Wollongong.
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Overview

Heading south, Wollongong starts where Sydney finishes. It is the third largest city in New South Wales behind Sydney and Newcastle and is thinly wedged on a coastal plain between an escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, in the Illawarra region. It is pronounced Wool-un-gong, a word of Aboriginal origin although the translation is not certain. The traditional owners of the land are the Dharawal people.

Understand

Geography defines Wollongong, as the city is never more than roughly 6 km at its widest but stretches over 40 km from south to north. Its growth was limited by mountains, which are not so much high as steep, and the sea, Wollongong has grown to include a whole chain of coastal towns, from Dapto and Port Kembla in the south to Bulli, Austinmer, and even up to Stanwell Park in the north. Continuous development has stretched the urban area along the coast as far as Kiama in the distant south but those areas are serviced by the growing centre of Shellharbour.

Most of Wollongong's suburbs, including several popular beach towns, are covered in this article. The very northern suburbs of Helensburgh and Stanwell Park are covered in their own articles; in many ways they have closer ties to southern Sydney than to Wollongong.

Its modern origins are in coal mining and steel production, industries which persist, notably the BlueScope steel facility at Port Kembla to the south. A dedicated port exists for the transport of materials whereas private craft and fishing boats use a separate facility nearer the CBD in Belmore Basin. New industries, such as financial services, information technology, tourism and education are fast becoming trademarks of the city. Wollongong people are proud of the employment and heavy industry in the area, and choose to be more than just an outer commuter suburb for Sydney.

The University of Wollongong is popular with local, other Australian and international students. Due to post war migration involving heavy industry, Wollongong also includes a large Mediterranean, Indian and Asian population which has left its mark on the city and means there is a great range of food and entertainment options.

There are many interesting and beautiful locations within easy reach. The immediate area possesses some fine, often uncrowded beaches and reasonable surfing.

Get in

The quickest way from Sydney is to take A1/M1 south. You leave Sydney, and enter greater Wollongong just before the motorway starts. It's about a 50 minutes drive to this point, and around another 20 minutes down the motorway to the Wollongong CBD. Expect to take longer in the afternoon peak, Wollongong is a part of the Sydney commuter belt.

If you have a little longer, you can take a route via the Bulli Pass and the Wollongong Northern Beaches. At the end of the motorway the Bulli Pass road throws itself straight down the escarpment and along the coast. The exit is well signposted after the end of the motorway. Add 10 minutes for this diversion.

If you have a little longer still, a very scenic way to see more of Wollongong, the escarpment and the cliffs, is to take the Grand Pacific Drive (official website). Exit from the motorway at Helensburgh through Stanwell Park and down the coast. The road is well signposted to Wollongong. The Sea Cliff Bridge is a highlight of this trip, between Coalcliff and Scarborough.

From the south of Wollongong, follow the Princes Highway (A1) north.

From Canberra or Melbourne, you can access Wollongong via the Illawarra Highway (A48) or via Picton Road (B88). Picton Road offers a faster, straighter trip, while the Illawarra Highway (A48) offers scenery with windy roads and the occasional waterfall and picnic areas. To go the quick, Picton Road (A48) route, ignore the first exit sign to Wollongong from the Hume Highway (M31) at Moss Vale, and take the second, where the exit is also signposted to Picton and Cataract.

The train services from Sydney to Wollongong are operated by NSW TrainLink, and have a usual weekday frequency of 15-30 minutes and 60 minutes on weekends. Each four-car train has two quiet carriages for those who want peace and quiet during their journey, and one easy access toilet on board. The trains can get pretty crowded during the morning and evening peaks heading towards and away from Sydney respectively (especially if there are only four carriages), but you should usually get a seat. In the weekday evening peak, these trains fill to standing room only until you pass Sutherland, as well as on Sunday afternoons heading back into Sydney. Similarly to all trains in the region, you can't book a seat, but rather pay with a reloadable Opal Card, a single trip Opal ticket, or a contactless credit/debit card at the Opal gates.

is conveniently located in the CBD, and many of the other suburbs going up and down the coast have their own stations.

