---
title: "Bulli: things to do, swim, stay · Norilla Coast"
description: "Bulli, northern Illawarra: Pass, point, pub. Bulli is where many people first meet the coast, coming down Bulli Pass from the motorway with the whole of the Illawarra spread out below. It is also the southern edge of the stretch, and a mix of old mining town and new beach suburb."
url: https://norillacoast.com/villages/bulli/
updated: 2026-11-09
publisher: Norilla Coast
---
# Bulli

Pass, point, pub.

**Along the coast**
~18 km south of Stanwell Park

**Train**
Bulli station, ~80 min from Central

**Best for**
Arriving, leaving, and a cheap place to stay

## Why visit Bulli?

Bulli is where many people first meet the coast, coming down Bulli Pass from the motorway with the whole of the Illawarra spread out below. It is also the southern edge of the stretch, and a mix of old mining town and new beach suburb.

In 1887 an explosion at the Bulli colliery killed 81 men and boys, one of the worst mining disasters in Australian history. The memorial and the old railway station are a reminder of what built these towns.

Today Bulli has a long beach, a rock pool at the point, a council-run tourist park on the beachfront and a main street with pubs and live music. At Bulli Tops, the lookout at the head of the pass shows you everything from Wollongong to Thirroul.

## Things to do in Bulli

1. ### Bulli Lookout

    At the top of the pass. Stop on the way in or out.

2. ### Bulli Beach Tourist Park

    Cabins and sites right behind the beach, walking distance to the point.

3. ### Bulli rock pool

    At the north end, beside the point.

4. ### Main street

    Old pubs, live music and a handful of good cafés along the highway.

## Where to swim in Bulli

Bulli Beach is patrolled in season, with a rock pool out at the point at the northern end.

**Ocean pool:** Bulli rock pool, at the point at the north end of the beach.

Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches. Ocean pools close on a roster for cleaning, so check Wollongong City Council before you plan a swim around one.

## Where to stay in Bulli

Bulli Beach Tourist Park has cabins and campsites directly behind the beach. There are also rentals in the streets around the main road.

## How do you get to Bulli from Sydney?

Trains on the South Coast Line from Sydney's Central station stop at Bulli. The trip takes about 80 minutes, depending on the service. Weekend trains run less often, so check the timetable for your return.

By car, Bulli is about an hour from the Sydney CBD. Take the M1 Princes Motorway, or drive through the Royal National Park and down Lawrence Hargrave Drive for the scenic route.

[Compare train, scenic drive and motorway →](https://norillacoast.com/getting-here/)

## Bulli at a glance

| Detail | Bulli |
| --- | --- |
| Distance from Stanwell Park | ~18 km |
| Train station | Yes |
| Train from Central | ~80 min |
| Ocean pool | Yes |
| Surf club | Bulli Surf Life Saving Club |
| Best for | Arriving, leaving, and a cheap place to stay |
| Neighbours | Thirroul (north) |

## Bulli FAQs

### How far is Bulli from Sydney?

Bulli is about an hour from the Sydney CBD by car and about 80 minutes by train from Central. It is about 18 km south of Stanwell Park along the coast road.

### Is there an ocean pool at Bulli?

Yes. Bulli rock pool, at the point at the north end of the beach.

### Where is Bulli Lookout?

Bulli Lookout is at Bulli Tops, at the head of Bulli Pass, just off the Princes Highway. It looks south over Thirroul, Bulli and Wollongong.

### What was the Bulli mining disaster?

On 23 March 1887 an explosion at the Bulli colliery killed 81 men and boys. It was one of the worst mining disasters in Australian history.