Wollongong is a city in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Heading south, Wollongong starts where Sydney finishes. It is the third largest city in the state behind Sydney and Newcastle and is thinly wedged on a coastal plain between an escarpment and the Pacific Ocean. It is pronounced Wool-un-gong.
Understand
Geography
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.
Industry
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 city centre 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.
Community
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.
Visitor Centre
- Southern Gateway Centre, M1 Princes Motorway, Bulli Tops (This visitor centre is after the Appin Road (B69) exit and only accessible southbound. If you're on Mount Ousley Road, take the B69 exit and re-enter the M1).
Districts
The very northern suburb of Helensburgh is covered in its own article. In many ways it has closer ties to southern Sydney than to Wollongong.
Get in
By car
The quickest way from Sydney is to take M1/A1 south. You leave Sydney, and enter greater Wollongong just before the motorway starts. Its about 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.
By train
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.
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.
By plane
Wollongong is primarily serviced by scheduled international and domestic airline flights operating into Sydney Airport (SYD IATA) 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, ☏ 61 2 4261 7393, fax: 61 2 4262 2990, ✉[email protected]. Call or book on-line.
There is an airport (Illawarra Regional/Wollongong) located south of Wollongong in Shellharbour which mostly caters to general aviation flights, though it also has domestic flights as well.
- 1 Illawarra Regional Airport (Wollongong Aerodrome WOL IATA) (at 20 min south of the Wollongong CBD in Albion Park rail in Shellharbour is only marginally closer than Sydney airport). It is the site of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society museum and workshop facilities associated with that society are located at the airport. Fly Corporate operates flights to Melbourne's Essendon Airport and Brisbane using Saab 340B Plus aircraft.
- Sydney to Wollongong Airport Transfer, ☏ 61 419 017 172 (mobile), ✉[email protected]. Call 24/7 or email
By bus
If you're coming from south-western Sydney, you can catch the 887 bus from Campbelltown to Wollongong train stations, via Appin and the University of Wollongong. These buses operate with intervals from every half an hour to every hour and a half.
By boat
A couple of Royal Caribbean cruise ships a year visit Wollongong, docking at Port Kembla.
Get around
By bus
Wollongong bus services form part of the Greater Sydney public transport network. You can either use the Opal card or a contactless debit/credit card when boarding the bus. As of July 2020, buses in the Greater Sydney area no longer accept cash as a result of COVID-19 preventative measures. 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 (Green's Northern 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 City Centre, 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.
By train
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.
By car
A car will take you everywhere in the region you want to go. Parking in the multi-story carparks in the Wollongong CBD is less than $2/hr, up to a maximum of $15. 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 city centre.
By bike
An extensive cycle track runs from Wollongong north for 10 km to Thirroul, hugging the scenic beaches, or the same distance south south to Windang and Lake Illawarra. This is generally uncrowded and a great way to get a feel for the city and surrounds. Within the city itself, cycling is a bit more challenging thanks to the numerous inclines. Cycling is not allowed in Crown St Mall, although people can be seen on 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:
- Steel City Cycle, 365 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul, ☏ 61 2 4267 1747. $40 per day.
or in downtown Wollongong:
- Wollongong Bike Hire, 337 Keira St, ☏ 61 2 4228 7366. $40 per day.
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 providers Uber and Ola also operate around Wollongong.
On foot
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
Swimming and surfing
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.
To the north of the city try...
- 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 city centre.
- 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.
To the south of the city try..
- 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).
Lookouts
The escarpment next to Wollongong provides spectacular views over the coastline and city.
- Bulli Pass (10 min North of Wollongong on the main Sydney road, only accessible by car). 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. Sublime Point is probably the most famous, and best for a picnic or the view. Bulli Lookout has a restaurant/cafe on the top of the cliff. Free.
- Mount Keira Lookout (from Wollongong take tourist drive 11, Mount Kiera Rd). 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. Free.
