Page 34 - Bike City Visitors Guide

By Merryn Porter

ay tripping is a fun way to feel like
D you are on holiday without going
too far.
The first step is to pick your
destination - a good guide for a day
trip is no more than an hour’s drive
each way from home - pack yourself
and your loved ones in the car,
perhaps with a picnic lunch, and
head off. Zookeeper Alanna McTaggart in “Nan Tien” in Chinese means
The hardest thing will be working the meerkat enclosure at Symbio “Paradise of the South” and it is easy
out where to go first. Wildlife Park. Photo: Robert Peet to see why. Photo: Wesley Lonergan
Spend the day at Symbio The bridge has become an icon
Wildlife Park not just for Wollongong but the
Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh world, with tourists flocking to see it
is nestled on 16 picturesque acres of for themselves since it opened in
manicured gardens. December 2005.
It is home to Australia’s favourite While some people opt to drive
native fauna as well as exotic across the bridge, the best way to
animals including cheetahs, take in the view is on foot from the
ring-tailed lemurs, red pandas, pedestrian walkway.
meerkats, monkeys and more.
Symbio is open every day except Spend the day at Nan Tien Illawarra Fly offers ziplining.
Christmas Day from 9.30am to 5pm. Temple Photo: Andy Zakeli
Nan Tien Temple at Berkeley is the
Hop on a whale watching largest Buddhist temple in the Visit Jamberoo Action Park
cruise at Shell Cove Southern Hemisphere. The largest family-owned and
One of the Illawarra’s newest tourism “Nan Tien” in Chinese means operated water theme park in NSW,
ventures is the whale-watching “Paradise of the South” and after a Jamberoo Action Park offers
cruise operating from Shellharbour few hours here it is easy to see why. world-class rides and attractions.
Marina in The Waterfront Whether you want to just enjoy the Young children will love Billabong
development at Shell Cove. peace of the temple itself, or take in Beach, Kiddies Cove and Banjo’s
The very first 90-minute cruise, the gardens or lotus pond, many Billabong, while thrill-seekers will
operated by Shellharbour Wild, set visitors report coming away with a love the Funnel Web, The Taipan
off in May 2022 and will continue renewed sense of peace and calm. and The Perfect Storm. A new ride,
throughout the whale-watching There is an onsite dining hall Velocity Falls, is coming soon.
season, which runs until November. (check opening times) and a tea
After your boating adventure, why house serving exotic teas, coffee Go ziplining at Illawarra Fly
not grab a bite to eat at one of The and lunch in a tranquil setting. Illawarra Fly’s Zipline tour offers
Waterfront’s onsite cafes or eco-wilderness adventurers a
restaurants, including The Take a day trip to Kiama unique way to view the magnificent
Waterfront Tavern. The coastal town of Kiama is best Illawarra rainforest - by soaring
known for its blowhole - an opening through the trees. There is even an
Walk or drive across Sea in the rocks where seawater shoots after-dark zipline tour.
Cliff Bridge into the air. While you are there, do the
It didn’t gain the highest spot for But there’s so much else to do Treetop Walk, a 1.5km trek through
the Illawarra region in the Lonely such as the Coast Walk, see the a beautiful warm temperate
Planet travel guide, Ultimate columns of Cathedral Rocks, take a rainforest along a 500m steel
Australia Travel List, for no reason. stroll around the harbour, pay a visit walkway located 20 to 30 metres off
The 665m long Sea Cliff Bridge on to the Pilots Cottage Museum or the ground.
Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff, is simply browse the many shops or The walk culminates at Knights
a highlight of the 140km Grand grab a bite to eat in a cafe or Tower, a spiral tower that rises 45m
Pacific Drive. restaurant. above the forest floor.
34 ILLAWARRA MERCURY VISITOR GUIDE