The train journey is a scenic, albeit a slow one, traversing the Royal National Park with views of the ocean and forest. Sit on the left-hand side and upstairs (looking in the direction of travel) when travelling from Sydney or the right-hand side travelling to Sydney to get the best views. The trip on the limited stops trains takes around 90 minutes.

Wollongong is primarily serviced by scheduled international and domestic airline flights operating into Sydney Airport to the north of the city. Connecting links to Sydney are provided by rail and road.

To get to Wollongong by car from Sydney Airport drive 60 minutes south along the A1 Princes Hwy and M1 Princes Motorway. Follow the signs from the airport towards Wollongong and Rockdale to get to the Princes Highway, and from there follow the road and directional signage south to Wollongong.

To get to Wollongong by train from Sydney Airport, you have two options: catch a T8 Airport Line train one or two stops to Wolli Creek, and then change for a train to Wollongong. All trains to Wollongong stop at Wolli Creek. catch a T8 train to Central, then a South Coast line train down to Wollongong.

The latter is a better option during peak times as you're more likely to find a seat on the train from Central.

Private bus companies operate shuttle services from the airport to any destination door to door in the Illawarra/Wollongong region.

Wollongong City Shuttle. Call or book on-line.

There is a small airport located south of Wollongong in Shellharbour which mostly caters to general aviation flights, though it also has limited domestic flights as well.

By bus If you're coming from south-western Sydney, you can catch the 887 bus from Campbelltown to Wollongong train station, via Appin and the University of Wollongong. On weekdays, there are eighteen buses per day. On weekends and public holidays, there are three buses per day to Wollongong.

By boat A couple of Royal Caribbean cruise ships a year visit Wollongong, docking at Port Kembla.

Get around

Wollongong bus services form part of the Greater Sydney public transport network. Most bus routes have a service every hour or every 30 minutes.

Dions Bus Service. Operates bus services in the northern suburbs of Wollongong, going as far as Austinmer.

Premier Coaches. Operates bus services between Wollongong and Stanwell Park, as well as between Helensburgh and Stanwell Tops.

Premier Illawarra. Operates buses from the suburb of Bellambi (north of Wollongong), to as far south as Kiama.

The free Gong Shuttle Bus operates between the University of Wollongong and the CBD, via Wollongong Station, the Hospital, Burelli St and the UOW's Innovation Campus. On weekends they also stop at North Wollongong station. They run every 10 minutes peak from 7AM-6PM, and every 20 minutes off-peak from 6PM-10PM weekdays, and weekends from 8AM-6PM. These are usually operated by distinctive bright green buses, though the regular blue and white buses are occasionally used. Look out for route numbers 55A and 55C.

Take note that the free buses only stop at bus stops marked by the green Gong Shuttle Bus signboard at the top; they won't stop at ordinary bus stops even if you flagged them down!

There are also the navy blue North Gong (NG) and Gwynneville Keiraville (GK) shuttle buses, operated by the UOW, which are free to ride as well.

The northern coastal suburbs of Wollongong are well-serviced by train; however, depending on the station, you can still be a kilometre or so from the beach. Stanwell Park, Austinmer, Coledale, Wombarra and Bulli are the best stations to access nearby beaches, with Austinmer the most popular. All stations see hourly services.

A car will take you everywhere in the region you want to go. Parking along the Wollongong beaches and foreshore is free. Parking on Sundays is free.

Car hire is also available in Wollongong. Avis, Europcar and Hertz are located in Flinders St, just north of the CBD.

An extensive cycle track runs from Wollongong north for 10 km to Thirroul, hugging the scenic beaches, or the same distance south to Windang and Lake Illawarra. This is generally uncrowded and a great way to get a feel for the city and surroundings. Within the city itself, cycling is a bit more challenging thanks to the numerous inclines. However, there are pop-up cycleways on Smith and Harbour Streets to Belmore Basin, and on Kembla Street between Smith and Crown Streets. Cycling is not allowed in Crown St Mall, although people can be seen pedalling through the mall regardless.

