Scarborough

Coastal views and distinctive terrain

Scarborough sits on a steep escarpment overlooking the ocean. Scarborough Beach offers views of the coast and the cliffs above. Both the terrain and the beach landscape shape the character of the town. If you’re looking for a coastal town for your holiday, you can factor these distinctive perspectives into your decision. For families with different interests, the landscape, beach and local history also offer a range of starting points for planning a trip together.

The beach and time outdoors

Scarborough Beach is an Orange Zone, or time-restricted, dog beach. Depending on the season, dogs may be allowed on the beach on a lead at certain times. If you’re travelling with a dog, factor these time and seasonal restrictions into your daily plans. This is an important difference from a beach visit without these restrictions: access with a dog is subject to specific times and conditions.

There’s also a specific way to enjoy some quieter time outdoors near the beach: the parklands close to Scarborough Beach offer space for picnics. This makes it easy to combine time outdoors with a meal together. If you like to spend your holiday days between the beach landscape and a picnic break, this is one of the town’s appealing features.

The hotel and local history

Built in 1886 in the Victorian Free Classical style, the Scarborough Hotel has been operating since that year and is considered the oldest licensed premises in Wollongong. It offers seating on the lawn and leisurely lunches with views of the Pacific Ocean. Its architecture, dining and views of the Pacific connect the hotel to the town in several ways: it is both a historic building and a place to enjoy a long lunch. For travellers interested in culture, it’s a tangible part of the town’s history.

The railway station’s history also dates back to the 19th century. Scarborough Station opened as Clifton Station in 1887 and was renamed Scarborough in 1903. Since 1915, it has had historical significance as a transport hub for the village of Scarborough. It is also associated with Scarborough’s development as a tourist destination from the early 20th century. These milestones tell different chapters of the story: the station’s original name, followed by its historical role in the village and its development as a tourist destination.

Another part of the town’s history is the former Anglican church at 464 Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Scarborough. It is listed in the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan as local heritage item 6506. Together with the hotel and railway station, it offers another reason to explore the town’s cultural heritage.

Discover more places

If you’d like to explore other local pages, here are some more destinations: Shellharbour City, Berkeley, Primbee, Spring Hill, Flinders and Windang.

For the broader travel overview: Wollongong.