South Coast Beaches are the best

Fantastic beaches

Austinmer Beach

It is official, we have the best beaches in Australia. I have always known that the beaches around Wollongong were beautiful and although there are some nice beaches around Australia, I haven't seen an entire area to beat the South Coast.
Thanks to an Australia wide competition from accommodation website Wotif.com, they have confirmed the NSW South Coast's reputation as a coastal paradise, with the region named most popular in the Wotif's first ever Battle of the Beaches

The South Coast of NSW

The South coast covers all of the suburbs of Wollongong from Thirroul right down to Shell Cove, Kiama, Geroa, Gerringong, Jervis Bay and right down to Batemans Bay.

We even beat such iconic world famous beaches such as Manly, Bondi and the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and the Whitsundays.

Towradgi Rock Pool looking towards Wollongong - Photo:Neil Taylor

So much variety

There are so many beaches in this area. Some are great for kids to swim in such as the still waters of the inlet at 7 Mile beach at Gerringong with the main beach right next door for the bigger kids. Austimer Beach, Towradgi Beach have pools along side the beach. Werri Beach, Mollymook, Broulee and The Farm at Shellharbour have great waves for surfing. If you want to learn to surf, there are myriads of surfing schools up and down the coast, with Wollongong, Shellharbour, Mollymook & Broulee being just some that I know of .You can snorkel in the calm waters of Jervis Bay and see such delights as Port Jackson sharks, octopus, cuttlefish and pipefish. You can dive with seals off Montague Island.

Accommodation

There is a huge range of accommodation on the South Coast from camping spots to caravan parks, B&B's, motels, hosted accommodations right up to the top of the range resorts.

Fine examples of award wining accommodations include Mollymook Beach Waterfront. They won the coveted Gold Award in its class in the 2012 NSW Tourism Awards. 

Merry Beach Camping

Merimbula Beach Holiday Park won the Peoples Choice Award: South Coast in the class of Tourist & Caravan Parks  with Merry Beach Caravan Resort winning several awards on the night. Merry Beach is where one of my daughters and several of her friends had a great time, when they went there for their graduation holiday (Schoolies week).

Free camping?

There is a distinct lack of free camping spots available in this area which is a real pity as we are missing out on a huge potential clientele who might not spend much on their accommodation, since they drive it around with them, but they all need fuel for their vehicles and food for their tummies. Many of them also have money to spend on tours and other attractions in the area. Don't the councils want  to share their area with this large group of people?

What is your favourite part of the South Coast? Let us know where you love to go and why.

Please leave your comment below to encourage the rest of us to visit there one day.