Smack bang on the gorgeous Shellharbour Marina sits Shell Cove, a suburb of the Shellharbour Area. We love that there’s so many exciting things happening here and even more awesomeness on the way. Full of open spaces, stunning views and some pretty neat places to eat, shop and play it’s well worth a visit.
Here’s The Folds guide to this vibrant town in the Illawarra.
Great Outdoors
The star here is the marina itself. With over 2.5km of boardwalks and promenade running the circumference of the whole harbour, everywhere you turn you’re faced with beautiful water views. You can walk all the way to the end of the harbour and onto the break walls to look out over the neverending ocean and maybe if you’re lucky [and come at the right time] even spot a whale or dolphin.
If you have your heart set on spotting one of those ocean beauties, book a ‘whale cruise’ with Shellharbour Wild. The cruises run from mid-May to November from the marina and are an awesome way to see humpbacks making their way past our shores whilst taking in our spectacular Illawarra coastline.
If you’d rather appreciate the view from above then you’ve just got to book yourself in with Big Wave SkyDive. Check out Shell Cove and its surroundings as you parachute through the air. Talk about epic!
Retail Therapy
Lots of shops and stores are starting to pop up around Shell Cove to keep us on our toes. We love The Source Bulk Foods with over 400 bulk food bins full of quality and healthy ingredients. Locally sourced honey and natural cleaning products, yes please! There’s also a Woolies and BWS for other essentials.
And you best believe we’re hitting up Shell Cove on the last Sunday of every month for their wonderful Markets at the Marina. Running from 10am – 3pm it’s an excellent mix of local stalls, foodie spots, boutique beauties, creative makers and up-and-coming businesses, so good!
Close by in cutesy Shellharbour Village, you’ll find more local gems like Harbour Rose stocking beachy clothing, jewellery, giftware and accessories and Sway Clothing for Australian clothing labels as well as homewares.
A teensy bit further away is Stockland Shellharbour where you’ll find all the big names like Kmart, Target and Myer along with 240 specialty stores, phew!
Wining & Dining
Oooo there’s some good eating [and drinking] to be had around Shell Cove that’s for sure. Leaf Cafe & Co. serve up award-winning coffee and a tasty brekkie and lunch menu to match.
Georgia Rose is an excellent spot for brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks and delish cocktails…. They’ve got it all. The views of the marina are gorge and the vibes are 100%.
The Waterfront Tavern serves all your fave Aussie classics with a modern twist. Waterview has fresh and flavourful Japanese dishes, Blue Fin And Marina is where to get that fish & chippy fix, Naturally Tasty is serving fresh smoothies, juices and healthy bites, and we’ve seen many a local grab something nommy from Get Stuffed Chicken Shop before parking up on the grass for a picnic.
Heading over to The Links Golf Club you’ll find Il Lago- The Tavern, with pleasant views over the rolling hills of the golf club, tasty pasta, pizzas and more, as well as both drink and food specials most nights of the week, it’s a top spot to hit up!
For all the sweet tooths [us included] then may we suggest, local doughnut legends, Donut Jam. They’ve had so much success with their Port Kembla location they’ve now given us a Shell Cove spot as well and we just couldn’t be happier. Seriously, just take one look at their Insta and try not to lick your phone.
Arts & Culture
We weren’t lying when we said Georgia Rose really does do it all! They regularly host ‘Paint & Graze’ sessions as well as other classes like candle making, floral workshops and even cocktail making classes, whoop whoop. There’s also live acoustic music on Saturdays, Vinyl DJs on Sundays and Drag Trivia every Tuesday.
The Waterfront Tavern also hosts lots of fun events, from live music, raffles, charity fundraisers and more.
Gumaraa, which operates close to Shell Cove, is an Aboriginal cultural education company that offers genuine indigenous experiences for everyone. These experiences are rooted in the rich traditions of the Dharawal and Yuin Nations, providing an authentic and educational journey into Indigenous culture. Book one of their cultural tours to gain insight into the history of the Shellharbour area and its significance to our First Nations people.
Step Back In Time
Bass Point Reserve is just a 5-minute drive from the centre of Shell Cove and is considered one of the most important archaeological sites on the NSW coast. It’s on the Australian Heritage Commission register for both its Aboriginal and European historical importance.
Aboriginal people have used Bass Point as a regular campsite for many, many, many years and you can learn more about the area with a self-guided Aboriginal Indigenous Cultural Walk.
In 1943 a strong storm and caused an American merchant ship to crash and sink in Bass Point. Four Australian soldiers’ lives were lost as they rescued the crew of the ship and there is a memorial located in the area to commemorate these soldiers.
Just for Kids
In the centre of the marina, there is a perfect little beach for the younguns to splash and play until their heart’s content. There are interactive stations along the walk around the marina where kiddos can make their own whirlpool or use the binoculars to take in their surroundings. There are also plenty of green spaces for running around and stretching legs.
Georgia Rose [yep, again! What can’t they do?] also hold kid and teen-friendly events, especially in the school holidays, like crafting, cooking and painting.
Treat the kiddos [and the grown-ups] to a taaassty Donut Jam doughnut or milkshake or a scoop of ice creamy goodness at Bliss Ice Cream and Gelato.
Special Events
The Waterfront Shell Cove Shellharbour City Festival of Sport is a fantastic two-day event open to everyone. Whether you’re new to sports or a regular player, it’s a family-friendly gathering with something for everyone to enjoy.
PromenART is a cool new thing happening in Shell Cove. This multi-year project is all about embracing creativity, culture, and our awesome community. You can expect everything from funky sculptures and art installations to live performances and more.
And there’s stacks more events popping up throughout the year like outdoor film screenings, family fun and seasonal parties, make sure to keep an eye on our events directory to stay up to date.
What’s nearby
Just a stone’s throw away from Shell Cove is charming Shellharbour Village. Full of darling cafes, yummo restaurants and an excellent ocean pool there’s loads to do here.
Heading south past Bass Point Reserve is Killalea Regional Park. Here you will find excellent surfing spots at beaches known by locals as ‘The Farm’ and ‘Mystics’. It’s also popular for picnics, fishing and camping. It’s one stunner of a spot for sure!
There are some fab local businesses in Shellcove, and our Business Directory is the place to find them! From mechanics to medical centres, landscapers to legal services, beauty salons to builders…The Fold’s Business Directory has got you covered.
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