Thirroul

Discover the seaside delights of Thirroul and its northern neighbours of Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra and Scarborough. This charming area of northern Wollongong is on the Grand Pacific Drive, a spectacular touring route through the Royal National Park to the NSW South Coast.

You can also travel from Sydney by train to these delightful towns and villages. You’ll find beautiful beaches, magnificent views, buzzing cafes, delicious restaurants, enticing shops and a challenging bushwalk. Thirroul is where English writer D.H. Lawrence wrote much of his novel Kangaroo in 1922.

Places to stay suit various budgets, from holiday houses to camping sites. The sandy beaches along the gorgeous coast are compelling. The fine white sand of Thirroul Beach is a backed by a park with a children's play area and close to shops and cafes. There is a saltwater pool next to the beach.

Just north of Thirroul is Austinmer Beach and two large rock pools. A camping reserve is at Coledale Beach. Scarborough Beach is ideal for swimming and surfing. North of the beach is the Scarborough Hotel, home to the Seacliff garden’s splendid ocean views and the Matthew Gillett Gallery.

With a lively arts community, check out the events calendar for festivals and shows, including the Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival and the Scarborough Art Show. Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul is a live music venue in the beautifully restored Kings Theatre, which opened as a cinema in 1925.

For bushwalkers, the Sublime Point walking track begins at Foothills Road in Austinmer. The trail ascends through rainforest of the Illawarra Escarpment to Sublime Point Lookout, where there are spectacular coastal views. The lookout is also accessible from the Princess Highway by car.