Nikki’s guidebook
Our top pick local beaches
Austinmer Beach – has a beautiful small beach and lovely rock pools. To get there simply walk to the end of this road, turn left onto Kirton road, turn right onto Moore Street or Moore Lane to take you to Austinmer Beach. 1 km/10-15 minute walk.
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Austinmer Strand
Austinmer Beach – has a beautiful small beach and lovely rock pools. To get there simply walk to the end of this road, turn left onto Kirton road, turn right onto Moore Street or Moore Lane to take you to Austinmer Beach. 1 km/10-15 minute walk.
- North Thirroul – closest beach to here (unpatrolled). Simply walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton road, then continue to follow the road, cross over Lawrence Hargrave drive and the beach is there. 700m/5 minute walk.
-Thirroul main beach (patrolled). Walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton Road, turn left onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive, and then turn left after the little creek onto the Esplanade. 1km/7-10 minute walk.
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Thirroul Beach Pavilion
23 Cliff Parade- North Thirroul – closest beach to here (unpatrolled). Simply walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton road, then continue to follow the road, cross over Lawrence Hargrave drive and the beach is there. 700m/5 minute walk.
-Thirroul main beach (patrolled). Walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton Road, turn left onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive, and then turn left after the little creek onto the Esplanade. 1km/7-10 minute walk.
10 minute drive from the suite however its a beautiful beach surrounded by cliff faces and adjoining national park
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Scarborough Beach
10 minute drive from the suite however its a beautiful beach surrounded by cliff faces and adjoining national park
18 minute drive from our suite but a worthy trip and stop at Scarborough pub on the way makes for a day trip.
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Stanwell Park
18 minute drive from our suite but a worthy trip and stop at Scarborough pub on the way makes for a day trip.
Our top pics for walking distance places to eat and drink
1. Austinmer: Bread Espresso &: coffee and pastries. 600m, 6 minute walk. Walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton Road, turn right onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the little café is just there. They also have great sour dough. Recommend for morning takeaway coffees and pastries then sit at north Thirroul to enjoy!
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Bread, Espresso &
190 Lawrence Hargrave Dr1. Austinmer: Bread Espresso &: coffee and pastries. 600m, 6 minute walk. Walk to the end of our street, turn right onto Kirton Road, turn right onto Lawrence Hargrave Drive and the little café is just there. They also have great sour dough. Recommend for morning takeaway coffees and pastries then sit at north Thirroul to enjoy!
2. Austinmer: Moore St General – breakfast or lunch. Follow directions on foot to Austi beach and the general store is on Moore Street – 700m, 9 minute walk. Great coffee and sit down breakfast!
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Moore Street General
38 Moore St2. Austinmer: Moore St General – breakfast or lunch. Follow directions on foot to Austi beach and the general store is on Moore Street – 700m, 9 minute walk. Great coffee and sit down breakfast!
3. Austinmer: Best fish and chips (takeaway style) Shells Diner. Follow directions to Austinmer Beach, grab some takeaway from Shell’s diner across the road and eat it by the beach. Don’t forget we have a picnic mat and basket if you’re planning a picnic.
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Shells Diner
106 Lawrence Hargrave Dr3. Austinmer: Best fish and chips (takeaway style) Shells Diner. Follow directions to Austinmer Beach, grab some takeaway from Shell’s diner across the road and eat it by the beach. Don’t forget we have a picnic mat and basket if you’re planning a picnic.
4. Thirroul: Jose Jones dinner/afternoon drinks. TEMPORARILY CLOSED - we look forward to it reopening soon!
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Jose Jones Restaurant & Bar
222-226 Lawrence Hargrave Dr4. Thirroul: Jose Jones dinner/afternoon drinks. TEMPORARILY CLOSED - we look forward to it reopening soon!
5. Thirroul: South Sailor dinner. 800m 7-10 minute walk. Fresh seafood. The menu is a combination of classic chip-shop food and more worldly seafood flavours with an in-house Poke bar. I recommend the Poke bowl or fish tacos.
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South Sailor
216-218 Lawrence Hargrave Dr5. Thirroul: South Sailor dinner. 800m 7-10 minute walk. Fresh seafood. The menu is a combination of classic chip-shop food and more worldly seafood flavours with an in-house Poke bar. I recommend the Poke bowl or fish tacos.
6. Thirroul: Thirroul Beach Café – it’s conveniently right on the water at Thirroul beach which offers nice views and good basic food. I recommend the buddah bowl.
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Thirroul Beach Pavilion
23 Cliff Parade6. Thirroul: Thirroul Beach Café – it’s conveniently right on the water at Thirroul beach which offers nice views and good basic food. I recommend the buddah bowl.
