EntityMap: Norilla Coast

Machine-readable version: entitymap.json (EntityMap v1.0). Generated 2026-11-09T11:47:35Z. Publisher: Norilla Coast.

Northern Illawarra Place

The strip of coast between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, from Stanwell Park south to Bulli, in New South Wales, Australia.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.
Norilla Coast · Stanwell Park to Bulli

Stanwell Park Place

Stanwell Park is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. Where the coast road drops off the edge.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanwell_Park,_New_South_Wales

Your first look at the northern Illawarra comes from Bald Hill, and it is a big one. The escarpment falls away, the beach curves below, and on a good northeasterly the sky fills with hang gliders.
Stanwell Park: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Stanwell Park has no ocean pool. Swim at the patrolled beach in season, or let small children paddle in the calmer water where Stanwell Creek meets the sand at the north end. Check the creek after heavy rain.
Stanwell Park: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Coalcliff Place

Coalcliff is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. A rock pool cut into the platform. Not much else, and that is the point.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalcliff,_New_South_Wales

Coalcliff is a handful of streets, a small surf club and one of the best-placed ocean pools on the coast, set right into the rock shelf with the cliffs above it.
Coalcliff: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
The rock pool is the main swim at Coalcliff and the best place for it. The small beach is patrolled in season but takes the swell directly.
Coalcliff: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Clifton Place

Clifton is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. The village at the end of the bridge.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton,_New_South_Wales

Clifton is where the Sea Cliff Bridge lands. The 665-metre curve of road was built out over the ocean after rockfalls closed the old cliff road in 2003, and it opened in 2005.
Clifton: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Clifton has no swimming beach of its own. Walk north across the Sea Cliff Bridge to Coalcliff rock pool, or drive a few minutes south to Scarborough–Wombarra beach.
Clifton: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Scarborough Place

Scarborough is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. Long lunch on a terrace above the sea.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_New_South_Wales

Scarborough runs along a strip of the coast road with the escarpment pressing in behind it. Most people come for one reason: the Scarborough Hotel and its beer garden on the cliff.
Scarborough: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Scarborough shares its beach and surf club with Wombarra. It is narrower and wilder than the beaches further south, so swim between the flags. The nearest ocean pool is at Wombarra.
Scarborough: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Wombarra Place

Wombarra is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. The quiet one.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombarra,_New_South_Wales

Wombarra is almost all houses, trees and steep streets, with a rock pool at the bottom of the hill. If you want a weekend where nothing much happens, rent a place here.
Wombarra: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Swim laps in the rock pool, or at the patrolled Scarborough–Wombarra beach in season.
Wombarra: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Coledale Place

Coledale is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. Fall asleep to the surf.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coledale,_New_South_Wales

Coledale has a wide, gentle beach and a camping ground right on the sand. Wake up, unzip the tent, and the ocean is there.
Coledale: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Coledale Beach is wide and patrolled in season, with an ocean pool and lawns at the south end. It is a good family beach.
Coledale: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Austinmer Place

Austinmer is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. The postcard. Get there early.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austinmer,_New_South_Wales

Austinmer, or Austi, is the beach most Sydney people already know. It has two ocean pools, a grassy park behind the sand and a café strip a block back. On a summer weekend it is packed by ten.
Austinmer: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Austinmer Beach is sheltered and patrolled in season, with two ocean pools at the northern end. It is the busiest beach on the stretch, so arrive early.
Austinmer: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Thirroul Place

Thirroul is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. The village with a main street.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirroul,_New_South_Wales

Thirroul is the biggest of the nine and the one that feels most like a town: a proper high street, a cinema, pubs, good restaurants, and a long beach with a 50-metre pool at the end.
Thirroul: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Thirroul Beach is long and patrolled in season, with a 50-metre ocean pool at the surf club. Sandon Point, at the south end, is a surf break rather than a swimming spot.
Thirroul: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Bulli Place

Bulli is a coastal village in the northern Illawarra, New South Wales. Pass, point, pub.

Same as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulli,_New_South_Wales

Bulli is where many people first meet the coast, coming down Bulli Pass from the motorway with the whole of the Illawarra spread out below. It is also the southern edge of the stretch, and a mix of old mining town and new beach suburb.
Bulli: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast
Bulli Beach is patrolled in season, with a rock pool out at the point at the northern end.
Bulli: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Stanwell Park travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Stanwell Park: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

Yes. Licensed operators fly tandem hang glides and paraglides from Bald Hill above Stanwell Park when the wind allows. Flights depend on the weather, so book ahead and keep the day flexible.
Stanwell Park: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Coalcliff travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Coalcliff: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

Yes. The northern end of the Sea Cliff Bridge is just south of Coalcliff. You can walk from the village onto the bridge footpath.
Coalcliff: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Clifton travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Clifton: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

The Sea Cliff Bridge is 665 metres long. It opened in 2005 to replace a section of Lawrence Hargrave Drive that was closed by rockfalls in 2003.
Clifton: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Scarborough travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Scarborough: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

Weekdays, or before midday on weekends, if you want a terrace table at the Scarborough Hotel. Sunny weekend afternoons are the busiest time on this stretch of road.
Scarborough: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Wombarra travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Wombarra: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

No. Wombarra is almost entirely residential. Coledale, a few minutes south, has shops, and Scarborough has the pub.
Wombarra: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Coledale travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Coledale: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

Yes. Coledale Beach Camping Reserve has campsites directly behind the beach. Bookings are required and long weekends fill months ahead.
Coledale: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Austinmer travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Austinmer: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

A steep walking track climbs from the edge of Austinmer to Sublime Point lookout, with ladders near the top. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours return. You can also drive to the lookout from the Princes Highway.
Austinmer: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Thirroul travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Thirroul: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

D.H. Lawrence rented a bungalow called Wyewurk in Thirroul in 1922 and wrote most of his novel Kangaroo there. The house is privately owned, so view it from the street.
Thirroul: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Bulli travel guide Guide

Norilla Coast's guide to Bulli: things to do, where to swim and stay, and how to get there from Sydney.

Bulli Lookout is at Bulli Tops, at the head of Bulli Pass, just off the Princes Highway. It looks south over Thirroul, Bulli and Wollongong.
Bulli: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast

Long weekend in the northern Illawarra Guide

A three-night itinerary from Friday train to Monday drive home, covering all nine villages.

Base yourself in Thirroul and work outwards: the north end on Saturday, the middle on Sunday, the south end on Monday as you head home. Swim early, eat long lunches, and leave the afternoons loose.
A long weekend in the northern Illawarra: 3-day itinerary · Norilla Coast

Northern Illawarra ocean pools compared Guide

Comparison of the ocean pools between Coalcliff and Bulli.

Six of the nine villages between Stanwell Park and Bulli have an ocean pool: Coalcliff, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul and Bulli. Austinmer has two. Stanwell Park, Clifton and Scarborough do not.
Northern Illawarra ocean pools compared · Norilla Coast