Shellharbour

On one side, quite literally, you have the recreational playground of Lake Illawarra, a suburban shorefront that invites you to BBQ and cycle along its endless waterfront. Just a few minutes east, you’ll find yourself in Shellharbour City centre – with some of the region’s best shopping, dining and entertainment concentrated in one location.

Enjoy a bite to eat at the Central Hotel before catching a movie across the road. Or, if you’d rather catch a wave, swing a few miles further east again to experience the face of a curiously sleepy yet vibrant Shellharbour Village all at once. Surf with a smile, sip coffee, sample seaside cuisine or snorkel the nearby marine reserve at Bass Point – all in just one leisurely morning!

Killalea State Park is a must visit here, with its sense of seclusion and natural beauty a favourite for all, and its famous surf break at The Farm welcoming many “board meetings” all day long. Just over the hill, play a round at the impressive golf club, and over the next hill, marvel at the game-changing Shell Cove Marina development taking shape right before your very eyes.

And when you’ve done all that, add a runway to your project, with a visit to Shellharbour Airport. As well as providing the region’s only commercial flights, it’s also home to an excellent aviation museum that features everything from World War era aircraft to the sheer supersonic-ness of the F-111 bomber and the first ever Qantas 747, where you can score a cockpit selfie. Fasten your seatbelts!