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Wollongong [1] 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-on-gong.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Geography

Geography defines Wollongong, as the city is never more than roughly six kilometers at its widest but stretches over forty kilometers 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 recently 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.

[edit] 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 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 a outer commuter suburb for Sydney.

[edit] 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 (Macedonian, Serbian, Bosnian, Crotian Italian, Greek, Turkish, portugese, Spanish, 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

The quickest way from Sydney is to take MetRoad 1 and the Princes Highway south. You leave Sydney, and enter greater Wollongong just before the freeway starts. Its about 50 minutes drive to this point, and around another 20 minutes down the freeway 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 freeway the Bulli Pass road throws itself straight down the escarpment and along the coast. The exit is well signposted after the end of the freeway. 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. Exit from the freeway 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 Scarbourough.

From the south of Wollongong, follow the Princes Highway north.

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

[edit] By train

There are hourly train services between Sydney and Wollongong on the the Ssuth Coast Cityrail line [2]. This train can be crowded during the morning and evening peaks heading towards and away from Sydney respectively, but it unusual not to not get a seat travelling from Wollongong, and if you are travelling there you will get a seat before Sutherland The views of the ocean and rainforest from the train are spectacular so sit on the left hand side and upstairs on the train (looking in the direction of travel) when travelling from Sydney or the right hand side travelling to Sydney. The trip takes around 90 minutes.

[edit] By plane

Wollongong is primarily serviced by Sydney Airport.

To get to Wollongong by car from Sydney airport drive 60 minutes south along the Princes Hwy. Wollongong is signposted from the airport.

To get to Wollongong by train [3] from Sydney airport, you should catch an airport train to Wolli Creek, and then change for a train to Wollongong. Peak hour trains to Wollongong often skip Wolli Creek, so during peak hour catch the next train to Hurstville, and then change again for a train to Wollongong.

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

• Wollongong City Shuttle Phone: +61 2 4261 7393 Fax: (02) 4262 2990 Book online at: [4] Email: leisurecoastlimo@bigpond.com

Wollongong's Illawarra Regional Airport (WOL) [5], more often referred to as Albion Park Airport, is located 20mins south of the Wollongong CBD at the intersection of the Princes Highway (F6) and the Illawarra Highway . Qantas was running twice daily flights between Illawarra Regional Airport and Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, but these were cancelled in mid 2008. If you are privileged enough to have your own plane you may be able to land here.

[edit] Get around

[edit] Walk

You can walk from the train station to the Wollongong CBD, and down to Wollongong City Beach.

[edit] By bike

An extensive cycle track runs from Wollongong north for 10km to Thirroul, hugging the scenic beaches, or the same distance south south to Windang and Lake Illawarra. Generally uncrowded and a great way to get a feel for the city and surrounds.

A good cycle route could take 60km 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.  edit

or in downtown Wollongong:

• Wollongong Bike Hire, 337 Keira Street, Wollongong, ☎ +61 2 4228 7366. $40 per day.  edit

[edit] 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.

[edit] By car

A car will take you everywhere in the region you want to go. There is free parking in the Wollongong CBD, and along the Wollongong beaches.

[edit] By bus

Premier Illawarra, [6]. Operates buses from Wollongong and North Wollongong, as far south as Kiama. Dions Bus Service, [7]. Operates buses north along the Wollongong coastal beaches  edit  edit  edit

[edit][add listing] See

• Beaches. The Wollongong coastline offers 17 sparkling surf beaches that are patrolled by council Lifeguards and lifesavers from September to June. All beaches are in easy walking distance from shops, hotels and clubs. Why not bring your bicycle and enjoy over 60km of easy bicycle/walkway as you make your way from Thirroul Beach in the north to Lake Illawarra in the south. One of the most popular beaches is North Beach in the centre of Wollongong. A kiosk serving home-baked treats, fresh juices, coffee and fish and chips services the beach and there are plenty of bike tracks and walkways to explore. Free.  edit

• Bulli Pass Lookout, (Ten minutes 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. free.  edit

• Mount Keira Lookout. More spectacular views from the top, as well as some walks and views of the hang-gliders launching. As of June 2007, the main walk is closed because of the falling rocks danger. free.  edit

• Nan Tien Temple, Berkeley Rd, Berkeley, ☎ +61 2 4272 0600 (nantien@fgs.org.au, fax: 02 4272 0601), [8]. 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". Received awards for lighting (yes, architectural lighting!!), gardening, architecture and tourism. free.  edit

• BHP Australian Historical Flying Museum, Illawarra Regional Airport [9](intersection of the Princes Highway (F6) and the Illawarra Highway). A project was started to build an exhibition facility for the aircraft of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society [10] who have an existing base there. HARS recently completed it major hanger, part of an ongoing project.

• WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres (the WEC), Corner of Crown and Harbour Streets (southern end of the Central Business District), ☎ 024220 2800 (info@wec.org.au, fax: +61 2 4220 2801), [11]. The Sports stadium hosts rugby league (Illawarra Steelers & St.George Illawarra), rugby union, and soccer (Wollongong Wolves) 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. An AUD37m redevelopment of the ocean-side western stand is scheduled to complete in 2006 which will provide conference facilities, 100 room 4* hotel, replacement 2,500 seat grandstand, and retail outlets.  edit

• Wollongong Botanical Gardens, (Gwynneville. Just adjacent to the Wollongong University. Take the university exist from the Sydney Road). Bring some bread for the ducks, and a picnic. free.  edit

• Australia's Industry World - 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 (tours@aiw.org.au, fax: 02 4275 7204). The Port Kembla Steelworks is located 80km 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 6000 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.  edit

• Minnamurra Rainforest, (Budderoo National Park, near Jamberoo, head along Jamberoo Mountain Road). Visitors centre and boardwalks through sub-tropical rainforest. Go early in the morning for the best chance at seeing wildlife such as lyre birds and wombats. [12]  edit

• Science Centre and Planetarium, (Squires Way, Fairy Meadow), ☎ 02 42865000, [13]. 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 ($6 adults, $4 children/concession).  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Cockatoo Run, (toll free: 1300 65 3801), [14]. Sundays. The Cockatoo Run is a vintage train that climbs through the Morton National Park Rainforest to Robertson and Moss Vale.  edit

• Cycle, [15]. There are designated cycle routes all across the Wollongong Region. One of the easiest is to cycle from Wollongong City Beach to Bulli Beach - all flat and off-road.  edit

• Illawarra Live Steamers, [16]. 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.  edit

• Diving. 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. Shellharbour Scuba Centre [17] is a PADI 5 Star centre about three minutes drive from Bass point offering all facilities including boat dives, nitrox and courses.

• Hit the Beach. During the summer months, Wollongong has a selection offering less crowds and more space than Sydney beaches. Wollongong City Beach is accessible from the city centre, but the better beaches are to be found north and south of the city. Try Towradgi beach, which is a very nice beach with a great view of the city centre. Austinmer and Stanwell Park beaches are also popular, but take longer to get to. Port Kembla and Thirroul beaches have a free salt water Olympic pool as well as a surf beach. Beaches are patrolled during the summer months.  edit

• Sky-Diving. Wollongong's amazing scenery is even more amazing seen from above. If the mountain lookouts aren't exciting enough for you, the option to sky-dive is yours. A number of companies operate out of Illawarra Regional Airport [18], one of these being the Bushsports group [19].

[edit] Learn

University of Wollongong NSW 2522 (main campus Northfields Avenue, Gwynneville, next to the Botanical Gardens, shuttle bus service operates from North Wollongong Station). Call 1300 367 869 for prospective students enquiries or email <uniadvice@uow.edu.au>. [20]. UOW is one of only two universities nationwide to achieve top-tier rankings in every discipline category of the Australian Government’s Learning and Teaching Performance Fund for 2008, and was the only University to do this in 2007. UOW has also been ranked first for the quality of its teachers and receives the highest rating for educational experience and graduate outcomes in the Good Universities Guide. Also twice awarded the prestigious accolade of Australia's "University of the Year" , the University sits nestled below a sub-tropical rain-forest overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The campus is one of the most attractive in Australia.

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

The food! The choices! The price! 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 outer suburbs, to find great food. There is something for everyone...

[edit] Budget

• Coconut Thai Also located on Keira Street, Coconut Thai is an affordable yet yummy Thai restaurant that offers a 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.

• Food World Chinese/Vietnamese food, big meals and dirt cheap. Mains $8-$10. Great atmosphere. Don't be put off by some of the ugliest decor ever allowed to grace a restaurant, 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 (Defiantly try the Chicken and Rice)

• Amigo's Mexican Restaurant A casual mexican place which does huge tasty Mexican meals for fantastic prices. Recommended are the Lunchtime Special (meal and drink for A$8.50) and $3 Tacos (Tuesday nights, 5:30PM - 9:30PM), which is very popular with students. [21]

• Fujiyama Teppanyaki Restaurant A Japanese restaurant with a difference. These master chefs cook the food at the BBQ in front (and sometimes behind of) of your eyes. A delight to the senses at budget prices.

