Wanting to take things up a notch during your time on the NSW South Coast? Whether you want to zipline or skydive, go kayaking or learn to surf, there’s plenty of ways to get your adrenalin pumping during your South Coast getaway. Check out our selection of the best adventures that you can experience on the South Coast…
#1 Zipline on the Illawarra Fly
Head to the mountains behind Kiama to discover the highest zipline in Australia, at the Illawarra Fly. Visitors to the Illawarra Fly can choose between just experiencing their treetop rainforest walk, with a breathtaking 500m section of steel walkway up to 30m above the ground, or also adding on a zipline tour.
The Zipline tour lasts 60 to 90 minutes and includes three zipline flights, as well as two suspension bridges and four cloud stations. It’s a fun adventure for the whole family, with children from ages four and up able to join in.
#2 Learn to Surf
With hundreds of kilometres of coastline, the South Coast is not surprisingly home to some awesome surf breaks. So if you don’t already know how to surf, why don’t you take a surf lesson or two while visiting the South Coast?
There’s multiple surfing schools on offer in the region. If you’re visiting Wollongong, check out the Illawarra Surf Academy and Pines Surfing Academy. Alternatively, book into this Private VIP Surfing Experience for two people at Mollymook.
#3 Kayak in the Waters of Jervis Bay
The calm, crystal clear waters of Jervis Bay are perfect for a kayaking adventure. Not to mention this is also a great wildlife experience, with an excellent chance of meeting many of the bay’s residents, from whales to dolphins to penguins.
This Half-Day Sea Kayaking Tour supplies all the equipment you need for kayaking, plus a delicious snack break, and is restricted to small groups, making for a relaxing experience. No wonder it has only five-star ratings!
#4 Or in a Glass-Bottom Kayak at Batemans Bay
Jervis Bay isn’t the only bay on the South Coast that’s ideal for kayaking. Heading further south, the waters of Batemans Bay are also a terrific kayaking spot.
Rather than a typical kayak, on this Batemans Bay Kayak Tour you can kayak in a glass-bottom kayak. The glass bottom means you can easily spot the marine life as you kayak through the Marine Park Sanctuary. Just a two hour long tour, this is ideal for all the family.
#5 Skydive onto the Beach
The South Coast is the ultimate place to finally tick skydiving off your bucket list, with one of the most scenic skydives on offer anywhere. The name says it all, with Skydive the Beach Wollongong taking place in the skies above the beautiful North Wollongong Beach, landing next to the beach at their Stuart Park headquarters.
It’s possible to complete this South Coast adventure on a day trip from Sydney, with free transfers offering with all skydives from the centre of Sydney. However, it’s worthwhile spending longer in Wollongong, with plenty of things to do in Wollongong.
#6 Hang Glide at Bald Hill
If you’re interested in experiencing the rush of flying, but not at quite so high an altitude, consider going hang gliding on the South Cost of NSW.
One of the best places to go hang gliding is at Bald Hill, the hill above Stanwell Park in the northern suburbs of Wollongong. Enjoy soaring in the updrafts in front of the hillside, before landing next to the beach below. Investigate booking into a tandem hang glide, the perfect way to experience flying for the first time.
#7 Mountain Bike in Cringila
If you’re interested in testing out your mountain bike on something other than the many cycle paths on the South Coast, considering heading to the Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park. This recently opened park just south of the Wollongong CBD is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Best suited to beginners who are new to proper mountain biking, there’s almost 12km of trails, mainly of a beginner and intermediate grade, plus a bike skills playground, jumps track and asphalt pump track near the carpark. There’s no entry fee, but it’s BYO bike.
For more advanced riders, there’s also plans to launch a network of mountain bike tracks on the escarpment behind Wollongong in 2023.
#8 Go Wild at Jamberoo Action Park
Love to visit theme parks, especially those with lots of water rides? The best spot to head to on the South Coast is Jamberoo Action Park, close to Kiama. The park is open seasonally over the warmer months, including daily during the summer and Easter school holidays.
There’s a growing list of water rides at the park, from the Taipan to the Perfect Storm to Velocity Falls, plus one of Australia’s largest wave pools and the ever popular bob sled rides down the hillside.