- Mount Kembla Lookout (car park off Cordeaux Rd, in the Illawarra Escarpment Conservation Area). Free.
Museums
- 1 Science Space (Science Centre and Planetarium), 60 Squires Way, North Wollongong (Squires Way, Fairy Meadow), ☏ 61 2 4286 5000, ✉[email protected]. 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. $15 for adults and $11 for children.
- The HARS Aircraft museum is actually located to the south of Wollongong in Albion Park.
Landmarks and attractions
- 2 Nan Tien Temple, Berkeley Rd, Berkeley, ☏ 61 2 4272 0600, fax: 61 2 4272 0601, ✉[email protected]. Tuesday to Sunday: 9AM-5PM (open Mondays on public holidays). Opened in October 1995 it is a branch temple of Fo Guang Shan and the biggest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. "Nan Tien" in Chinese means "Paradise of the South". It has received awards for its beautiful lighting, gardens and architecture. Free.
- 3 St Francis Xavier Cathedral (SFX), 36 Harbour St, Wollongong (a block away from WIN Entertainment Centre). 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.
- 4 WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres (the WEC), Corner of Crown and Harbour Streets (southern end of the Central Business District), ☏ 61 2 4220 2800, fax: 61 2 4220 2801, ✉[email protected]. 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.
- 5 Inside Industry - Port Kembla Steelworks, Visitor Centre at the BlueScope Steel Northgate Entrance, Springhill Rd Coniston. The entrance is marked with extremely large Australian and BlueScope Steel flags, ☏ 61 2 4275 7023, fax: 61 2 4275 7204, ✉[email protected]. 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.
- 6 Wollongong Head Lighthouse, Endeavour Dr, Wollongong.
Gardens and parks
- 7 Wollongong Botanical Garden, Murphys Ave, Keiraville (across from the University of Wollongong. Take the route 55C free Gong Shuttle Bus from Crown St near Wollongong Central and get off at the UOW.). A usually uncrowded open space, with duck ponds and short walks. Bring some bread for the ducks, and a picnic. Free.
- 8 Minnamurra Rainforest (Budderoo National Park, near Jamberoo, head along Jamberoo Mountain Road), ☏ 61 2 4236 0469. 9am-5pm daily (closed Christmas Day). Visitors centre and boardwalks through subtropical rainforest. Go early in the morning for the best chance at seeing wildlife such as lyre birds and wombats. Park entry is $12 per vehicle, otherwise free.
Do
Walk and pedal
- 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 Kiera Ring Track, 5 km loop. A very popular 5 km walk around Mount Keira. Eucalypt and rain forest 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.
Big trains and little trains
- Cockatoo Run, toll-free: 1300 65 3801. Sundays. 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, Lot 1 Virginia St, North Wollongong, ☏ 61 2 4229 9062. 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 $2 per trip.
Diving
- 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.
- Sky-Diving. Wollongong's stunning scenery look even more stunning when seen from above. If the mountain lookouts aren't exciting enough for you, the option to skydive is yours. A number of companies operate out of Illawarra Regional Airport, one of these being the Bushsports group.
Learn
- 1 University of Wollongong (UOW), Main campus-Northfields Avenue, Gwynneville (next to the Botanical Gardens, shuttle bus service operates from North Wollongong Station), toll-free: 1300 367 869, ✉[email protected]. 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
- 1 Wollongong Central, 200 Crown St, ☏ 61 2 4228 5999. 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.
- 2 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.
- 3 Warrawong Plaza, Cnr King & Cowper St, Warrawong. 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.
- 4 Lederer - Corrimal (Stockland - Corrimal), 270 Princes Highway, Corrimal, ☏ 61 2 42831133. 9AM - 5PM hours vary.
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.
Budget
- Coconut Thai. (also located on Keira St), Variety of excellent Thai dishes. Meals range from $10-20 per person. Recommended for vegetarians and vegans, as they offer a lot of excellent non-meat dishes, as well as a wide array of beef, chicken and seafood orientated meals.
