The rock baths were established at the same time as the pines and for the same reason. Nearby Bassett Park occupies the site of an old Aboriginal midden, upon which a pioneer cemetery was later built. The harbour is the ideal spot for anglers to launch a boat. Fish in the area include mackeral, tailor, snapper, trevally, jewfish, kingfish, tuna and teraglin. The Shellharbour area is ideal for beach, rock, estuary and deep-sea fishing.
Local beaches are a rich source of whiting in summer.
One of the most popular fishing spots is the mouth of Lake Illawarra, a shallow lagoon of some 33 square kilometres. Here, virtually 24 hours a day, fishermen can be seen dangling their lines from the Windang Bridge. The Lake is noted for its catches of bream, blackfish and flathead and, in the summer season, prawns are in plentiful supply. A small walkway on the western side of Windang Bridge leads across to Picnic Island where there is a 250-metre bushwalk and lookout. There are around 150 species of birds in the vicinity including pelicans and pied cormorants.