A good cycle route could take 60 km mostly off-road from Bulli to Kiama, hugging the coast and headlands the whole way, and passing close to all Wollongong has to offer. You can put your bike on the train for the trip back.

You can hire bikes at Thirroul to ride south:

The Illawarra Taxi Network (formerly Radio Cabs of Wollongong) and 13cabs serve Wollongong and the surrounding suburbs. The main taxi rank is on Church St next to the Greater Union cinemas. You can also find taxi ranks outside shopping centres in the Illawarra such as in Corrimal, Warrawong, Figtree, and Shellharbour.

Aside from taxis, ridesharing provider Uber also operates around Wollongong.

Despite its hilly topography, Wollongong is a relatively walkable city - you can easily walk from the train station to the Wollongong CBD, and all the way to Wollongong City Beach in about 30 minutes. There are several grey and orange wayfinding signs scattered around the downtown area, most of them situated at major intersections. These indicate the directions to points of interest such as the CBD, Arts Precinct, Wollongong train station, and foreshore.

See

The escarpment next to Wollongong provides spectacular views over the coastline and city.

Bulli Pass. Spectacular views over Wollongong and up and down the coast are available from the lookouts at the top of the Bulli Pass. Barbecues, picnic tables and kiosks are available at the lookouts. There are actually three lookout locations here, including Bulli Lookout and Sublime Point. is probably the most famous, and best for a picnic or the view. Sublime Point can be reached by car, or by a steep hike. Bulli Lookout has a restaurant/cafe on the top of the cliff.

Mount Keira Lookout. More spectacular views from the top, as well as some walks and views of the hang-gliders launching. Cafe at the top, serving Devonshire Teas. Worth a visit at night to see the lights of the town.

Science Space. Two-storey museum with lots of stuff to do for kids aged 1 to 15 (and their parents, of course). Don't miss the 3PM Planetarium show.

The HARS Aircraft museum is actually located to the south of Wollongong in Albion Park.

Nan Tien Temple. Opened in October 1995 it is a branch temple of Fo Guang Shan and the biggest Buddhist temple in Australia. "Nan Tien" in Chinese means "Paradise of the South". Reminiscent of Buddhist temples in China, it contains a vegetarian restaurant and has received awards for its beautiful lighting, gardens and architecture.

St Francis Xavier Cathedral. This is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. A wooden chapel was built in 1836, and a larger, more permanent church was constructed three years later. St Francis Xavier was designated as the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Wollongong in 1951, with the diocese officially being established on 11 February 1952.

WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres. The Sports stadium hosts rugby league (St.George Illawarra), rugby union, and soccer and has a capacity of 18,500 (11,000 seated). The Entertainment Centre is situated to the north of the stadium and hosts a variety of sports and special events.

Inside Industry - Port Kembla Steelworks. The Port Kembla Steelworks is located 80 km south of Sydney in the heart of Port Kembla, an industrial suburb in the Greater City of Wollongong, A fully integrated plant with steelmaking capacity of 5 million tonnes a year, the Steelworks is situated on an area of 800 hectares and directly employs up to 6,000 people. The Steelworks is one of the world's most technically advanced producers of high quality slab, plate and strip products. It has become arguably one of Australia's most valuable industries, competing for overseas markets and providing valuable export dollars for the Australian economy. A drive through the area at night can be interesting, with the flames more visible. You can even sometimes see the glow of the hot steel.

Sea Cliff Bridge. An iconic road bridge that hugs the cliffs between Wollongong and Sydney, with beautiful ocean views. Pedestrians can walk along the bridge, and the flat rocky area below has interesting marine life at low tide – meander down and look for crabs, sea snails, and if you're lucky, seals, manta rays, and octopuses.

