Shellharbour
Shellharbour is a coastal city in between Wollongong and the Shoalhaven, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.
Understand
Shellharbour is a region and a local government area with a population of 3,500. It is 85km south of Sydney. It has a town centre that has civic buildings and the major shopping mall of Shellharbour Square. It has a township on the water, adjacent to a small harbour and a beaches. Shell Cove is a major housing development adjacent to the town, and to the water.
Get in
By train
🌍 Shellharbour Junction station is a commuter station with parking and a bus interchage - quite distant from facilities or towns. It really looks quite in the middle of nowhere getting off the train there. It is around 4km walk to Shellharbour town, going up and down a few hills.
🌍 Albion Park Station is outside the town, but quite close to the HARS Aircraft Museum.
If you want to get the bus into town, or to Shellharbour Square, a better bet may be to get off at 🌍 Oak Flats Station and get a bus. They run with around a 2 hour frequency to town, and quite frequently to Shellharbour Square. Check the timetable, and get the first bus to Shellharbour Square if it makes sense to do so.
By bike
If you are a keen cyclist, it is also a nice ride from Wollongong mostly along the coast.
By car
The town is about 85 km and 2 hours' drive from Sydney. Go past the end of the freeway from Sydney, and Shellharbour town is off to your left, follow the signs. A scenic route goes via Wollongong and Warilla, and follows the water. Exit the freeway at Five Islands Road, follow the signs to Warilla at the second major right hand turn and on to Windang Rd, then follow your nose.
Get around
There are limited bus services, as well as three train stations.
See
- 🌍 Shellharbour Visitor Information Centre, Addison St, Shellharbour Village NSW 2529, ☎ +61 1300 656 169. 9AM-5PM.
- 🌍
HARS Australian Historical Flying Museum, Illawarra Regional Airport (South of Wollongong on the Princes Highway, or take the train to Albion Park Station.). A project was started to build an exhibition facility for the aircraft of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society who have an existing base there. HARS recently completed a major hanger, part of an ongoing project. HARS has and extensive static aircraft display and many operational aircraft including the only remaining flying Super Constellation in the world.
Do
Buy
- 🌍 Shellharbour Square. Large shopping complex including a Stockland mall.
- Shellharbour Village Harbourside Rotary Markets, Little Park, Addison Street, Shellharbour Village NSW 2529, Australia, e-mail: market@shellharbourcityrotary.org.au. 4th Sunday of each month from 9am to 3pm.
Eat
- 🌍 Aharn Thai Restaurant, 1/28 Mary St, ☎ +61 2 4296 6888. Stir-fries, noodles, curries and salads in a cosy setting.
Drink
- Shellharbour workers club - famous for its live music.
Sleep
- 🌍 Ocean Beach Hotel, 2 Addison St, Shellharbour NSW 2529, ☎ +61 2 4296 1399.
Connect
Go next
- Wollongong - large coastal city to the north
- Kiama - picturesque coastal town to the south