# Shellharbour Day Trip from Kiama | Beaches and Marina URL: https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/shellharbour/ Last updated: 2026-10-16 # Shellharbour day trip from Kiama to the village and Bass Point Shellharbour is a coastal city about 15 minutes' drive north of Kiama. For a day trip, start in Shellharbour Village for the harbour and the 50-metre Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool, snorkel Bushrangers Bay at Bass Point, surf or picnic at Killalea, then finish at the Shell Cove marina or the HARS Aviation Museum. [](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/authors/joseph-joshua-ngushual/)By [Joseph Joshua Ngushual](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/authors/joseph-joshua-ngushual/), Kiama Travel SpecialistPublished 16 October 2026 · 7 min read Stay at Kiama Ridge Waters Three-bedroom apartments from $200 a night Sleeps 6 · 15-minute walk to Easts Beach [First Floor 3-Bed Unit by the Ocean First floor · Sleeps 6 · From $214 a night](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/first-floor-ocean/)[3-Bed Apartment with Study Nook First floor · Sleeps 6 · From $201 a night](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/study-nook/)[Ground Floor 3-Bed Home in Kiama's Heart Ground floor · Sleeps 6 · From $200 a night](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/kiama-heart/)[3-Bed Kiama Unit with Courtyard Ground floor · Sleeps 6 · From $306 a night](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/courtyard/)[3-Bed with Alfresco Dining Ground floor · Sleeps 6 · From $204 a night](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/alfresco-dining/) [Book now](https://book.madecomfy.com.au/properties/656fed562e0a0-first-floor-3-bed-stunning-unit-by-the-ocean/?ref=nddmytc&utm_source=ridgewaterskiama&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=booking-handoff&utm_content=guide-hero) Photo: Ray Hayward, [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Early_dawn_at_Shellharbour_-_panoramio.jpg) ## Know what Shellharbour means before you go Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Illawarra_NSW_2528,_Australia_-_panoramio_(6).jpg) The name covers two places. Shellharbour Village is the old seaside suburb on the harbour, with Addison Street, the ocean pool and the beaches. The City of Shellharbour is the wider council area to the north of Kiama, which takes in Shell Cove, Warilla, Lake Illawarra and Albion Park, where Shellharbour Airport sits. Shellharbour is outside the Kiama council area, so its beaches, parks and events are run by Shellharbour City Council and promoted by Visit Shellharbour. It makes an easy half day or full day out from Kiama, and you can be back for dinner in town. Shellharbour Village | About 15 minutes by car (16 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters | Shell Cove marina | About 17 minutes by car | Bass Point Reserve | About 19 minutes by car | Killalea Regional Park | About 20 minutes by car | HARS Aviation Museum, Shellharbour Airport | About 20 minutes by car | Visitor information | Visit Shellharbour, 1300 656 169, [visitshellharbour.com.au](https://www.visitshellharbour.com.au/) | ## Get to Shellharbour from Kiama Photo: Abesty, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shellharbour_Junction_railway_station_platforms_and_concourse.jpg) By car. Head north on the highway. Shellharbour Village is about 15 minutes from the apartments at 2 [Surfleet Place](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/live-and-own/kiama-ridge-waters-location/), and Shell Cove, Bass Point and Killalea are all within about 20 minutes. Having the car makes it easy to string several stops together in one day. By train. Kiama is on the [South Coast Line](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/plan-your-trip/sydney-to-kiama/), which also stops at Shellharbour Junction station on Piper Drive, Dunmore. Kiama station is about a 27-minute walk from the apartments. Check times on [transportnsw.info](https://transportnsw.info/) before you go, because the station is a fair distance from the village and beaches. By bus. Destination Kiama says Premier Illawarra runs services from Kiama and [Kiama Downs](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/kiama-downs/) through to Shellharbour and Wollongong. Phone (02) 4271 1322 or see [premierillawarra.com.au](https://www.premierillawarra.com.au/) for routes and timetables. By air. Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park has flights from Brisbane and Melbourne, according to Visit NSW. It is about 20 minutes by car from the apartments, which makes it a handy arrival point for a Kiama stay. ## Walk Shellharbour Village and the harbour Photo: John Ward from Oatlands, Australia, [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_J_Hills_of_Wollongong,_AEC_Regal_III_6340_(ex_MTT_Adelaide_No_175)_in_Addison_Street_near_Mary_Street,_Shellharbour,_N.S.W._Australia._(15026965430).jpg) Addison Street is the heart of the village, and Visit NSW says the village is home to some of the city's oldest buildings. You can follow the Shellharbour Village Heritage Trail, or take a self-guided tour on the free Tread Shellharbour app. The harbour itself is popular for fishing and boating, and there is a boat ramp. Little Park, on the foreshore, has a playground, a sandy foreshore, picnic shelters and a saltwater pool with a wading area for children. Expect oceanfront [cafes](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/eat-and-drink/kiama-cafes/), fish and chip shops and boutiques along the main street. At the southern end of the village foreshore, the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool (19 Hockey Esplanade) is a 50-metre saltwater pool with a shaded children's pool, toilets, outdoor showers, barbecues and picnic tables. It opened in 1894 as the Ocean Baths and was renamed in 1994 for local Olympic swimmer Beverley Whitfield. Council lists lifeguards from 9am to 5pm in the school holidays, and cleaning at 1pm on Tuesdays. Check before you go, as times can change with weather and swell. ## Swim at Shellharbour's patrolled beaches Photo: Maurice van Creij, [CC BY 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shellharbour_Headland_-_panoramio.jpg) Visit NSW counts six patrolled beaches in the Shellharbour area, plus the ocean pool. Three of them are: - Shellharbour South Beach, off John Street (with a second car park on Boollwaroo Parade, Shell Cove). Council says it is sheltered from north-east winds and much of the summer swell, so it is often calmer. It has toilets and outdoor showers. - Shellharbour North Beach, off Junction Road at Barrack Point. It has toilets, an outdoor shower and a beach [wheelchair](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/plan-your-trip/accessible-kiama/) you can use when lifeguards are on patrol. - Warilla Beach, further north on Osborne Parade, with toilets, showers, picnic tables and fitness equipment at Warilla North. Visit Shellharbour reports that Shellharbour Beach ranked among the eight NSW coastal beaches with the highest water quality ratings in the 2026 State of the Beaches report, and Warilla Beach also rated "Very Good". Patrols are seasonal. For Shellharbour South Beach, council lists 10am to 5pm daily from 12 December 2026, 9am to 5pm from 19 December 2026 to 31 January 2027, then 10am to 5pm until Anzac Day 2027. Swim between the red and yellow flags and check [BeachSafe](https://beachsafe.org.au/) for conditions on the day. ## Snorkel Bushrangers Bay at Bass Point Photo: Pdaniels1956, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maloneys_Bay_13082019.jpg) Bass Point Reserve, on Bass Point Tourist Road just south of the village, covers 72 hectares of protected coastline and rare littoral rainforest. Visit NSW describes it as one of the most important archaeological sites in New South Wales: Aboriginal people camped on the headland for more than 17,000 years. A self-guided Aboriginal cultural walk tells that story. Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve, inside Bass Point, is a sheltered four-hectare bay that is popular with snorkellers and scuba divers. There is an inner and an outer bay, [rock pools](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/beaches/kiama-rock-pools/) full of small creatures, and an underwater cliff in about 10 metres of water. Visit Shellharbour mentions leafy sea dragons here. Fishing by any method is not allowed, and you cannot take shells, so look and leave everything where it is. Please do not touch the soft corals, which break easily. The reserve also has a memorial to four Australian soldiers who died in May 1943 rescuing the crew of the American ship Cities Service Boston. Bass Point closes on total fire ban days. ## Surf or picnic at Killalea Regional Park Photo: Doug Ford, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Killalea_State_Park_NSW.jpg) Killalea Regional Park sits on the coast between Shellharbour and Kiama. Visit NSW says Killalea is a designated National Surfing Reserve, with two famous surf breaks: - Killalea Beach, known as "The Farm". - Minnamurra Beach, known to locals as "Mystics". Away from the surf, NSW National Parks lists beach walks, a bushwalk through coastal rainforest, birdwatching, fishing, picnic tables at the Frasers picnic area, a kiosk and the Killalea campground. Visit NSW notes remnant rainforest with massive Moreton Bay figs. Check current alerts on the [NSW National Parks page](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/killalea-regional-park) before