Wollongong Botanical Garden. A usually uncrowded open space, with duck ponds and short walks. Bring some bread for the ducks, and a picnic.

Lake Illawarra is walkable from Dapto station, or you can catch a bus. If you are coming by train for a walk or cycle by the lake, then Albion Park Rail or Oak Flats may be a better destination - where there are walking/cycle paths to the lake. The lake is also easily accessible from Warrawong. There are regular buses between Wollongong and Warrawong.

Illawarra Grevillea Park. Botanical garden with flora from all over Australia, including a planted rainforest area and lots of grevilleas.

Do

During the summer months, Wollongong has 17 surf beaches to choose from, each with less crowds and more space than most Sydney beaches. All have free foreshore parking, and most are accessible by public transport and bicycle.

North Beach. One of the most popular beaches, in front of Stuart Park and the Novotel. There is a kiosk right on the beach as well as other takeaway and restaurant options nearby. You can find a shady spot under the trees in the park, just a few steps from the sand.

City (South) Beach. Right at the end of Crown St, by WIN Entertainment Centre. Not as popular as North Beach, perhaps because the views to the south take in the steelworks and dunes rather than parks and headlands. Still, it is nice sand and a place to cool off only minutes walk from the CBD.

Austinmer. A very pleasant cove and small beach. Cafes and restaurants across the road, park and barbecues behind, some would say the ultimate beach, sometimes suffers from its popularity. Go early or late on a sunny day.

Towradgi. A beach you are sure to get your own stretch of sand.

Port Kembla. Maybe the Gong's most underrated beach. Possibly associated with the steelworks and the town, but the beach is over the headland, very pretty, and possibly the longest stretch of sand on the Wollongong coastline. Has parking, is on the coastal cycle track, and is about 2km from Port Kembla station.

Windang. Has the caravan park, and a feel more like a south coast beach. Just near the entrance to Lake Illawarra, there are also nearby parks and bicycle rides near the lake.

If you just want to do some laps, or for the kids to splash in the water, try the lap and leisure pools at Beaton Park, on Foley St (off Gipps Rd).

Cycle. There are designated cycle routes all across the Wollongong Region. If you want coastal scenery, cycle north from Wollongong towards Bulli, all off road and long stretches through parks. If you want to see Wollongong industry close up, cycle south to Port Kembla, passing the steelworks along the way.

Mount Keira Ring Track. A very popular 5 km walk around Mount Keira. Eucalypt and rainforest scenery. However, beware of leeches if there is the slightest bit of rain.

Mountain Bike. There are rides for all levels of fitness and technical abilities on or around the escarpment. Rides include fire trails, single track and lightly used roads which provide a good workout for all ages.

Hiking. Various trails crisscross the escarpment west of Wollongong's northern suburbs. For instance, some nice hikes start from Foothills Road in Austinmer and Stephen Drive in Woonona.

Sublime Point Walking Track. A steep, physically demanding hike through dense forest up the escarpment. Roughly an hour of hiking (if you don't take breaks), including lots of steps and some ladders, is rewarded with beautiful views of the Illawarra and the ships out at sea. The trailhead is about 30 minutes from Austinmer train station on foot. As of October 2022, the top part of the trail is temporarily closed for repairs, though the lookout is still reachable by car.

Cockatoo Run. The Cockatoo Run is a vintage train that climbs through the Morton National Park Rainforest to Robertson and Moss Vale. The services run irregularly, and the best place to check for timings in on the Facebook page of the operator.

Illawarra Live Steamers. Model train rides are offered to the public on the 4th Sunday of every month down at Stuart Park. Fun for all the family just remember to wear enclosed shoes and no drinking on trains

Shellharbour Scuba Centre. A PADI 5 Star centre about three minutes drive from Bass point offering all facilities including boat dives, nitrox and courses. Some of the best temperate water diving to be encountered anywhere can be found in Wollongong and areas to the south. Bass Point should be your stopping off point as it offers at least a dozen dives suitable to all standards of diver.

