Police have recovered the bodies of a mother and her young child below a lookout at Mount Keira, near Wollongong.

The woman was aged in her early 30s, while the girl was believed to be about two years old, police said.

Wollongong police Superintendent Chris Craner said officers were called at about 2:00pm yesterday after reports multiple people had gone off the edge of the cliff.

A recovery operation went into the night with police abseiling to the base of the lookout.

Superintendent Craner said investigations into the circumstances of the deaths were still at an early stage.

"This is going to be absolutely devastating for the community. It's going to be devastating for the family," he said.

Forensic officers were at the site this morning.