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South Coast of New South Wales
Looking towards Bermagui, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South Wales

South Coast of NSW - Introduction
Scenic view from Broulee between Moroya and Batemans Bay, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South WalesCovering a large area from south of Sydney down to the Victorian state border, much of the South Coast has so far escaped over-development, although there is the odd black spot here and there. Inland, the Great Dividing Range is a largely unspoiled hinterland with numerous national parks. The Princes Highway, linking Sydney and Melbourne via the coast, is the arterial lifeline for the South Coast. There is a good range of accommodation right along the coast, although the options thin out as you get close to Victoria. We have broken down the South Coast region into three sub-regions (scroll down) -
South Coast NSW NORTHERN Section  From industrial Wollongong down to Ulladulla via Jervis Bay and Nowra.
South Coast NSW MID Section  The main towns are Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma.
South Coast NSW SOUTHERN Section  Focuses on Bermagui, Bega, Tathra and Eden

South Coast NSW - NORTHERN Section

WOLLONGONG to JERVIS BAY
Paragliding at Stanwell Park near Wollongong, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South Wales Sprawling, industrial Wollongong is 80km south of Sydney and the third largest city in NSW. Australia’s largest steelworks contrasts with some excellent surf beaches and the spectacular Illawarra Escarpment inland. North of the city, Bald Hill towers over the ocean and the town of Stanwell Park and is a jumping off point for hang gliders (pictured). Just south of Wollongong, Port Kembla is also an industrial centre.
Further south a string of attractive towns are all well endowed with accommodation and eating places. Shellharbour and Kiama are right on the coast, the latter famous for its amazing sea water blowhole which can spout as high as 60 metres.
Next comes the pretty pioneering town of Berry then the large township of Nowra, set on the banks of the Shoalhaven River. Nowra is the gateway to the inland corridor of Kangaroo Valley and the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay. This lovely bay is a very popular recreational area, particularly for marine-life watching and diving. Huskisson is the main resort town. Two national parks abut part of the Jervis Bay shoreline - Booderee National Park www.environment.gov.au/parks/booderee/run by the federal government, and Jervis Bay National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Jervis Bay) run by the NSW state government . Further inland is the huge Morton National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Morton).

South Coast NSW - MID Section 

ULLADULLA to NAROOMA
A good array of accommodation possibilities continues down the coast. South from Jervis Bay is the fishing town of Ulladulla which is the main source of seafood for Sydney. In the 1930s the town’s artificial harbour was built by immigrant Italian fishermen.
About 85 km further south is the expanding holiday town and fishing port of Batemans Bay, right at the mouth of the beautiful Clyde River. Nearby some previously sleepy coastal hamlets have rapidly expanded at the same time as Batemans Bay, sometimes not always for the better.
Montague Island near Narooma, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South Wales Continuing south, the inland market town of Moruya sits on the banks of the Moruya River and then comes the cheese making centre of Bodalla.  Just before Narooma is Dalmeny, whose stunningly beautiful location contrasts with some indifferent urban and commercial development. Narooma is yet another expanding fishing and holiday town whose unremarkable centre does not detract too much from the beautiful section of rugged coast that it overlooks.
About 10km offshore is the intriguing Montague Island www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Montague), which is pictured, now a nature reserve boasting fairy penguins and other birds, along with sea lions and a lighthouse. Boat trips and tours of the island are available.

South Coast NSW - SOUTHERN Section

Tathra Wharf Museum, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South WalesTILBA to the VICTORIAN BORDERA few miles south of Narooma, just off the Princes Highway, are the attractive old villages of Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba. From here a scenic coastal diversion away from the highway is well worth taking, although it does mean missing Cobargo, a well preserved pioneering town. Travelling via Wallaga Lake and the Gulaga National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Gulaga), renowned for its birdlife, brings you to the pretty fishing centre of Bermagui (pictured at top of page).
Continue via the coast and Mimosa Rocks National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Mimosa) to Tathra - the Whalf Museum at Tathra is pictured.
Bega Valley view, South Coast NSW © Tourism New South Wales From Tathra you have the choice of sticking with the coast road or diverting back to the main highway and the market town of Bega, a dairying and cheese producing centre - see Bega Valley vista, right.  Whichever route you take you will end up at Merimbula, another previously small holiday centre which in recent times has seen rapid and not always well thought out expansion. The coast and beaches around Merimbula are stunning however, making a stopover here well worthwhile.
The great beaches continue southwards to Pambula before you come to Ben Boyd National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Ben Boyd) which has a ruggedly beautiful coastline.
The characterful old whaling centre of Eden is the last main town before you reach Victoria. Nearby, off the highway, is the small lakeside village of Wonboyn.

 
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Truly Australia have attempted to give an honest and objective description of the topics covered on this page and have deliberately avoided regurgitating tourist office media releases. The information shown has been compiled from a variety of reputable sources and our own experiences. We check and review this information from time to time, but we assume no responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the details given.