Dapto Dapto Mall, Dapto Leagues Club and the Community Centre provide a variety of things to do. There is an annual Street Fair every September on Fathers Day. Following that is the Dapto Show. There are sometimes special shows like Monster Trucks etc during the year. Sunday mornings there are the 'flea markets' where one can find great bargains.

Learn

University of Wollongong. The campus is one of the most attractive in Australia, nestled below a subtropical rainforest overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the base of Mount Keira Streams and ponds run throughout the area. Cars are kept to the perimeter of the campus. It is worth a visit purely as an attraction of the city. The university punches above its weight in academic achievement and accolades as far as regional universities go.

Buy

Wollongong Central. The largest shopping centre in the Illawarra, Wollongong Central incorporates what used to be known as Crown Central and Crown Gateway malls. Its architecture is a reflection the region - the steelworks, the escarpment, and the ocean.

Crown Street Mall. A pedestrian mall on Crown St from Keira St in the west to Kembla St in the east, with the main department stores, cafes and specialty stores lining both sides. At the centre is a small stage, where local talent (schools and dance groups) often perform on weekends. Every Thursday from 5PM-9PM there is an evening market called Eat Street, which has numerous stalls serving a variety of local and international food. On Fridays from 8AM-2PM is the Friday Forage Market, where you can buy locally-grown and organic produce and pastries.

Warrawong Plaza. The usual obligatory and formulaic chain stores, food halls, and supermarket shopping, with cinemas and shopping strips in most of the northern beachside suburbs along the Princes Highway.

Foragers Market Bulli. Monthly market with food, drinks, crafts, live music, and a community atmosphere. Excellent vegan pastries available.

Eat

Everything about Wollongong's eateries is excellent. Most restaurants are located on either Keira St or Corrimal St, but don't be afraid to venture down a laneway, or further north or south to the outer suburbs, to find great food. There is something for everyone.

Food World. Chinese and Vietnamese food, big meals and very cheap. Great atmosphere. They have some of the most satisfying Chinese food for prices that don't ever seem to be affected by inflation. Highly recommended if you want a quick, cheap and filling meal; try the chicken and rice.

Amigo's Mexican Restaurant. A casual Mexican place which serves huge tasty Mexican meals.

Fujiyama Teppanyaki Restaurant. Japanese and Chinese restaurant. Chefs cook the food at the BBQ in front of (and sometimes behind) your eyes. A delight to the senses at budget prices.

City Diggers Wollongong (RSL). Nice atmosphere, but on weekends reservations are highly suggested. Food gets served within 10-15 minutes.

Dagwood. An eclectic mix of American and East Asian food – burgers, dumplings, drinks, etc. Indoor and outdoor seating. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Mylan. There are a number of Vietnamese restaurants around (Mylan, Twins, Ha Long Bay etc) Mylan is by far the best and is always busy. Book ahead if you can.

Jasmine Rice. Thai food with traditional seating on cushions in one room or tables and chairs in another. The food is consistently good, although dearer than some of the other Thai restaurants.

Roppongi. Japanese styled restaurant. Choose from the sashimi (raw fish) to delicious Japanese salad and schnitzel with special sauce. If you want to indulge in a more cultural experience you can also sit in the Japanese style room where you sit on cushions. The lunchtime special is also great for those on a budget as they continue the Japanese tradition of offering cheaper prices for the dinner meals.

Thai Carnation. Popular Thai restaurant. Duck curry is served with lots of fresh vegetables and some fresh grapes, the duck is succulent and tender while the broth is mild but tasty.

Two Mountains. Casual eatery serving brunch and lunch, with outdoor seating and vegetarian/vegan options.

Lettuce B. Frank. Popular cafe with a healthy/natural vibe and all-day breakfast. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Kinn Thai Restaurant. Often busy, and for good reason. Book in advance if you can.

His Boy Elroy. Popular burger joint and bar with indoor and outdoor seating.

Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant. A harbourside seafood restaurant with a wide array of seafood. The windows towards the harbour facing north are made of glass, and it's possible to see the north of the CBD along the bay.

