd between Kangaroo Valley and Nowra, this vantage point (678m) offers a stupendous perspective over the winding…

  • Visitor Centre

    Bega Cheese Heritage Centre

    A supermarket mainstay in Australia, Bega cheese isn't the stuff of a gourmet detour, but the heritage centre devoted to the brand (established 1899) is…

  • Historic Building

    Boyd's Tower

    At the end of Edrom Rd is the turn-off for Boyd’s Tower, built in the late 1840s from Sydney sandstone. It was built as a lighthouse, but the government…

  • Zoo

    Symbio Wildlife Gardens

    Friendly kangaroos are the highlight at this private zoo, 34km north of Wollongong. Native animals such as emus, echidnas and koalas (plus imported…

  • National Park

    Bournda National Park

    The 2655-hectare Bournda National Park has empty surf beaches, rugged headlands and forested walking trails. Around 200 bird species flit around its…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in South Coast NSW.

  • Activities

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