• Mylan There is 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. Has some of the most authentic Chinese food outside in Australia and the meals are massive. It is also a great place to go with a group because they do meal deals making it a great place to feed the family or for a delicious meal before you go out without breaking the budget.

• Roppongi Located in Market street, close to Extreme surf store and the Illawarra Hotel, this restaurant sells the best Japanese in Wollongong, Choose from the freshest 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 lunch time special is also great for those on a budget as they continue the Japanese tradition of offering cheaper prices for the dinner meals. Highly recommended

[edit] Mid-range

• City Diggers Wollongong (RSL) Located at 82 Church St, Wollongong. Phone: +61 2 4225 2563, fax: 02 4225 2685. Mains: $13-17. Beer: $4-6. Nice atmosphere, but on weekends reservations are highly suggested. Food gets served within 10-15 minutes.

• Marco's Located in Wollongong's Cafe district on Corrimal Street, Marco's offers a excellent range of dishes concentrating predominantly on Italian cuisine. Portions at Marco’s will challenge even the most avid eaters.

• Hideaway Cafe Located in the centre of Wollongong city (Between the amphitheatre and Greater Union cinema) the Hideaway has delicious food ranging between $13 - $20 and the nicest, most down to earth staff around.

Come on a Thursday or Saturday if you wish to enjoy your meal while listening to some excellent tunes by some of Wollongong’s finest local artists including Patrick Arnold of the Inanimate Objects and Noah Hampson of ATE and Pettibone.

• Jasmine Rice Located on Corrimal St Jasmine Rice serves great thai food. With traditional thai seating on cushions in one room or tables and chairs in another, it offers a selection for diners. The food is consistently good, although more pricey than some of the other Thai restaurants.

• Thai Carnation Located on the corner of Corrimal and Crown St, Thai Carnation is another popular Thai restaurant. Recommended dish: Duck curry - served with lots of fresh vegetables and some fresh grapes, the duck is succulent and tender and the broth is mild but tasty.

[edit] Splurge

• Lorenzo's Diner The first restaurant in Wollongong to receive a single hat from the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Guide, Lorenzo Pagnan's diner serves modern and some traditional Italian cuisine in very slick modern surrounds. Meals average at $40, $20 for mains and $12 and up for entree. Saturday night's offer patron's a great deal at $55 per head for two courses, plus appetiser, bread and vegetables. Directly across the road from Caveau (see below).

• Caveau Opened mid 2005, Caveau is the creation of former Banc (Sydney) sous chef Peter Sheppard. Caveau as expected serves French meals, with prices set at either $55 for two courses or $77 for three. Thesecond Wollongong restaurant to receive a hat from the Good Food Guide and as such a friendly rivalry has developed between Lorenzo's and Caveau - one that has seen the North Keira street area develop into an important restaurant district for the City. Location 122 - 124 Keira Street (immediately next door to Ahmed's, see above).

[edit][add listing] 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.

• The North Wollongong Pub [22] , or North 'Gong for short (North Wollongong train station), is the "local" for the University of Wollongong, across the Princes Highway from the North Wollongong train station. Major renovations in 2006 mean that North Gong now offers 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 or just the 'Illawarra', recently refurbished in wood and chrome, is a large hotel/pub that receives the early morning crowd as it is the only bar that consistently closes at 3AM most nights of the week.

• The Grand Hotel Previously known as "Cooneys" at the south end of Keira street that is famous for its plethora of pool tables. Recently bought out by RDL Group (Glasshouse, Castro's, Harp Hotel) and slightly refurbished, upper bar and beer garden is occasionally converted into a door-fee-charging nightclub. Often hosts tours of local, national and international DJs.

• Glasshouse is a tavern and nightclub which is practically inhabited by young people on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you go before 10PM, you get cheap drinks and before 11PM free nightclub entry - the downstairs bar is always free. Plays popular dance music, shows sporting events on a large screen TV (which you usually can't hear over the people and music) and serves any drink you can think of (as long as it involves ginger beer). Serves all tap beer in pints or pots for $6 and $4 respecively, making for the cheapest Stella Artois in town (and the most expensive Toohey's New).

• Castro's a nightclub tucked into Victoria Street. Previously known as Rusty's, Castro's was recently refurbished to cater for the local gay community, although the club still remains popular with the younger crowd regardless of sexuality.

• Harp Hotel on Corrimal St is the city's oldest pub. The crowd is late twenties-early thirties of the after-work variety, on Fridays this is probably the best patroned bar in the city. Three bars, look out of the often missed underground bar.