you go, along with any park fees. The park runs down to the [Minnamurra River](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/things-to-do/minnamurra-river/), so this trip pairs well with our guide to [Minnamurra](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/minnamurra/) on the Kiama side. ## Spend the afternoon at Shell Cove marina Photo: JTButterflies, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shell_Cove_Marina.jpg) The Waterfront Shell Cove is built around a new in-shore harbour with a 270-berth marina, developed by Shellharbour City Council and Australand, part of Frasers Property. Visit NSW lists cafes, an ice creamery, a Japanese restaurant and fish and chips, and Visit Shellharbour adds the PromenART outdoor photography installations and live music on the lawn on selected dates. From May to November, Shellharbour Wild runs 1.5-hour whale watching cruises from the public wharf at the marina, with a two-hour Aboriginal cultural whale cruise on limited dates. For more whale options closer to the apartments, see [whale watching in Kiama](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/landmarks-and-walks/whale-watching-kiama/). ### Shellharbour Wild Shell Cove Whale watching cruises from the public wharf at Shellharbour Marina, 13 Marina Drive. The whale cruise runs from May to November and lasts 1.5 hours. [Website](https://shellharbourwild.com.au/)[Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Shellharbour+Wild+13+Marina+Drive+Shell+Cove)Directions: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=2%20Surfleet%20Place%2C%20Kiama%20NSW%202533&destination=Shellharbour%20Wild%2C%20Shell%20Cove%20NSW) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=Shellharbour%20Wild%2C%20Shell%20Cove%20NSW&navigate=yes) ### Waterfront Tavern Shell Cove Pub dining next to the marina at 9 Marina Drive, with a seafood-led menu and harbour views. Step-free access to the restaurant, lounge and bar. [Website](https://waterfronttavern.com.au/)[Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Waterfront+Tavern+9+Marina+Drive+Shell+Cove)Directions: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=2%20Surfleet%20Place%2C%20Kiama%20NSW%202533&destination=Waterfront%20Tavern%2C%20Shell%20Cove%20NSW) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=Waterfront%20Tavern%2C%20Shell%20Cove%20NSW&navigate=yes) ## See the Boeing 747 at the HARS Aviation Museum Photo: DaHuzyBru, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qantas_Boeing_747-400_(VH-OJA)_at_HARS,_January_2026_06.jpg) The HARS Aviation Museum is at Shellharbour Airport, 54 Airport Road, Albion Park Rail. It is run by volunteers and every visit is guided, because the hangars are working maintenance spaces. HARS lists opening hours of 9:30am to 3:30pm daily, with the last tour at 2pm, closed on Christmas Day and airshow days. The collection includes the Boeing 747-438 VH-OJA, a Catalina flying boat, a CAC Sabre and a replica of the Southern Cross. On its tours page, a museum-only visit is listed at $35 for adults, $15 for children aged 5 to 14 and $80 for a family, and under-5s are free. There are also 747 cockpit tours and a wing walk along the top of the 747's wing at extra cost. Prices change, so check before you go, and book online if you can. Groups of 10 or more must book ahead. It is a solid choice for a wet day. For more indoor ideas, see [rainy day things to do in Kiama](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/things-to-do/rainy-day-things-to-do-in-kiama/). ### HARS Aviation Museum Albion Park Rail Guided tours of historic aircraft, including a Boeing 747, at Shellharbour Airport. Open daily 9:30am to 3:30pm, last tour 2pm. [Website](https://hars.org.au/)[Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=HARS+Aviation+Museum+54+Airport+Road+Albion+Park+Rail)Directions: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=2%20Surfleet%20Place%2C%20Kiama%20NSW%202533&destination=HARS%20Aviation%20Museum%2C%20Albion%20Park%20Rail%20NSW) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=HARS%20Aviation%20Museum%2C%20Albion%20Park%20Rail%20NSW&navigate=yes) ## Eat in Shellharbour Village Photo: Mw12310, [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fish_and_Chips_Ocean_Foods_Drummoyne.jpg) Addison Street has the village's cafes and fish and chip shops, and the pub sits right at the top of the beach. If you'd rather eat back in Kiama, see [where to eat in Kiama](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/eat-and-drink/where-to-eat-in-kiama/) or grab dinner from [a Kiama fish and chip shop](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/eat-and-drink/kiama-fish-and-chips/). ### Ocean Beach Hotel Shellharbour Village Bistro meals with ocean views at 2 Addison Street, with indoor and outdoor dining. