Stanwell Park Beach, NSW: Swimming, surfing or hang-gliding?
Stanwell Park Beach near Wollongong, NSW, has rips that make for good surf breaks but dangerous swimming. The beach is most famous for the hang-gliders descending from Bald Hill, however.
Stanwell Park Beach north of Wollongong, New South Wales, is one of the most visually attractive beaches in Australia. The Illawarra Escarpment rises dramatically behind it, with steep cliffs either side and the beach itself in something of a natural amphitheatre.
Swimming at Stanwell Park Beach
It’s not the longest beach in New South Wales – it’s around 850km long. And neither is it the safest. Swimmers need to beware of a series of rips. Perhaps more than on many other Australian beaches, it’s important to swim between the red and yellow flags.
These rips make for good surfing breaks, however. Stanwell Park Beach is a good surf spot.
6 fantastic Wollongong experiences to book before you arrive
- Tandem hang-gliding flight from Bald Hill – float down towards the beach.
- One hour private surf lesson in Woonona – learn the basics, and get standing on your board.
- Illawarra Fly ziplining course and treetop walk – test your nerves high up in the canopy.
- Tandem skydive with beach landing – feel the rush of freefall.
- Explore the city on a scavenger hunt – a fun way to get to know Wollongong better.
- Half day deep sea fishing adventure – haul in some big boys.
However, surfing is not the sport Stanwell Park Beach is best known for. This is a hang-gliding hotspot. Bald Hill on the northern side of the beach is one of the best spots in the country for hang-gliding. Aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave did a lot of his testing and experimentation at Bald Hill, and the Stanwell Tops Lookout here commemorates him.
Even if you’re not planning to jump off the hill with a glider, the views from the top are pretty delightful.
Hang-gliding at Stanwell Park Beach
If you’d to try your hand at gliding, HangglideOz runs a series of training courses. Most visitors won’t have time for this, of course, so the tandem hang-gliding experiences are likely to be of more interest. Suitable for complete beginners, these tandem experiences cost from $280.
Get your Aussie beach kit on the cheap
Fix up great deals on swimwear, beach towels and snorkelling gear now.
And look for discounts on sunglasses, sun cream or a really good book.
Other attractions along the Grand Pacific Drive from Sydney to Wollongong include Instagram favourite, the Sea Cliff Bridge, and Austinmer Beach.
Other Wollongong beaches in the Australian Beaches Guide include Thirroul Beach, Corrimal Beach, North Wollongong Beach and Windang Beach.
More New South Wales travel
Should I drive from Newcastle to Sydney or take the train?
Sleep in a 1920s mansion at the Berida Hotel in Bowral.
Cross the new Batemans Bay Bridge for a beach holiday in Batemans Bay.
Stay by the beach at the Patonga Camping Ground on the Central Coast.
Swim and surf at Seven Mile Beach in Gerroa, NSW.