• Abbies is the opposite of Glasshouse' age-of-clientel-wise, catering to the overflow from the Harp Hotel. Directly across Corrimal St. from the Harp.

• Oxford Tav is an unreconstructed relic of the eighties, with a very darkly dressed clientele. Has live music most days of the week - usually a form of hard rock, metal or punk though jazz and even hip-hop have occasionally been spotted. Outdoors area next to the Crown St. entrance is highly recommended during the Summer. Check out the Tuesday night trivia.

• Five Islands Brewery[23], Win Entertainment Centre (for directions see below), 4220-2854 (fax 4220-2855, email <fiveislandsbrew@1earth.net>). Brew their own beer and the Sixth Island bar serves bar food and has a fantastic terrace (with BBQ); there is also an 80 seat restaurant. Sit and drink watching the surf roll in from the Pacific Ocean just 50 metres away. Or don't.

• The Beach Bar. On Cliff Road beneath the Novotel North Beach, is the place to be on Sundays when the rest of the city is closed. The only bar in the city that serves James Squire Pilsener on tap - not to be missed. Some drug dealer guy got shot here a while back. Awesome. Now the club is also known as H2O.

• CBD Sports Bar. Located on Auburn St, just off Crown 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, Dicey is the word as this bar sits next to the railway bridge that marks the border betweeen rough West Wollongong and the City. One of the oldest pubs in the city, the odd Irish theme does not hide the vaguely sinister atmosphere of this dark and smoky bar. Dicey's is likely to improve (depending on your point of view) as West Wollongong is heavily redeveloped over the next few years. Hot MILF's on Saturday nights here.

• Blue Note, this is a hidden gem. Located two stories above an Adult Book store on the corner of Atchison and Crown, it provides consistently the best R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae and Hip Hop in Wollongong. Sure, the decor could do with an update, but the American DJ's keep the dancefloor pumping every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mixed crowd. Open late. Easy parking. Taxi rank right opposite the entrance. By far the shadiest nightclub in town!

• The Builders Club[24] is located close to the City Centre at 61 Church St. 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.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• YHA Hostel - on Flinders St

• Sovereign Inn Wollongong, [http://www.sovereigninnwollongong.com], ☎ +61 2 4271 1122 (fax: (02) 4271 4535). The Sovereign Inn Wollongong offers great location, with comfortable and enviable proximity to the region's Central Business District, several shops of good repute, secluded beaches, and the tourist attraction known as Kembla Grange Racecourse. Best rates on official website start at AUD$85.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Best Western City Sands [25] - 151-161 Corrimal Street, Wollongong NSW 2500. Ph: +61 2 4222 3111 F: 02 4222 3100 E: reception@wollongonggolfclub.com.au - Part of Wollongong Golf Club and close to the CBD, WIN Stadium, WIN Entertainment Centre, and local beaches.
• Hotel Ibis Wollongong [26] - Cnr Market & Church Streets, Wollongong NSW 2500. Ph: 02 42236000. F: 02 42236006 E: H6377@accor.com - Hotel Ibis Wollongong is in the heart of the city, in the main entertainment and business precinct.
• Novotel Northbeach Wollongong [27] - 2-14 Cliff Road, North Wollongong NSW 2500. Ph: +61 2 4224 3111, F: +61 (0)2 4226 2072, E: stay@novotelnb.com.au - offers great beach views, a Day Spa and is just five minutes from the Wollongong CBD and retail precinct. Rooms cost approx $175 - $300 a night. Very overrated though, too expensive for the standard,

[edit] Splurge

• Bellachara Boutique Hotel Gerringong [28] - 1 Fern street, Gerringong NSW 2534. Ph: +61 2 4234 1359 F: 02 4234 1495 E: hello@bellachara.com.au. An award winning luxuty hotel. $225-$650 a night.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

There are some cases of drink spiking so it is a good idea to never leave your drink unattended. Alcohol fueled violence is common in town at night. Also beware of groups of young men in cars at South Beach at night and the Lagoon carpark.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

• Royal National Park. Travel north to the Royal National Park and camp by the beach  edit
• Kiama Blowhole. Travel south by train or car to Kiama, and visit the blowhole...make sure you don't fall in.  edit
• Kangaroo Valley. Kangaroo Valley is a peaceful location, inland of Nowra, and hour south of Wollongong  edit

Routes through Wollongong

Central Coast ← Sydney ←

N  S

→ Kiama → Nowra

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!