The Illawarra is a coastal region in the state of New South Wales, Australia, immediately to the south of Sydney.

Stanwell Tops

Cities

Stretching from the south of Sydney, down to the Shoalhaven River, the Illawarra has:

• 1 Helensburgh
• 2 Wollongong - the main city in the region
• 3 Port Kembla - industrial port city
• 4 Dapto
• 5 Shellharbour
• 6 Kiama - picturesque town on the cliffs

Other destinations

• 1 Royal National Park - standing between Sydney's southerly sprawl and the Illawarra.
• 2 Stanwell Park

Understand

A popular region for Sydneysiders to relax by the sea, the region was known as Five Islands by the pioneers of the C18th after the group of islands off its coast. Life here is for people who want things more laid back than Sydney.

Get in

Most of the main towns along the coast have train stations reachable from Sydney.

The closest airports with commercial flights are Sydney Airport and Canberra.

When coming by car, traffic jams are common on public holidays.

Get around

There are public bus services, although by car is likely your best option.

See

• Stanwell Tops
• Sublime point lookout