7. Austinmer: Headlands hotel (2km walk one way or drive). Good for a beer on an outdoor lounge and basic (but expensive) pub food. I recommend walking there in the afternoon having a drink and walking home
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Headlands Hotel Austinmer Beach
7. Austinmer: Headlands hotel (2km walk one way or drive). Good for a beer on an outdoor lounge and basic (but expensive) pub food. I recommend walking there in the afternoon having a drink and walking home
8. Bulli: Bulli beach café (on headland of Bulli) 4.5 km walk one way, however there is a lovely bike track that takes you along the beach and headland which is a lovely walk. I would recommend getting up early and walking there for coffee and breakfast and walking home.
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Bulli Beach Cafe
68 Trinity Row8. Bulli: Bulli beach café (on headland of Bulli) 4.5 km walk one way, however there is a lovely bike track that takes you along the beach and headland which is a lovely walk. I would recommend getting up early and walking there for coffee and breakfast and walking home.
Places to eat and drink that is worth the drive
1. The Scarborough Hotel for lunch and beers (don’t go there for breakfast). Food is average but the view makes up for it!! It’s a lovely place for a drink in the afternoon. It can get quite busy on summer weekends, but you can take a picnic rug if you can’t find a table. If you don’t have a car (or don’t want to drive) you can catch the train to Scarborough station and walk 650m there.
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The Scarborough Hotel
383 Lawrence Hargrave Dr1. The Scarborough Hotel for lunch and beers (don’t go there for breakfast). Food is average but the view makes up for it!! It’s a lovely place for a drink in the afternoon. It can get quite busy on summer weekends, but you can take a picnic rug if you can’t find a table. If you don’t have a car (or don’t want to drive) you can catch the train to Scarborough station and walk 650m there.
2. Wombarra Bowling Club – this is a local secret but it has barefoot bowls with views over the ocean and the best Thai I have tasted in Australia! Recommend the duck pad see ew. If you don’t have a car you can catch the train to Wombarra station and walk 800m there.
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Wombarra Bowling Club, Lawrence Hargrave Dr station
2. Wombarra Bowling Club – this is a local secret but it has barefoot bowls with views over the ocean and the best Thai I have tasted in Australia! Recommend the duck pad see ew. If you don’t have a car you can catch the train to Wombarra station and walk 800m there.
Local Walks
- Austinmer to Sublime Point lookout. A well formed track leads up the escarpment (some 1000 steps) to the summit at Sublime Point. There are five resting station and nine sets of ladders before arriving to witness great views from the top. At the top there is another short walk that is loop track and also a café. The walk itself is 2km return (short but steep and challenging). You can actually walk from here going via the bush just across the road, this would make it a 4km return walk. For details of how to get to sublime point lookout walk starting point on foot from here please just ask and we can point you in the right direction. If your going to drive see additional leaflet in this folder for details.
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Sublime Point walking track
Sublime Point Walking Track- Austinmer to Sublime Point lookout. A well formed track leads up the escarpment (some 1000 steps) to the summit at Sublime Point. There are five resting station and nine sets of ladders before arriving to witness great views from the top. At the top there is another short walk that is loop track and also a café. The walk itself is 2km return (short but steep and challenging). You can actually walk from here going via the bush just across the road, this would make it a 4km return walk. For details of how to get to sublime point lookout walk starting point on foot from here please just ask and we can point you in the right direction. If your going to drive see additional leaflet in this folder for details.
- Illawarra Escarpment Traverse — Grand Escarpment Walk. A complete traverse (up to 16.5km) of the northern Illawarra escarpment from Stanwell Park to Austinmer with many great view points and varied vegetation along the way. Highly recommended. The walk can start at Stanwell Park Railway station or Coalcliff railway station– see additional leaflet in this folder for details.
Illawarra Escarpment
- Illawarra Escarpment Traverse — Grand Escarpment Walk. A complete traverse (up to 16.5km) of the northern Illawarra escarpment from Stanwell Park to Austinmer with many great view points and varied vegetation along the way. Highly recommended. The walk can start at Stanwell Park Railway station or Coalcliff railway station– see additional leaflet in this folder for details.
Sightseeing
- Anita’s Theatre – renovated theatre originally “Kings theatre” built in 1925. a beautiful theatre that is host to a number of concerts and live performances. Only 800m on foot from here.
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Anita's Theatre Thirroul
264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Dr- Anita’s Theatre – renovated theatre originally “Kings theatre” built in 1925. a beautiful theatre that is host to a number of concerts and live performances. Only 800m on foot from here.