A GREAT WEEKEND ESCAPE

The South Coast of New South Wales is rich in both natural beauty and Aboriginal history. Stretching from the Royal National Park, Australia’s first and the world’s second national park in history, to the Sapphire Coast and the historic whaling town of Eden, the South Coast has always built itself up as both a fantastic place to escape for the weekend from the chaos of inner Sydney, and as a natural sanctuary for all sorts of flora and fauna.  Each little town has its own interesting history as well as great foods, wines, and fantastic country markets serving the finest in quality goods, especially fantastic local cheeses.  You won’t have to travel far to get to this great region, either. Wollongong, the third largest city in the state, is only an hour and a half away by CityRail train.

BEACHES

It’s often hard to write about fantastic beaches and shorelines, since it seems as if everywhere in Australia there’s a fantastic beach or a great view that needs to be written about.  The beaches in the South Coast are no exception, but there’s something a bit more noteworthy about the beaches on the South Coast more than anywhere else in New South Wales.  For example, not only are the beaches at Wollongong fantastic, they’re also home to the only beach skydive located in the state. You also have the beaches and views going down Grand Pacific Drive between the city and Sydney, featuring the Sea Cliff Bridge, one of only seven bridges to be both offshore and parallel to the coastline.

Further south, Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay has the world’s whitest sand, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and its perfect orientation makes the waves a little more than relaxing swaying (though there are no lifeguards positioned anywhere throughout the bay, so be careful).  Closer towards the border with Victoria, the Sapphire Coast is named as such because of the sapphire colour that the crystal clear water emanates.  On a clear day you may be able to see whales bobbing in and out of the waters right from the beach, but if you can’t, no worries; tours go out of the town of Eden.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

DOLPHINS AND WHALES

The South Coast is filled with tours of our mammal friends from the sea; from cruising around Jervis Bay in order to spot them, to visiting the Eden Whale Museum in order to see “Old Tom,” a killer whale that is featured prominently in Eden’s history.

For a full listing of tours, including cruises, in Jervis Bay, search for them on our widget to the left - select “Jervis Bay” under Destinations.

BEACH SKYDIVING

If you’re thinking about skydiving and want an extra thrill on top, definitely take a look into doing some beach skydiving in Wollongong.  Not only will you have an adrenaline-fuelled rush as you descend, you’ll be able to head into the ocean right after!

14,000ft Tandem Beach Skydiving

SOMEWHERE TO STAY

Sydney isn’t too far away from the South Coast, but if you really want to experience the area right, consider staying for a long weekend in one of the towns and cities in the area. Wollongong Backpackers Keiraleagh is one such accommodation that will allow you to enjoy the South Coast at a leisurely pace; it is centrally located in Wollongong to the beaches, and loads of cafes, restaurants, bars, and clubs.

To find out more about Wollongong Backpackers Keiraleigh, look them up on our widget by selecting the “Beds” tab, then selecting "Wollongong" as the destination.