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Local government area in New South Wales, Australia
Photo: OSX, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
St George and Sutherland Shire is a district about 25 km south of Sydney CBD, centred around the Georges River and bounded by Botany Bay and Port Hacking.
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One of the finest examples of Australian remnant bushland about 30 minutes drive of the CBD. Features bushwalking, swimming, bike trails as well as play equipment for children. The lookouts over the Georges River are also well worth a look. There is plenty of parking in the park.
A large garden area, with many varieties of flowers. Playground, artificial creeks and waterfalls, and a duck pond. Ducks are fat and usually very well fed. Teahouse in the gardens, popular spot.
A large collection of native plants, paved walks, barbecues well stocked with wood, and water views. This place is unknown to most, and is never crowded, except when hosting and occasional wedding. Lots of Australian plant species, and well worth grabbing some sausages, some matches, and heading over for a barbecue.
A small, unassuming garden in Sutherland, celebrating the sister city relationship between the Sutherland Shire and Chuo in Tokyo. Cherry blossoms flowering in the spring. Possibly a nice place to visit for any homesick Japanese tourists in the area.
Historically Como was a popular recreation ground for Sydneysiders on the steam train for a day out by the water. Today, it is still a popular park. There is a swimming pool, swimming enclosure on the Georges River, a cafe on the waters edge, playground, barbecues, picnic tables. Its popular with teenagers on weekends to hang out, eat, swim. There is a marina where you can hire small motor boats to explore the Georges River. There is also a Thai restaurant, with a take away kiosk, serving Thai and Australian food.
You can stand on the rock where Captain Cook first stepped ashore, starting the process of European settlement. The landing place is also now next to a large oil refinery. There is a monument walk here, and an interpretive visitors centre. The area is never crowded with visitors, and many Sydneysiders have never visited. There are usually plenty of available and well maintained electric barbecues and picnic tables by the water. Buses can be a couple of hours apart so check the times. Sutherland Shire used to be named the birthplace of modern Australia, referring to European settlement. Now the aspects of the Aboriginal and European settlement interaction are emphasised, and interpreted in the visitors centre in the park.
They have an old Bondi tram, overseas trams, and tramrides, including rides to the Royal National Park. They also have a large display area.
After visiting the landing place, there are several walks and drives within the park. One of the better ones is the walk to Cape Solander. The cliff aspect is nice, and views right out to see and across Cronulla You also lose the industrial view on this walk as well, which is so noticeable on the monument walk. Whale watching is popular at Cape Solander in season.
The Towra point wetland is an imporant resource for migratory birds, with mangroves and inter-tidal mud-flats. It is a protected area, and mostly not open to visitors. The National Park Visitors Centre at Kurnell does organise tours occasionally. There are three points available to view over the wetland, each off Captain Cook Drive, and worth stopping at if you are on the way to Kurnell. Between November and March you may spot the migratory Eastern Curlew, which spends the other half of the year in Siberia. Take your binoculars.
Almost as nice as the nearby Royal National Park, with just a fraction of the visitors. Contains short walking tracks to several wild swimming holes, with easy access from the Heathcote and Waterfall train stations.
Very much a community art gallery, surrounded by pretty gardens. Nice coffee shop in amongst it all.
Shiprock Point in Dolans Bay has a marine reserve. Some tropical fish can even be seen here in the summer months, when the water is warm in February mainly. You can see many fish varieties snorkelling along the rocks all the way around from Lilli Pilli Point to Shiprock. Watch out for fishermen outside the reserve, and watch out for speedboats in the channel. Shiprock Dive can hire equipment or do training courses.
The Port Hacking River lies along the Southern Boundary of the Sutherland Shire, and separates it from the National Park. The Port Hacking is a clean waterway, nice for swimming (except for possibly the day after heavy rain). There are enclosures (nets) for swimming along the waterway, usually uncrowded. You can swim outside the enclosures if want to. The biggest threat is jetskis, sharks are very rarely seen. From Lilli Pilli Point, there is a large sand spit you can swim out to at low tide. There are some little sting rays out there that can sting you if you tread on them. It hurts, but it not otherwise dangerous.
The Georges River is navigable all the way from Botany Bay to Liverpool, and there are lots of places to launch your boat in the area. There are beaches, parks, inlets and river more than enough for a day or two on the river. The Woronora River flows into the Georges at Bonnet Bay.
You hire a motor boat by the hour, explore the Georges River and Woronora River waterways or take a picnic and make a day of it. You can hire a pontoon with BBQ for up to 10 people.
Cruise the Georges River every Sunday. The wharf is just adjacent to Captain Cook Bridge in Sans Souci. Plenty of parking.
The Woronora is an easy river for kayaking or canoeing for an hour or the whole day. Boat traffic is slow, and the river is usually protected and calm. In an hour you can kayak from the Boatshed up to the Woronora Bridge or vice-versa. For a longer trip (if you are fit) you can go all the way up to the Needles, which is really the limit of navigation of the river, and a nice swimming spot.
Hires kayaks, dinghies, canoes. There usually is no requirement to book, and you may explore the many inlets around Bonnet Bay. Take sunscreen, covering clothing, and a hat. The Boatshed also has a cafe serving coffee and milkshakes.
Parry's Milkbar And Candystore
Milk bar.
Has become a favourite for many Sydneysiders after an unfortunate incident involving former prime minister Scott Morrison, his pants and a Cronulla Sharks NRL game in 1997.
Cheap food, including the major chains. Lots of choice, a place to eat, but no ambience.
Eat in or take away, Mr India will give you a very tasty Indian meal for well under $10. The Naan is cooked fresh to order, and is best used to soak up the Lamb Korma.
A local institution, was serving hamburgers through a hole in the wall 40 years ago. Any resemblance to the chain hamburgers is entirely coincidental, this is a different animal. Tender and juicy. Order one with the lot, and a Pina Colada milkshake, and walk down to the river and eat it under the bridge.
Lots of great cafe food in Gymea. Modern Australian Cuisine
Moderately priced Indian restaurant with flair, and really tasty food. If you don't feel like Indian, the Thai Tiger, is next door down, and Italy in Jannali is on the corner. You will need to book on Friday/Saturday nights, but other times just walk in.
This restaurant has open at the same place for well over 20 years. Food not really authentic or unique, but decent serves of tasty food, consistently popular locally.
Como Hilton
The original Como Hotel burnt down in 1996. See the original burnt door still in the Hotel. The new hotel looks even more historic than the old one did, and has a great balcony overlooking the bay and the cricket oval. There is a barbecue on the balcony most weekend lunchtimes.
Metro Motor Inn
Free Wi-Fi in-room and in public areas.
Motel style accommodation, easy walking to the pool, and about 1.5km walk through residential areas to the shops and the station at Sutherland
Pub style accommodation right in the centre of Sutherland.
One of Sydney's largest undercover shopping malls.
Mid-sized mall with a food court full of good East and Southeast Asian food.
By train
Trains run on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra and the South Coast line to the district every 15-30 minutes. The journey takes around 30-45 minutes.
By car
From the north there are three bridges over the Georges River that link to the Sutherland Shire.
By bicycle
The cycleway from Sydney Olympic Park follows the Cooks River to the edge of Botany Bay through Southern Sydney.
By bus
There are bus connections to Miranda direct from Hurstville and from Rockdale. Both are slower and more expensive than the train.
By public transport
Transport NSW provides information on all bus and train times to any street address or attraction. It will recommend the quickest method at the time you wish to travel.
By bicycle
The area can be pleasant for cycling, but plan your route to avoid traffic and significant hill climbs.
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