- Ahmed's (between North Wollongong station and the Crown Street Mall). A kebab shop run by a sometimes-professor for the University of Wollongong, named, surprisingly, Ahmed. Always open late, recommended is the regular chicken, extra extra extra hot.
- 1 Food World. Chinese and Vietnamese food, big meals and very cheap. Mains $8-10. 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.
- 2 Amigo's Mexican Restaurant. A casual Mexican place which serves huge tasty Mexican meals. Recommended are the Lunchtime Special (meal and drink for $8.50) and $3 tacos (Tuesday nights, 5:30PM - 9:30PM), which is very popular with students.
- Fujiyama Teppanyaki Restaurant, 12 Daisy St, Fairy Meadow, ☏ 61 2 4283 8830. 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.
- 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.
- FU's (next to Amigos). Chinese food provided in large servings. It is also a great place to go with a group because they do meal deals.
- Roppongi, Market St (Close to Extreme surf store and the Illawarra Hotel), ☏ 61 2 4226 3243. 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.
Mid-range
- City Diggers Wollongong (RSL), 82 Church St, ☏ 61 2 4225 2563, fax: 61 2 4225 2685. Nice atmosphere, but on weekends reservations are highly suggested. Food gets served within 10-15 minutes. Mains: $13-17. Beer: $4-6.
- Marco's, Corrimal St (Cafe district). Offers a range of dishes concentrating on Italian cuisine. Portions at Marco’s will challenge even the most avid eaters.
- Hideaway Cafe (in the centre of Wollongong city between the amphitheatre and Greater Union cinema). Delicious food and down to earth staff. On Thursday and Saturday entertainment is provided by local artists. From $13-20.
- 3 Jasmine Rice, Corrimal St. 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.
- 4 Thai Carnation (Corner of Corrimal and Crown St). 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.
Splurge
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 (North Gong for short) (North Wollongong train station). 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 (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 (previously known as Cooneys) (at the south end of Keira St). 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.
- Glasshouse. A tavern and nightclub smells distinctly of its trademark vomit and sawdust. It is reasonably popular, with an entry fee charged for the upstairs nightclub. Often somewhat violent, coupled with incompetent security staff can make for an unpleasant night out if you don't keep your wits about you.
- Castro's. Nightclub tucked into Victoria St. A 'three mode' nightclub. Wednesday is Uni Night, with varying crowd sizes and cheap drink specials, as well as free entry before midnight. 2AM lockout, 3AM close. Fridays are often used for "Sensations", an U18 party session, while Saturday is Gay Night with a popular drag queen show.
- Harp Hotel, Corrimal St. 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.
- Abbey's Nightclub. Catering to the overflow from the Harp Hotel. A pleasant nightclub, filled with young people, typically. Trying to enter for free via the back balcony is often a quick way for the security staff to indulge in their penchant for brutal beatings, given the camera footage on the stairs is minimal and often turned off by remote control.
- Five Barrels Brewing, 318 Keira St (for directions see below), ☏ 61 2 4200 8881, ✉[email protected]. Craft beer and burgers.
- CBD Sports Bar, Auburn St (near the City train station). Very relaxed atmosphere that translates into very high drink prices. Only 'non-leagues club' bar in the city that serves Resches Draught, a traditional Sydney beer that used to be far more common.
- 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, 61 Church St (close to the City Centre). Mainly older laidback crowd but The Builders is also very popular with students taking advantage of cheap drinks and $2 pool. 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.
- The Ivory. A bar catering for the older crowd. Smart casual, 25 years or over for entry.
- Downtown Bar. A bar catering for business people. It is very expensive, upwards of 15 dollars for a schooner of beer in some cases.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Downtown Motel, 76 Crown St, ☏ 61 2 4229 8344.
- 2 Motel Harp (Harp Mhotel), 124 Corrimal St.
