Shellharbour…. a picturesque seaside location and family favourite holiday destination conveniently located on the South Coast of NSW, just over an hours easy drive south of Sydney and 2.5 hours from Canberra.
Whether you’re craving adventure, a relaxing seaside escape or a great value family holiday, Shellharbour covers all bases and with so much to see and do, you are going to want to stay a little longer!
Shellharbour provides a summer holiday vibe surrounded by beautiful, calming countryside and coastline, with high quality shopping, relaxed dining, great sporting facilities and a vast range of activities and events.
With regular festivals, events and monthly markets throughout the year – there is always something on offer.
Nature lovers can lace up their hiking boots and explore rare littoral rainforests, waterfalls and hidden beaches on the Cascades and Clover Hill trails of Macquarie Pass National Park. Bass Point is home to an aquatic reserve, Bushrangers Bay which is known for its excellent snorkelling and diving. Divers can explore shipwrecks off the coast at Bass Point dating back to 1879.
Shellharbour is also home to one of Australia’s few National Surfing Reserves, “The Farm” located at Killalea State Park, where little and big kids can learn to surf by taking a lesson with a local surfing school. That is just one of the five stunning beaches on offer and Lake Illawarra is a fabulous spot for a family picnic where the children can splash about in the shallow waters edge, walk and discover the Lake Illawarra Art Trail, give stand up paddle boarding a try or maybe or drop a line in.
Tee off at one of our picturesque golf courses or enjoy some mini golf with the littlies at the new “Shanx” Mini Golf located at The Links Shell Cove. Get peddling and hire bikes to enjoy a ride along the waters edge on the extensive cycle ways in the area.
There’s plenty of adrenaline action for the kids (and big kids) as well. Zip around the track in a go-kart or play laser tag, then put your skates on and have fun rolling around the region’s only skating rink which doubles as an ice skating rink throughout winter. Take a ride in carriages from the golden age of rail travel, hop on a steam or diesel train, and circle the grounds on a miniature train at the Illawarra Light Railway Museum.
The Illawarra Treetop Adventures offers some fabulous views along the treetop canopy walk whilst overlooking the rainforest below or better still experience the zipline which is the highest in Australia. This will be sure to thrill the young and young at heart as you zip along this eco-wilderness adventure!
The family will love taking to the sky for a scenic helicopter flight or they can enjoy some aviation history at the HARS Aircraft Museum where you can go on board the “Connie” the Super Constellation, the airline of the 1950’s. Here you can also take a tour of the record breaking Qantas Boeing 747-400 or sit in the cockpit of an F-111 bomber jet or how about a 747 Wing Walk to top off the HARS experience.
Throughout the months of September to April you can control the action at Jamberoo Action Park, NSW’s largest family owned and operated water theme park, which offers world class rides and attractions set in the rolling green hills of nearby Jamberoo.
Take a wander through the gorgeous little Shellharbour Village and meander through the specialty shops and boutiques, grab a bite to eat at one of the many cafes or pub overlooking the boat harbour. Little Park is a fantastic park for kids, with a tree fort, rock climbing wall, rope bridge, flying fox, swings and slides. You can take a dip in the ocean pool or explore the many rock pools looking for starfish and shells.
Whatever your preference, we have a wide range of accommodation to suit every style and budget from hotel, motel, bed and breakfast to cabins, camping or holiday homes, set in a choice of locations. Stay a night or stay a while…we look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Shellharbour very soon.
Contact our professional and friendly staff at the award winning Shellharbour Visitors Centre who can assist with booking your accommodation, tickets and tours and help plan your holiday itinerary or take a browse on our website www.visitshellharbour.com.au.
