The Illawarra’s national parks are leading a record tourism surge along the NSW South Coast, with local nature hotspots attracting more visitors than ever before.
New figures show 7.5 million visits were made to South Coast national parks, with visitation up 81 per cent over the past decade.
The Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area ranked among the top 20 most visited parks in NSW, alongside Morton National Park, highlighting the region’s growing appeal.
Interstate travellers are a major driver of the boom, making up 34 per cent of visitors, particularly from Victoria and the ACT. Easy access from Wollongong and Sydney, combined with new infrastructure like the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Network, has helped fuel demand.
Across NSW, national parks recorded a state-record 65.6 million visits last financial year, with the South Coast among the standout performers.
