South Coast (New South Wales) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South CoastNew South Wales |
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View of Orion Beach in Vincentia on the shores of Jervis Bay
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 South Coast
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 177,007 (2021) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 12.4007/km2 (32.118/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 14,274 km2 (5,511.2 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11) | ||||||||||||||
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The South Coast is a beautiful area in the south-eastern part of New South Wales, Australia. It is a thin strip of land along the coast, stretching from the Shoalhaven area in the north all the way down to the border with Victoria in the south. To its west, you'll find the tall hills of the Southern Tablelands.
This region is famous for its many national parks, like Jervis Bay National Park, Eurobodalla National Park, and Beowa National Park. To the east, the Pacific Ocean coastline offers stunning views. You'll see green farmlands, small towns, and pretty villages. The coast has rocky parts, but also many lovely beaches and lakes. The South Coast includes the Shoalhaven district, the Eurobodalla Shire, and the Bega Valley Shire. It also includes the Jervis Bay Territory, which is managed by the Australian government.
Contents
What is the South Coast Climate Like?
The South Coast has a mild and warm climate. In summer, the highest temperatures are usually around 30 °C (86 °F). In winter, they drop to about 17 °C (62 °F).
How Does Rainfall Affect the South Coast?
Rainfall here can be a bit unpredictable. It often comes in heavy, but irregular, storms. These storms can happen at any time of year. However, they are most common in late autumn and early winter. Sometimes, very strong storms can bring a lot of rain. For example, in May 1925, some places received as much as 1,270 mm (50 inches) of rain in just one month!
But the South Coast can also have very dry years. In some years, the region might only get about 400 mm (16 inches) of rain in total. This shows how much the rainfall can change from year to year.
How Climate Change May Affect the South Coast
A report from 2011 talked about how climate change might impact the South Coast. It warned about a higher chance of big fires and flooding along the coast. The report also mentioned changes in rainfall patterns and stronger storms. All these changes could affect the amazing biodiversity (the variety of life) in the region.
Even though most of the area has a mild oceanic climate, Gulaga National Park is special. It is the most southern place in New South Wales that has a subtropical rainforest.
How Do People Travel on the South Coast?
For a long time, ships were very important for transport. The Illawarra Steam Navigation Company used ships to carry people and goods. They operated along the South Coast from the 1850s until the 1950s.
Train and Bus Services on the South Coast
Today, you can travel by train to the northern part of the South Coast. The NSW TrainLink South Coast Line goes to Berry and ends at Bomaderry railway station. Bomaderry is near Nowra, about 123 km south of Sydney. If you want to go further south from Nowra, you can take a bus.
Major Roads Connecting the South Coast
The main road through the South Coast is the Princes Highway. This highway connects Sydney and Melbourne along the coast. It is a longer route than the Hume Highway, which is a more direct way between the two big cities. If you are coming from Canberra in the west, you can reach the South Coast using the Kings Highway.
For many years, it was hard to travel by road to Sydney from the South Coast. The Clyde River at Batemans Bay was only bridged in 1956. Before that, people had to use a special boat called a punt to cross the river. The bridge at Narooma was built earlier, in 1931. It was one of the first big bridges on the Princes Highway. This highway was first opened in 1920.
What Towns Are on the South Coast?
The South Coast has many interesting towns. Here are some of the main ones:
- City of Shoalhaven towns include: Berry, Nowra, Ulladulla, Milton, Mollymook, Lake Conjola, and Culburra Beach.
- The Eurobodalla Shire towns are: Batemans Bay, Moruya, and Narooma. This area also includes Tilba, where the TV show River Cottage Australia was filmed.
- The Bega Valley towns are: Bega, Merimbula, Pambula, and Eden. You can also find Cobargo here, which hosts a yearly folk music festival.
Images for kids
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Nowra from Cambewarra lookout