Mid-range
- 3 Best Western City Sands, 151-161 Corrimal St (corner of Corrimal and Harbour Sts), ☏ 61 2 4222 3111, fax: 61 2 4222 3100, ✉[email protected]. Part of Wollongong Golf Club and close to the CBD, WIN Stadium, WIN Entertainment Centre, and local beaches.
- ibis Hotel, Cnr Market & Church St, ☏ 61 2 4223 6000, fax: 61 2 4223 6006, ✉[email protected]. In the city's main entertainment and business precinct.
- 4 Quest Wollongong, 59-61 Kembla St, ☏ 61 2 4221 1500. Serviced apartment in the CBD, close to Crown Street Mall and Wollongong Central.
- 5 Adina Wollongong, 19 Market St (across from Top Choice restaurant). Serviced apartment near Wollongong City Beach and a few blocks from Crown Street Mall.
- 6 Mantra Wollongong, 6-10 Gladstone Ave (near Wollongong railway station). Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00.
- 7 Sage Wollongong, 60-62 Harbour St, ☏ 61 2 4201 2111.
Splurge
- 8 Novotel Northbeach Wollongong, 2-14 Cliff Road, North Wollongong, ☏ 61 2 4224 3111, fax: 61 2 4226 2072, ✉[email protected]. Beach views, a day spa and is just 5 minutes from the Wollongong CBD and retail precinct. From $175-300.
- Chifley Wollongong, 60-62 Harbour St, toll-free: 1300 650 464, ✉[email protected]. Ultra-modern hotel adjacent to WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre. A short walk to the beach, restaurants, shopping and entertainment. From $135-700.
Connect
Most of Wollongong has good mobile phone and data reception with all three carriers. You can easily get download speeds of at least 30Mbps in the CBD. However in the northern suburbs like Fairy Meadow and Corrimal, the Vodafone and Optus reception are quite poor (more so if you're not close to Princes Highway). If you'd be spending most of your time away from the downtown area, it's best to have either a Telstra SIM card or one of their MVNOs like Boost Mobile.
There are a few coffee shops and McDonald's that offer free WiFi. Wollongong Library has free internet access at all libraries, and free WiFi at the City Library (ask staff for a ticket with username/password). The city library is in the council building on Burelli St, which runs parallel to and one street south of Crown St.
Stay safe
There are some cases of drink-spiking so never leave your drink unattended. If you believe your drink has been spiked, speak to the security staff immediately. They will determine whether you have been spiked or not and if so will call an ambulance for you to ensure your safety.
Alcohol-fueled violence is common in town at night, primarily in Crown Street Mall and around takeaway food shops. Also beware of groups of young men in cars at City Beach (South Beach) at night and the Lagoon carpark. Do not wander around Unanderra and Dapto at night - both are unsafe, and sometimes during the day. Figtree can be nearly as bad, and Thursday nights in Crown Street Mall are often similar.
Go next
From Wollongong you can follow the coast southwards towards the Victorian border. This road is quite an interesting stretch of highway in Australia in that it follows the coast and headlands, giving you views as you drive along it. Many other coastal Australian highways usually stay a small distance from the coast, requiring side trips to see the scenery. At Batemans Bay you can turn inland to the Hume Highway via Braidwood to Canberra and Melbourne via the freeway.
The Illawarra Highway is a scenic route through the Southern Highlands to the Hume Highway. The road winds its way up through the Macquarie Pass, through Robertson and then on to the open road.
- Royal National Park. Travel north to the Royal National Park and camp by the beach.
- Kiama Blowhole. Travel south by train or car to Kiama, and visit the blowhole. The wait is worth it.
- Kangaroo Valley. Kangaroo Valley is a peaceful location, inland of Nowra, and hour south of Wollongong
If you are staying in Wollongong, Sydney is a fairly comfortable day trip.
| Routes through Wollongong |
| Central Coast ← Sydney ← | N  S | → Kiama → Batemans Bay |