Easy
Sea Cliff Bridge
Coalcliff to Clifton
A footpath on the ocean side of the bridge. Go at sunrise, then swim at Coalcliff.
- Distance
- ~2 km return
- Time
- 45 min
Stanwell Park → Bulli · NSW
Nine villages. One road. No rush.
The northern Illawarra is a strip of coast barely a kilometre wide, an hour south of Sydney. Escarpment on one side, Pacific on the other. Here is how to spend a long weekend in it.
The short answer
Where is the northern Illawarra?
The northern Illawarra is the stretch of New South Wales coast between Stanwell Park and Bulli, about an hour south of Sydney. Nine villages sit on a strip of land between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, linked by Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the South Coast train line.
Last updated
The cliffs come right down to the water. The road squeezes between them. Every few kilometres there is a beach, a pool, a pub, a train station, and a village whose residents know exactly how lucky they are.
The coast, north to south
Twenty kilometres. Nine places to stop.
Compare
Which village suits you?
| Village | Best for | Ocean pool | Station | From Stanwell Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanwell Park | Big views, first impressions, people who want to fly | No | Yes | Start |
| Coalcliff | An early swim before the crowds | Yes | Yes | ~4 km |
| Clifton | The bridge, and a drink after it | No | No | ~7 km |
| Scarborough | The long lunch | No | Yes | ~8 km |
| Wombarra | Doing nothing, properly | Yes | Yes | ~9.5 km |
| Coledale | Families and campers | Yes | Yes | ~11 km |
| Austinmer | The classic beach day | Yes | Yes | ~13 km |
| Thirroul | Dinner, drinks and a walkable base | Yes | Yes | ~15 km |
| Bulli | Arriving, leaving, and a cheap place to stay | Yes | Yes | ~18 km |
~60 min
From Sydney to Bald Hill by car
9
Villages between Stanwell Park and Bulli
665 m
Of Sea Cliff Bridge, hanging over the water
8
Train stations on the stretch. Leave the car at home.
The drive
Take the long way down.
Skip the motorway. Drive through the Royal National Park, come out at Otford, and pull over at Bald Hill.
From there, Lawrence Hargrave Drive winds south along the cliff face. It is part of the Grand Pacific Drive, and the best section of it. You cross the Sea Cliff Bridge between Coalcliff and Clifton, then the road tightens through Scarborough and Wombarra before opening out at Austinmer and Thirroul.
It is about twenty kilometres from Stanwell Park to Bulli. Without stopping, that is half an hour. Allow a day.
Train or car? →Swim
Ocean pools, filled by the tide.
Concrete walls on the rock shelf, topped up by the swell on every high tide. Free, open all year, and the safest way to swim in the ocean here.
- 01
Coalcliff
Cut into the rock shelf below the cliffs. Small, deep, dramatic at high tide.
- 02
Wombarra
A locals’ lap pool at the end of a quiet beach.
- 03
Coledale
South end of the beach, lawns behind, good for families.
- 04
Austinmer
Two pools beside the boat harbour. The most photographed on the coast.
- 05
Thirroul
A 50-metre pool next to the surf club. Bring goggles.
- 06
Bulli
Out at the point at the north end of the beach.
Walk
Up the escarpment, or along the edge.
Moderate
Wodi Wodi Track
Stanwell Park
Rainforest gullies and a climb onto the escarpment, starting near Stanwell Park station.
- Distance
- ~7 km loop
- Time
- 3 hrs
Hard
Sublime Point
Austinmer
Straight up the escarpment with ladders near the top. The lookout covers the whole coast.
- Distance
- Short, steep
- Time
- 1.5–2 hrs return
Easy
Austi to Bulli
Coast path
Rock platforms, beaches and Sandon Point. Catch the train back. Check the tide first.
- Distance
- ~6 km one way
- Time
- 2 hrs
Distances and times are approximate. Escarpment tracks close after heavy rain and landslips, so check NSW National Parks alerts before you go.
The plan
FriSatSunMon.
A three-night itinerary from Friday train to Monday drive home. →
Know before you go
Six things locals wish you knew.
- 1
Go early
Bald Hill, Austinmer and the Sea Cliff Bridge are crowded by 10am on a sunny weekend. Sunrise is better anyway.
- 2
Take the train
The South Coast Line stops in eight of the nine villages. Tap on with Opal at Central and step off near the beach.
- 3
Swim between the flags
Surf clubs patrol the main beaches from spring to autumn. Rips are common, and the ocean pools are the safer swim.
- 4
Watch the rock shelves
Waves wash over the platforms without warning. Don’t turn your back on the sea.
- 5
Check pool cleaning days
Council drains and scrubs the ocean pools on a roster. Check before you plan a swim around one.
- 6
Book ahead
Long weekends book out. Camping at Coledale and cabins at Bulli go months in advance.
Questions
Northern Illawarra FAQs
-
How far is the northern Illawarra from Sydney?
-
About an hour by car from the Sydney CBD to Stanwell Park or Bulli, and about an hour to an hour and 20 minutes by train from Central, depending on which village you are going to.
-
Which villages are in the northern Illawarra?
-
From north to south: Stanwell Park, Coalcliff, Clifton, Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli.
-
Can you visit the northern Illawarra without a car?
-
Yes. The South Coast train line from Sydney stops at eight of the nine villages, and coastal paths link Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli. Thirroul makes the best car-free base.
-
Which village is best for a first visit?
-
Thirroul. It has the most places to eat and stay, a 50-metre ocean pool, a station, and walking access to Austinmer and Bulli.
-
Where can you swim safely?
-
In the ocean pools at Coalcliff, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli, or between the flags on patrolled beaches. Beaches are patrolled from about late September to late April.
-
What is the Sea Cliff Bridge?
-
A 665-metre bridge that carries Lawrence Hargrave Drive out over the ocean between Coalcliff and Clifton. It opened in 2005 and has a footpath on the ocean side.