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with live music on some nights. [Website](https://oceanbeachhotel.com.au/)[Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Ocean+Beach+Hotel+2+Addison+Street+Shellharbour)Directions: [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=2%20Surfleet%20Place%2C%20Kiama%20NSW%202533&destination=Ocean%20Beach%20Hotel%2C%20Shellharbour%20Village%20NSW) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=Ocean%20Beach%20Hotel%2C%20Shellharbour%20Village%20NSW&navigate=yes) ## Plan a Shellharbour day trip from Kiama Photo: TrimmerinWiki, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bass_Point_-_Disused_gravel_loader_(November_2020).jpg) Here is one way to fit the highlights into a single day by car, with short drives between each stop. - Morning: drive about 19 minutes to Bass Point and snorkel Bushrangers Bay while the water is calm, or walk the headland. - Late morning: swim laps at the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool, then walk Addison Street and the harbour. - Lunch: eat in the village, or move on to the Shell Cove marina. - Afternoon: surf or picnic at Killalea, or tour the HARS museum if the weather turns. - Evening: drive about 20 minutes back to Kiama for sunset. Our [sunrise and sunset guide](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/beaches/kiama-sunrise-sunset/) has the spots. With children, Little Park's playground and wading pool and the shaded kids' pool at Beverley Whitfield are good stops. Our guide to [Kiama with kids](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/things-to-do/things-to-do-in-kiama-with-kids/) has more. For other short trips, see [day trips from Kiama](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/day-trips-from-kiama/). ## Stay in Kiama and visit Shellharbour Kiama Ridge Waters makes Shellharbour an easy day out, with the village about 15 minutes away by car. Its three-bedroom holiday apartments at 2 Surfleet Place, run by MadeComfy, each sleep a family or a group of friends. [Easts Beach](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/beaches/easts-beach-kiama/) is a 15-minute walk from your door, and the Kiama Blowhole is about a 35-minute walk. Pets are welcome on request in most of our apartments, with a $200 cleaning fee. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 10am. See [the apartments](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/), [pet-friendly stays](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/stay/pet-friendly/) or [book several apartments for a group](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/stay/groups/), then [check availability](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/book/). ### Staying at Kiama Ridge Waters Shellharbour Village is about 15 minutes by car from Kiama Ridge Waters. Kiama Ridge Waters offers three-bedroom apartments at 2 Surfleet Place, Kiama, each sleeping six with parking for two cars. [View apartments](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/apartments/) [Check availability](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/book/) ## Quick answers **How far is Shellharbour from Kiama?** Shellharbour Village is about 16 km north of Kiama Ridge Waters, roughly a 15-minute drive. Shell Cove marina is about 17 minutes away, Bass Point about 19 minutes and Killalea Regional Park about 20 minutes. You can also travel by Premier Illawarra bus or by train to Shellharbour Junction. **Is Shellharbour worth visiting on a day trip?** Yes. In one day you can swim in the 50-metre Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool, snorkel Bushrangers Bay at Bass Point, surf at Killalea, eat at the Shell Cove marina and tour the 747 at the HARS Aviation Museum. Everything is within about 20 minutes' drive of Kiama. **Is Shellharbour part of Wollongong?** No. Shellharbour is its own council area, the City of Shellharbour, between Wollongong to the north and Kiama to the south. It takes in Shellharbour Village, Shell Cove, Warilla, Lake Illawarra and Albion Park, where Shellharbour Airport and the HARS Aviation Museum are located. **Where can you snorkel in Shellharbour?** Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve at Bass Point is the main snorkelling and diving spot. It is a sheltered four-hectare bay with an inner and outer bay, rock pools and an underwater cliff. Fishing and shell collecting are banned. Bass Point Reserve closes on total fire ban days. **Which Shellharbour beach is calmest?** Shellharbour City Council says Shellharbour South Beach is sheltered from north-east winds and much of the summer swell, so it is often calmer. It is patrolled in season. For flat water, the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool and the children's wading pool at Little Park are other options. **Can you see whales from Shellharbour?