Shellharbour
Heading south from Sydney,Shellharbour is the first of the regions that make up the Unspoilt South Coast. From Killalea Reserve to Lake Illawarra, and up into Macquarie Pass, Shellharbour offers an easy escape from the nearby cities of Sydney and Wollongong.
An open secret among the surfing community is The Farm, or what is now officially recognised as Killalea Beach National Surfing Reserve. This southeast facing beach that shimmers with the most brilliant palette of turquoise and green is a Mecca for local and visiting surfers alike. While it’s beautiful yearround, the waters are particularly crystal come winter, when the colder days keep the breaks pleasantly uncrowded.
But you needn’t be a boardrider to appreciate this reserve in winter. There’s something incredibly revitalising about a walk along a near deserted beach in the cooler months, the sun warming your back and the fine salt mist settling on your woollen jumper. If walking is your thing, but you’d rather keep your feet free of sand, head to Shellharbour’s Macquarie Pass National Park.
Pack a picnic lunch and head to the hills for a restorative hike through lush rainforest and towering eucalypts. The Cascades Walk is a gentle two kilometre return walk that meanders beneath a dappled canopy to a hidden waterfall. Be on the hunt for shy platypuses, lizards and lyrebirds. Or take the slightly more adventurous six kilometre Clover Hill Trail, which follows small streams to reveal the attention seeking beauty of the Illawarra Escarpment.
If your walk through Macquarie Pass has served only to ignite your appetite for nature, it’s time to swap your backpack for a scuba tank. Sea life pays no attention to the temperature above the surface and winter provides the perfect opportunity to drop into their habitat below the waves.
One of Shellharbour’s best dive and snorkel spots is nestled at the eastern end of Bass Point Reserve. The sheltered Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve serves as a nursery for many species, including some tropical fish. Glide softly through this serene world as you observe the undersea cliffs and crevices that serve as apartment buildings for myriad creatures.