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Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk

View from the top of the tower

Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk

Ever gone walking through a forest, looked up at the trees and wondered what it would look like from the canopy? Well at the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk you can find out. Situated just over half an hour west of Kiama, this walk takes you through the canopy of a temperate rainforest.

Checking In

On arrival, check in at reception to confirm you allocated time, because there is a limit on how many people can be there each hour. Make sure you don’t miss out by booking ahead on their web site. At reception they have a small gift shop and café that sells drinks and snacks. There are also toilet facilities, so make use of them as there are none on the walk.

The Walk

The 500m walkway is constructed of sturdy steel, making you feel safe when you are on it. Walking along, you look down to the forest floor 20 to 30m below. Surrounded by trees, you really are a part of the forest canopy. At two points, 25m cantilever bridges extend out from the main walkway. These bounce slightly as you walk on them, but they are very safe and anchored by large steel cables. Walking to the end of the bridges takes you over the escarpment for amazing views.

The highlight of the walk is Knights Tower, which rises 45m above the forest floor, providing beautiful views all the way to the coast.

On the walk to or from the reception building, check out the decorations and displays on the way, including a miniature village.

What Did We Think?

We had a great time here and really enjoyed the views and also the feeling of being in the treetops. For the more adventurous, there is a zip line that runs through the trees. Of course, you could always do both if you wanted.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Sri Venkateswara Temple

Temple

Sri Venkateswara Temple

Consecrated on 30th June, 1985, construction of Sri Venkateswara Temple started in 1978. Located in Helensburgh, 60 minutes south of Sydney, and 30 minutes north of Wollongong, the temple has ample parking. Built in a bushland setting, it serves as an impressive local landmark.

The NSW Office of Environment Heritage listed the Temple for historical, aesthetic, social as well as reasons of rarity and representativeness in the Wollongong Region.

Although serving as a major religious and sacred place for Hindus living in and visiting Australia, many non-Hindus and tourists visit due to the unique Temple architecture.

The complex consists of two large temples, one dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the other to Shiva/Parvathi. For this reason, there are two towers, each with beautifully carved decorations. Specialist sculptors, who used traditional methods completed the sculptures found in and around the temple, while using no modern tools.

Visitors are welcome, whether they want to admire the temple, or learn more about the Hindu religion. There are several important things to know before you visit:

  • no footwear, hats or caps are allowed inside. An undercover area is available outside the main entrance to leave your shoes.
  • No photography of any kind inside.
  • Be quiet and respectful at all times..
  • No mobile phone use inside.
  • No food or drinks inside

Inside The Temple

If you liked the exterior of the temple, the interior will amaze you. The numerous beautifully decorated shrines and idols were the highlight of our visit. Unfortunately we could not take photos because they are not allowed inside. However, being able to walk around an admire them up close was a great experience.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Lawrence Hargrave Memorial

Lawrence Hargreaves Memorial

Lawrence Hargrave Memorial

Located at Bald Hill is a memorial to British-born Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer Lawrence Hargrave. Associated with Hargrave’s first attempt to fly, Bald Hill is the perfect place to remember his achievements, as well as providing fantastic views.

On November 12, 1894, Hargrave linked four of his box-kites together, added a sling seat, and flew approximately 5 metres. By demonstrating a safe and stable flying machine, Hargrave opened the door to other inventors and pioneers. The Hargrave-designed box kite, with its improved lift-to-drag ratio, was to provide the wing model of the first generation of European and American aeroplanes.

Hargrave has two memorials here, one at each end of the car park. The primary one, is at the southern end, which has relief of him carrying a model of his box-kite. At the north end a memorial wall lists his achievements. The carpark itself has plenty of parking available, while toilets are available at the north end.

Depicted on the old style $20 note, Hargrave’s importance to aviation was on display to Australians from 1966 to 1994, when it was replaced.

While visiting the memorials, check out the amazing views, which are amazing. This is one of the best places to admire the coast around Wollongong. The views were great, despite the rainy day we had.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on