sUBURB GUIDE

The Northern Suburbs of the Illawarra - Guide for home buyers

The Northern suburbs are prospering and continuing to grow as the most prestigious suburbs in our Northern beaches area, located on the narrow strip between the ocean and the escarpment. With train stations conveniently located in every suburb, they provide easy access to visitors from Sydney and beyond.

COALCLIFF / CLIFTON / SCARBOROUGH

The famous Sea Cliff Bridge and the Clifton School of Arts are some of the tourists attractions visited on the daily basis. Award-winning, off-shore Sea Cliff Bridge forms part of the Grand Pacific Drive and is located on scenic Lawrence Hargrave Drive, 60kms south from Central Sydney (or 23kms north of Wollongong).

In Scarborough you will find a prestigious primary school literally on the clifftop, often hosting local art exhibitions.

Also on the cliff is the Scarborough Hotel. Recently renovated to its original grandeur and charm, the hotel boasts magnificent ocean views which have long been recognized and appreciated by locals and visitors alike.

Relax in an absolute ocean front beer garden while you enjoy a meal from the Seascape Café/Restaurant, now open for Breakfast from 8am and serving ala carte meals for lunch and dinner. 

WOMBARRA /COLEDALE

The Scarborough/Wombarra beach is patrolled and family friendly, with Surf Life Saving Club and tidal rock pool. The Oval and playpark is a great place for picnics and sporting events to keep the kids occupied.

Coledale is a truly unique suburb where you can experience a true community spirit and laid back and easy lifestyle, with all facilities close at hand.

There are two beaches, main Coledale beach is patrolled with an active Surf Life Saving Club running a boutique camp site, where you often find local families camping and enjoying a good time. Why travel long distance, when you can have a cheap family holiday down the road!
The second Sharkeys beach is often used by locals to walk their dogs off the leash, surfers, fly fishing enthusiasts, and by kids exploring numerous tidal rock pools. In between the two beaches there is a large rock pool, used by swimmers for most of the year.

Other essential facilities include a primary school located literally on the ocean front, with its own whale watching station, and a pre-school childcare centre near by.

Every fourth Sunday of the month the school becomes a host for “Coledale Market”, with brick-a-brac stalls, local produce and food stalls, which is very popular among the locals.

In Coledale village itself you will find the RSL club with excellent selection or meals and beers at very reasonable prices. There is also a newsagency/grocery store, video hire, hairdresser and antique shop. There are also two cafes, with “Chedo’s” well known for it’s fine cuisine excellent coffee and take away gourmet pizza, conveniently located next door to the “Coledale Fine Wines” bottle shop.

AUSTINMER

Two minutes down the road there is beautiful Austinmer with more cafes, including the prestigious “Austi Beach Cafe”, and two beautiful beaches, rock pool and Surf Life Saving Club.

The beautiful Glastonbury Gardens have become a popular venue for hosting outdoor wedding ceremonies, to be followed by the photo shoots at Little Austinmer Beach and the reception at the Surf Life Saving Club.

And you must explore exclusive Moore Street, where you find a fabulous “Fireworks” cafe, as well as gift shops, boutiques, hair and beauty salon and art gallery. The famous Boy Scout group and the local vet hospital are also located there.

Austinmer Public School is located literally across the road from the beach, and offers before and after school care facilities for those parents commuting to work.

For the serious walkers, Austinmer escarpment offers Lady Fuller Park with Sublime Track running up to Sublime Point at Bulli Tops.

THIRROUL

Thirroul is a heritage town, well known for its shopping, art galleries, boutiques, eateries and entertainment.

Thirroul has two beautiful surfing beaches, Thirroul Beach and McCauley beach, as well as Olympic size swimming pool and state of the art kids playpark.

Thirroul Bowling Club is popular with locals and offers good food and entertainment. There are two public schools offering after school childcare facilities, Dance & Music Studio, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts community groups.  

As a focal point in Thirroul there is proudly presented and beautifully restored “Anita’s Theatre”, providing entertainment for all tastes, from classical music concerts, to cinema shows and ballroom dancing. It is well used by the locals and tourists alike.

“The Beaches” hotel offers live band entertainment and live artist painter at an open air beer garden.

The new state of the art library and community centre has recently been opened, providing a focal point for the local community. Thirroul medical practice is conveniently located around the shopping centre.

Every year the town hosts Thirroul Seaside & Arts festival, the family festival of visual and performing arts. It falls on the last weekend before Easter, transforming the streets and parks into an array of colourful stalls displaying art and goods, as well as live entertainment.  Seacliff Property proudly sponsors the Art Festival to support the local artist community.

BULLI

Sandon Point with its Surf Life Saving Club is known as one of the best places to surf in the area. Bulli has a on-lead dog friendly beach during certain times.
Bulli Foragers Market is open every Sunday 9-2 and is a great place to visit, offering great atmosphere, fabulous food, music and loads of stalls to browse.

The 13km Bike track that is a walking, jogging and bicycle track runs from Wollongong to Thirroul follow the coastline with magnificent views of the beautiful beaches and the pacific ocean.

You can stop for a coffee at one of the great cafes located in Bulli.

BULLI TOPS

The Illawarra Escarpment offers a full range of exciting walks. Start the walk at either Coalcliff (Wodi Wodi track) or Austinmer (Sublime Point track). It will take you to Sublime Point lookout offering panoramic coastal views below.