Wollongong

The city of Wollongong is located in the heart of Australia's Illawarra region in New South Wales. It's vast beauty, positioned between the mountains and the sea lends itself to city, coastal and country lifestyles. Strikingly tucked between the mountains and the sea, Wollongong is only an hour's drive south from Sydney by road or an hour and a half by train. Either way, the scenery is spectacularly beautiful and is a wonderful introduction to this delightful city and the amazing Illawarra region.

Wollongong's residents and visitors to the City Centre enjoy a world-class cultural, entertainment and dining scene. Wollongong's multicultural population ensures a large number of city restaurants, cafes and bars cater for any flavour. The city's cosmopolitan ambience is a perfect foil for some of the South Coast's best seafood and freshest produce. Wollongong's diverse multicultural background has endowed local cuisine with the flavours of the world, especially European, Asian, Balkan and Middle Eastern influences.

Wollongong City Centre is home to the best in entertainment, culture and art in the region. Whether you want to see the world's leading entertainers at the WIN Entertainment Centre, see the best in sport at WIN Stadium, visit Australia's leading regional art gallery, experience professional theatre or take time out for a visit to the movies, the city centre has it all. Wollongong has a huge variety of activities around the region all year round.

Whether you prefer your leisure revved up or chilled out, Wollongong's diverse range of recreational opportunities is bound to please. Rapidly gaining a reputation worldwide for adventure sports, the city has also cultivated cultural attractions and is home to wonderful natural scenery and bushland.

Most people love to shop - particularly whilst on holidays. In Wollongong, the temptation will be too strong to resist, and you can enjoy this pastime without the added stress of traffic and parking confusion as you would usually find in a city of this size. You can start with perhaps some light browsing in the Wollongong City Centre where you can find world class shopping at its very best.  From large malls and department stores like Myer and David Jones, you are sure to find this a treat, as well as providing you with over 300 speciality stores for your pleasure. Major regional shopping centres are located at Corrimal, Figtree, Dapto and Warrawong. And for those who can't resist a bargain the Wollongong markets operate every Thursday and Saturday. The stalls sell everything from fashion, pottery and crafts to plants and fresh flowers.

Wollongong's has so many things going for it.... location, climate and lifestyle, making this seaside city a very attractive holiday destination! You can spend your time parasailing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing or scuba diving. Perhaps you would like to climb a mountain, or glide around like a bird on a hang glider, or do some base jumping or abseiling! There really is something for everyone here. There's even a choice of spectator sports, if a more sedentary pastime is preferred.

Wollongong's superb, golden beaches are an excellent source of recreation, including swimming and surfing. The lifesaving movement attracts numerous visitors during the summer months when local and national clubs compete at surf carnivals. Public interest in these events has soared in recent years, mainly due to the gruelling Iron Man series. This major national event is dominated by home-grown national champions such as the Mercer brothers and Jonathon Crowe.

Surfing is another popular pastime with the numerous headlands producing top surfing conditions year round. Scuba diving, spear fishing and snorkelling are also well established. The tranquil waters of Lake Illawarra make it ideal for fishing, sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing. Wollongong's beaches, lagoons and other waterways are some of the best in all of Australia. Sheltered and calm for children and non-swimmers or with a big break for accomplished board riders, you'll find the right beach for you. Lake Illawarra is the venue for many types of water sports, from windsurfing and sailing to fishing and prawning. Explore the Lake during a luxury cruise, day or night.

Whatever your budget and preference Wollongong City Centre has accommodation to suit. From top class quality resort-style hotels to serviced apartments and from motels to intimate bed and breakfasts, you will enjoy the experience of staying in Wollongong. The list is endless when it comes to choosing the right place for you to stay at for your next holiday away.

Wollongong has a mild, sunny coastal climate with winter temperatures averaging 17 degrees and a summer average of 27 degrees tempered with sea breezes. Most rainfall occurs between February and June. During summer the days are warm and the sun is always shining making it great for a holiday full of outdoor activities, and during the cooler winter months you can enjoy sitting around a log fire and sipping on hot chocolate.

Wollongong has long been the number one spot for many people to come and visit, so why don’t you make the choice to come and experience all that this wonderful city has to offer.