** Yes. Shellharbour Wild runs 1.5-hour whale watching cruises from the public wharf at Shellharbour Marina, Shell Cove, from May to November. It also runs a two-hour Aboriginal cultural whale cruise on limited dates. Book through its website and check departure times before you go. **How do you get from Kiama to Shellharbour without a car?** Premier Illawarra buses run from Kiama and Kiama Downs through to Shellharbour and Wollongong. Trains on the South Coast Line stop at Shellharbour Junction station in Dunmore, though it is some distance from the village. Plan your trip on transportnsw.info before you travel. Written by [](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/authors/joseph-joshua-ngushual/) ### Joseph Joshua Ngushual Kiama Travel Specialist Joseph Joshua Ngushual writes the Kiama Ridge Waters guides to Kiama and the NSW South Coast. He researches every guide against official sources such as Destination Kiama, Kiama Council and NSW National Parks, checks local businesses directly, and measures walking and driving times from the apartments, so you can plan beach days, walks, meals and day trips with accurate, current detail. - Kiama travel - NSW South Coast - Beaches and walks - Food and drink - Family trips - Trip planning [View all articles](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/authors/joseph-joshua-ngushual/)[](https://www.facebook.com/joshua.joseph.5648)[](https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjoshuangushual/) ## Sources and useful links - [Visit NSW: Shellharbour](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour) - [Visit NSW: Shellharbour Village](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/attractions/shellharbour-village) - [Visit NSW: Bass Point Reserve](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/attractions/bass-point-reserve) - [Visit NSW: Bushrangers Bay Aquatic Reserve](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/attractions/bushrangers-bay-aquatic-reserve) - [Visit NSW: Killalea Regional Park](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/attractions/killalea-regional-park-0) - [NSW National Parks: Killalea Regional Park](https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/killalea-regional-park) - [Visit Shellharbour](https://www.visitshellharbour.com.au/) - [Visit Shellharbour: Sandy Feet (beaches)](https://www.visitshellharbour.com.au/explore/sandy-feet/) - [Shellharbour City Council: Beaches and pools](https://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/beaches-and-pools) - [Shellharbour City Council: Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool](https://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/beaches-and-pools/beverley-whitfield-ocean-pool) - [Shellharbour City Council: Shellharbour South Beach](https://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/beaches-and-pools/shellharbour-south-beach) - [Shellharbour City Council: The Waterfront Shell Cove](https://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/waterfront-shell-cove) - [Destination Kiama: Getting here](https://kiama.com.au/explore/plan/getting-here) - [HARS Aviation Museum: Albion Park tours](https://hars.org.au/albion-park/tours/) - [Shellharbour Wild](https://shellharbourwild.com.au/) - [Visit NSW: Ocean Beach Hotel](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/food-and-drink/ocean-beach-hotel) - [Visit NSW: Waterfront Tavern Shell Cove](https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/shellharbour-area/shellharbour/food-and-drink/waterfront-tavern-shell-cove) - [Transport NSW trip planner](https://transportnsw.info/) ## Keep exploring Kiama [Towns and day trips ### Day trips from Kiama to Berry, Kangaroo Valley and Jervis Bay Day trips from Kiama with measured drive times: Illawarra Fly, Berry, Kangaroo Valley, Fitzroy Falls, Jervis Bay, the Sea Cliff Bridge and Wollongong. 7 min read](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/day-trips-from-kiama/)[Towns and day trips ### Minnamurra, the river village on Kiama's northern edge Minnamurra guide: swim and paddle the Minnamurra River, launch at two boat ramps, walk the headland, find Mystics Beach and start the Kiama Coast Walk. 8 min read](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/minnamurra/)[Towns and day trips ### Kiama Downs guide to Jones Beach and Cathedral Rocks Kiama Downs guide: surf and swim at patrolled Jones Beach, see Cathedral Rocks at low tide, watch whales at Minnamurra and eat on Johnson Street, near Kiama. 8 min read](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/kiama-downs/) [All towns and day trips guides](https://ridgewaterskiama.com.au/explore-kiama/towns/)