South Coast New South Wales

Fur Seal, Montague Island, South Coast, NSW. Photo credit: Tony Brown; Destination NSW

South Coast New South Wales

From Sydney to the Victoria border. Pacific Ocean to the east, Southern Tablelands to the west. Travel New South Wales on the Princes Highway and discover the perfect year round holiday destination: south coast New South Wales.

Climate It’s just gorgeous. A mild 15°C in winter, a balmy 30°C(ish) in summer. Heavy storms do occur, bringing torrential rain with them. Storms can happen at any time of year but are most common during autumn.

Travelling south coast New South Wales

Shellharbour
The beaches are lovely (and they have car parking facilities, which makes them all the more accessible). The region’s only marine aquatic reserve can be found in Shellharbour. It’s a popular attraction for snorkelers and scuba divers.
The Macquarie Pass National Park is nearby. It’s part rainforest, part eucalypt forest, and offers some fantastic wildlife, bushwalking and birdwatching.

Gerringong
This small town seems built for relaxation. It’s known for its pristine beaches and the water sports that come with it. The shops, restaurants and cafes are tempting enough to make you feel obliged to stop in almost every one.

Kiama Kiama is the first country town you’ll reach south of Sydney. It’s surrounded by forest and pastures and popular with day-trippers from the city, many of whom come to see the Kiama Blowhole. It can spray sea water 25m into the air – thoroughly drenching anyone within range.

The beaches here offer varying surf for real enthusiasts.
The 7km cliff trail to Gerringong is an arresting walk. Don’t miss the Kiama Lighthouse on the way.
The Jamberoo Action Park is nearby. It’s NSW’s largest theme/water park.
Local walking and cycle routes make exploring town and the surrounding area easy.

Jervis Bay Scuba diving, dolphin and whale watching, and some of New South Wales’ finest fishing trips are all available from the town of Huskisson. Booderee National Park is nearby.

Montague Island This marine reserve is 9kms off the coast at Narooma. A great spot for humpback whale-watching and seal-spotting. The lighthouse is impressive too.

The National Parks and Beaches of South Coast NSW It’s tricky to recommend national parks when they’re all ‘must see’. Travelling the south coast of New South Wales you’ll pass close to Booderee, Murramarang, Montague, and Ben Boyd parks. Try and pack in as many as you can. The south coast’s most popular beaches are Batemans Bay, Eurobodalla, and Hyams Beach.

Explore New South Wales

Drive south coast New South Wales. Hire a car

Plan your New South Wales driving/walking/diving/fishing holiday

New South Wales

South Coast NSW By Car

Two of the best ways to explore the region are on the Grand Pacific Drive and the Sydney Melbourne coastal drive.

The Grand Pacific Drive, one of Australia’s greatest driving experiences, takes in vast and ever-changing scenery as you travel from Sydney to Wollongong.

The Sydney Melbourne coastal drive hugs the coastline of south coast NSW.