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Shellharbour lies at the heart of the Illawarrra’s holiday playground. Totally devoted to the sea, Shellharbour makes the most of its stunning location with a number of dazzling beaches, most of which have convenient parking facilities as well as proximity to shops. There are also several dive and fishing operators who can take you right to where the action is.

Bass Point, the long peninsula that curls to embrace the town to the south, is the region’s only marine aquatic reserve and one of the South Coast’s scuba dive and snorkel hot spots. Bass Point also has one of the few remaining stands of coastal rainforest in the state, as well as a large collection of significant Aboriginal and European heritage sites and extensive marine habitats.

History

Shellharbour was one of the coastal meeting areas for the "Yerrowah" Aboriginal people. Europeans, George Bass and Matthew Flinders, explored the region in the late 1700s.

Cattle arrived in the district in the early 1800s, as a measure against the drought in Sydney and grazing rights were issued in the mid 1800s. Shellharbour developed as a port in the 1820s, for the shipment of cedar trees felled in the district. When the railway arrived in the 1880s, the town became popular with tourists because of its stunning seafront. The town Shellharbour was officially recognised in 1885.

Things to do

• Strap on a mask and snorkel for a fish-eye view of the marine life at Bushrangers Bay at Bass Point Reserve.
• Walk to Picnic Island, a habitat for about 150 bird species.
• Take a walking tour of the historic buildings which begin with the Steampacket Inn, parts of which date back to 1856.

Events

• Shell Cove Shellharbour City Festival of Sport is a three-day event held in March everyone is invited to participate.
• Shellharbour Village Craft Markets on the second Sunday of each month are a great chance to shop for local crafts.

Don’t miss

• The marvellous coastal walking tracks.
• Blackbutt Forest Reserve, the Illawarra’s largest woodland reserve.
• Fishing at the mouth of Lake Illawarra.
• Boating – either lake or sea.
• Surfing and diving at Killalea State Recreation Area.