where is return to paradise filmed

“Return to Paradise” is filmed in Australia, mainly around the Illawarra region of New South Wales and Sydney’s Northern Beaches, even though it’s set in the fictional town of Dolphin Cove.

Main filming locations

• Illawarra region, NSW – Key coastal areas south of Sydney such as Austinmer, Stanwell Park, Thirroul, Coledale, and surrounding suburbs provide many of the show’s street and small‑town scenes.

• Wollongong area – Broader Illawarra city and nearby suburbs are used for general town exteriors and community locations.

• Sea Cliff Bridge & surrounds – Scenic drives and cliffside views around the Sea Cliff Bridge and nearby coastal roads appear in multiple establishing shots.

Sydney’s Northern Beaches

• Bilgola Beach – The primary beach setting for Dolphin Cove, featuring prominently in beach, surf club, and ocean‑side scenes.

• Bilgola Surf Club & ocean pool – Used as the show’s surf‑club hub, with the ocean pool often seen in background shots.

• Avalon – Serves as the location for Detective Mackenzie Clarke’s clifftop/sea‑view house and some additional town exteriors.

Specific spots fans mention

• Stanwell Park Café and coastal area – Recognizable in café and beach‑adjacent scenes.

• Anita’s Theatre (Thirroul) – Used for interiors/exteriors needing a classic small‑town theatre vibe.

• Wombarra Bowlo & Thirroul Motel – Name‑checked by local fans as on‑screen backdrops in several episodes.

Is Dolphin Cove real?

• Dolphin Cove itself is a fictional town created for the series’ cosy‑crime atmosphere.

• The production blends Illawarra’s dramatic escarpments and beaches with Sydney’s Northern Beaches to build this single paradise setting on screen.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.