Just north of Wollongong, the village of Austinmer has been a beach resort since the early 1900s. It has a majestic sandy beach with surf life saving facilities during the summer season and is regarded as one of the foremost surf beaches in the region. In 2003 the beach won the Best Beach in NSW award for its cleanliness and high level water quality.

Behind it stand the forested slopes of the Illawarra escarpment. Walking tracks and sea view lookouts reward the intrepid explorer. Austinmer is reached by main highways from Sydney in just one hour. There is also a suburban train service running between Wollongong and Sydney every hour.

The Illawarra villages and townships are proud of their heritage. There are wineries, quality restaurants and forest walking all within a short distance. The town itself has all the necessary shops and restaurants for a comfortable stay.