Drink

A growing city, Wollongong city holds a wide variety of bars. Generally, pubs close to the city but not in the actual CBD/North Wollongong proper tend to have unsavoury reputations. Wednesday nights are 'uni nights', and at places such as Castros and the Grand feature drink specials and cheap or free entry - expect a lot of young patrons.

The North Wollongong Pub. The "local" for the University of Wollongong, across the Princes Hwy from the North Wollongong train station. Major renovations in 2006 provided several bars, including a spacious outdoor garden, a bistro and bar inside, and a more formal (and dress-coded so you can't just wear your thongs/flip-flops) upstairs cocktail lounge. Although frequented by UOW students, North Gong remains popular with all ages.

Hotel Illawarra. Large hotel/pub that has been refurbished in wood and chrome. It receives the early morning crowd as it is the only bar that consistently closes at 3AM most nights of the week. Somewhat upper-class. Dress in smart casual.

The Grand Hotel. A three part hotel. One features a number of 'pokies', pool tables, a bar, game machines and a lounge area. The second is a large outdoor beer garden and smoking area, while the third is a proper nightclub, complete with DJ booth and impressively sized dance floor and two separate bars. Hosts local and international acts on occasion.

Harp Hotel. A 'working class' pub with two bars (And a third that is only open day times or during special events, such as Australia day, for punters) featuring pokies, karaoke on Saturday nights, some live music Thursday evenings and a crowd of locals the rest of the time. The 'new bar' features a night club and a window onto the smoking section and the old bar is an area with a stage and a number of seating options.

Five Barrels Brewing. Craft beer and burgers.

Dicey Riley's. An Irish hotel near Wollongong Train Station. Once known for being 'dicey', it is now one of the only venues in Wollongong to have live music on Friday and Saturday nights. With a new bistro, The Red Fox, it is the place to be. Especially on St Patrick's Day.

Fever Nightclub. Opens at 9PM yet is the only bar in town open past 3AM. Fever closes at 6AM weekend evenings, so if you want to make the most of a night out, it is the place to be! The club is smaller than some of the other venues in town, but makes up for it in atmosphere. The bar staff are entertaining, drink prices low and the music always lures you to the light-up dancefloor.

The Builders Club. The Builders is fantastic for a few early drinks and then maybe kicking on to the nightclubs later. Worth visiting to see the huge mural painted on the front wall. Thursday night and Friday day poker games.

Humber. Cocktail bar with a rooftop terrace.

Illawarra Brewery. Craft beer, wine, and food (with vegetarian and vegan options). Hosts a lively and challenging trivia competition 7PM–9PM on Wednesdays (open to any teams, but book before coming as the tables fill up) and Drag Bingo at 7PM on Thursdays.

3SixT Nutrition. Cheerful, chatty staff make tea drinks and smoothies with added vitamins and minerals. Several of the smoothies can be made vegan.

Sleep

Thirroul Beach Motel. Unpretentious lodging a block from the beach in the northern suburb of Thirroul. Rooms available with mini-kitchens (fridge, microwave, and dishes) and reliable Wi-Fi. Check-in information is sent by SMS, so make sure you have a valid Australian mobile number. The staff are friendly but there's no designated reception area, so you'll likely have to call if you need something.

Best Western City Sands. Part of Wollongong Golf Club and close to the CBD, WIN Stadium, WIN Entertainment Centre, and local beaches.

ibis Hotel. In the city's main entertainment and business precinct.

Quest Wollongong. Serviced apartment in the CBD, close to Crown Street Mall and Wollongong Central.

Adina Wollongong. Serviced apartment near Wollongong City Beach and a few blocks from Crown Street Mall.

Novotel Northbeach Wollongong. Beach views, a day spa and is just 5 minutes from the Wollongong CBD and retail precinct.

Chifley Wollongong. Ultra-modern hotel adjacent to WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre. A short walk to the beach, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.