The Illawarra is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney, extending from the southern hills of the Royal National Park in the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong (the third-largest urban area in New South Wales), Shellharbour, the town of Kiama, Lake Illawarra, and a northwardly narrowing strip of coastal plain alongside the Illawarra escarpment, which leads up to the south-west fringe of Greater Metropolitan Sydney.

The Illawarra railway line provides a frequent, effecient and inexpensive train service to the area from Sydney. Entering the area at the southern end of Royal National Park, through what is now known as the Sea Cliff Coast, to Wollongong, and then Kiama, the line passes by many beaches and through numerous towns, giving the one-day visitor to the region a muliplicity of choices of places to go, and things to see and do on this picturesque stretch of coast.

Travel Times (from Central station):

Sydney to Wollongong: 1 hr 40 mins

Wollongong to Kiama: 49 minutes