Guide to Helensburgh New South Wales Australia

Helensburgh is a town of about 6,000 people on the plateau above the coast, 45 kilometres south of Sydney and just off the Princes Motorway. It is surrounded by Royal National Park, Garawarra and the water catchment, so although it is technically a suburb of Wollongong, it feels like a village in the bush.

Known For

• Symbio Wildlife Park
• The Sri Venkateswara Temple
• Waterfalls and abandoned railway tunnels

Things To Do in Helensburgh

Symbio Wildlife Park

This family-run zoo has koalas, kangaroos to hand-feed, red pandas, meerkats, cheetahs and reptiles, with a splash park in summer. It is a good half-day with children.

Sri Venkateswara Temple

On Temple Road, this was one of the first traditional Hindu temples built in Australia, begun in the 1980s in the South Indian style. Visitors are welcome to look around quietly, and a canteen serves vegetarian South Indian food on weekends.

Kellys Falls

A short walk from a picnic area south of the town leads to lookouts over a series of waterfalls dropping into a rainforest gorge.

The Old Tunnels

The first railway through here, opened in 1888 and abandoned in 1915, left several brick tunnels. One became famous for its glow worms, but it has been fenced off to protect them, so admire the old station site and tunnel mouth from outside.

Where To Stay

Helensburgh has a hotel and a few bed and breakfasts.

History

The town began as a camp for railway workers. Coal was struck while drilling in 1884, and the colliery that opened soon afterwards is still working, one of the oldest in the country.

Getting to Helensburgh

Take the Helensburgh exit from the M1 Princes Motorway, about 50 minutes from central Sydney. The station is on the South Coast Line. Stanwell Park and the coast road are ten minutes away.