9 unmissable outdoor adventures in Shellharbour

Hike through the rainforests of Macquarie Pass National Park 

Reconnect with nature at Macquarie Pass National Park. Hike through rainforest and towering eucalypts, picnic to the sound of birdsong and take a plunge under an impressive waterfall. See the escarpment rainforest up close on the easy and rewarding 2km Cascades Walk. For a more challenging walk, take the 6km Clover Hill Trail which follows an old logging route to the top of Rainbow Falls. Keep an eye out for lyrebirds, koalas, possums, wombats, swamp wallabies, goannas and platypus. 

Cascades Walk, Macquarie Pass National Park - Credit: Unspoilt South Coast

Dive deeper into the history of Bass Point Reserve 

The heritage-listed Bass Point Reserve features 72 hectares of spectacular coast surrounded by aquatic habitats teeming with marine life. Recognised as one of the two most important archaeological sites on the NSW coast, this area was a camping spot for First Nation’s people. Learn more about their connection to the land, resources, diet and tools on the self-guided Bass Point Indigenous Cultural Walk. The coastal walking trail offers great vantage spots to whale watch during their annual migration between May and November. Under the water there’s even more waiting to be explored. Divers and snorkellers might see weedy sea dragons, eastern blue devils, blue gropers, bull stingrays and giant cuttlefish. There may even be a grey nurse shark or two. 

Bushrangers Bay, Shellharbour - Credit: Mark Fitzpatrick | Destination NSW

Explore underwater worlds in Bushrangers Bay  

At the eastern end of Bass Point, Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve is teeming with marine life. This small, sheltered bay boasts undersea cliffs shaped like an amphitheatre providing hundreds of small crevices that house sea urchins, crabs, anemones and sponges. Dive or snorkel with Shellharbour Scuba and Photography Centre to see weedy sea dragons, giant cuttlefish, playful pygmy pipe-horses, stunning seagrass beds or even glide alongside the graceful grey nurse sharks. 

Keep exploring: Other dive sites around Bass Point include The Gutter (good for all experience levels), Blue Devil Cave (renowned for sightings of the Sydney pygmy pipehorse), The Gravel Loader (known for its giant cuttlefish and blue gropers) and The Arch and the Hole in the Wall (home to the blue kneed sea spider which is unique to the South Coast). 

Bushrangers Bay, Shell Cove

Catch a wave in a National Surfing Reserve 

Two of the most famous breaks are virtually side by side in the beautiful Killalea Regional Park - Arrijong, a designated National Surfing Reserve. Killalea Beach ('The Farm') is on the northern end of the reserve and faces southeast, while Minnamurra Beach ('The Mystics') can be found at the southern end. Want to learn to surf? Sign up for surf lessons at various beaches through Pines Surfing Academy or Illawarra Surf Academy.

Keep exploring: The Shellharbour region includes six patrolled beaches as well as the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool, with Shellharbour North Beach, Shellharbour South Beach and Warilla Beach consistently ranking as local favourites. During whale watching season (May to November) you might even be able to spot migrating humpbacks as they cruise by. 

Killalea Regional Park, South Coast

Walk or cycle the Lake Illawarra Art Trail 

Learn more about the area’s history, First Nation’s heritage, and flora and fauna along the Lake Illawarra Art Trail. Featuring nine sculptures that showcase native animals, a local Dreaming story, and the fishing industry, the trail is 3km long with flat paths to walk or cycle along. The foreshore is also home to abundant birdlife, from waders to pelicans. 

Lake Illawarra Art Trail, Shellharbour - Credit: Lake Illawarra Art Trail

SUP the calm waters of Lake Illawarra and Minnamurra River 

Whether you want to relax on calm, enclosed waters or challenge yourself in the surf, Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) Shellharbour offers private and group paddleboarding lessons for all ability levels. Start the day with a sunrise paddle with an accredited SUP instructor, relax during a floating yoga and sound bath session, or explore the harbour at night. Lake Illawarra’s tranquil waters are popular with stand-up paddleboarders, as well as those who love sailing and fishing. 

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour tour on Lake Illawarra, Shellharbour

Test your two-wheel skills at Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park 

Ride up, down and around a mountain bike playground. Specialising in freeride, downhill and gravity routes, Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park is a must for those who want to challenge themselves with features and progression sessions. Join a skills clinic or learn from a certified coach to perfect your jumps, drops, cornering and braking. 

Greenvalleys Mountain Bike Park, Albion Park

Spot gentle giants (and dolphins) with Shellharbour Wild 

Between May and November, join a cruise with Shellharbour Wild to spot whales as they migrate along the coast. Watch in awe as they breach the surface, their grand scale and grace on display. Sail along beautiful Bushrangers Bay with dolphins racing through its turquoise calm waters before cruising between the Five Islands where fur seals sunbathe on the rocks. 

Shellharbour Wild, Shellharbour

Get a bird’s-eye view of the Illawarra region 

Fly over the gorges of the Illawarra Ranges, see sun-kissed beaches from above and take in the beauty of the Seacliff Bridge on a flight with Touchdown Helicopters. With a range of routes on offer, choose between flights that showcase waterfalls, the coastline or drop into one of the regions world-class vineyards for lunch. 

Touchdown Helicopters, Sea Cliff Bridge - Credit: Touchdown Helicopters