Illawarra, New South Wales

The Illawarra region offers only the best of everything - from its pristine beaches to dramatic landscapes, from scenic drives to interesting towns. The entire area stretches right from the highlands to the seas - its beauty ranges from the lush of the plateaus and rural countryside to the wondrous waves of the Pacific Ocean. It is rich in contrasting scenes, and offers lifestyles and recreational activities. Whether one is opting to bask in the sun at the sea side, to enjoy the quiet beach, to horse ride in the mountains, and to trek through Australia's best National Parks, Illawarra has a lot of those to offer.

Nestle between the sea and the highlands lie the geological wonder found in the Illawarra Escarpment. One can drive high up the mountains to travel on board the Cockatoo Run, which is the historic scenic railway in the region. This line meanders towards the escarpment right through the pristine rainforests, allowing one to view the Sydney's Royal National Park. Aside from its stunning beaches and resorts, the tourist attractions in the area include the Summit, the Jamberoo and the Wild Country Parks, and the Minnamura Rainforest.

Each town in the Illawarra region provides a wide variety to its tourists. The towns of Kiama, Gerringong and Jamberoo are surrounded by lush mountains, green farmlands and beautiful stunning beaches. Shellharbour is the region's fisher town where one can relax at the sea or enjoy some water sports. The Southern Highlands sits on a plateau and offers the simplest pleasures of life. It is surrounded by pristine wilderness and is blessed with cool mountain air all throughout the year.

Illawarra is home to Wollongong, which is the third largest urbanised area in New South Wales. This is the leisure capital of the region that is equipped with superb natural recreational facilities. Port Kembla is the most exciting spot in Wollongong, and is an interesting mixture of industry, history and nature working together in a unified whole.

From Gerringong to Gerroa in the south and from Helensburg to Kiama in the north, there are a number of fun-filled culture festivals that provide visitors entertainment and enjoyment. All throughout the year, the region bursts with energy, excitement and colour. The region also provides a variety of leisure and recreational activities including abseiling, para-sailing, hang gliding and bush walking. In between these exhilarating activities, one can always relax at the beach, enjoy shopping, visit a museum or art gallery or enjoy the rich nightlife in Illawarra at one of the local clubs.

Weather in Illawarra is almost always very pleasant. The mountain air is cool and is very seldom humid. Even midsummer nights in Illawarra are cool and ideal, though rainfall can be a bit heavy at certain months.

There is a wide range of Illawarra accommodation in NSW. One can find bed and breakfasts, hotels, cottages, motels, backpackers, and so much more. There are also a great variety of places where one can grab a bite and eat in the dainty restaurants and cafes which have something exciting to offer for all cultures and tastes.