“Return to Paradise” (the Australian-set Death in Paradise spin‑off) is mainly filmed in New South Wales, especially around the Illawarra region south of Sydney and Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Main filming regions

  • Illawarra, NSW – A coastal strip south of Sydney, used for many outdoor shots standing in for the fictional town of Dolphin Cove.
  • Sydney & Northern Beaches – Key locations like Bilgola Beach and Avalon provide the show’s surf club, ocean pool, and Mackenzie’s clifftop home.

Key specific locations

  • Bilgola Beach (Northern Beaches, Sydney) – The primary beach used for “Return to Paradise”, including the surf club and surrounding coastline.
  • Avalon (Northern Beaches, Sydney) – Used for Mackenzie’s house with its dramatic ocean views.
  • Illawarra spots – Sea Cliff Bridge, Austinmer, Stanwell Park, Coledale Beach, Thirroul and Wombarra Bowlo appear throughout the series as parts of Dolphin Cove.

Is Dolphin Cove real?

  • Dolphin Cove in the show is a fictional coastal town created for the series.
  • The real scenery you see on screen is mostly Illawarra’s beaches and escarpments plus Sydney’s Northern Beaches, chosen for their lush greenery, ocean pools, and dramatic coastline.

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