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Situated just 90 minutes by car from Sydney along the beautiful Grand Pacific Drive, Wollongong (‘the Gong’, as it’s known locally) is the third largest city in New South Wales.
Attracted by the beach-and-park lifestyle and relaxed seaside vibe, increasing numbers of Sydneysiders are choosing to settle in Wollongong, while travellers and day trippers also flock here to revel in the outstanding beauty of the coastline and hinterland.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Wollongong.
1. Walk the Wollongong Heritage Trail
Coal, surf, and civic pride have shaped the history of Wollongong — in ways that are still visible in the material fabric of the city today. A good place to start is the Wollongong Heritage Trail — a two-hour self-guided walking tour around the historic heart of the city. The trail takes in Gothic-style churches, Victorian-era civic buildings such as the heritage-listed Courthouse, and historic shops and residences. The former Post and Telegraph Office now houses the Illawarra Museum, which offers glimpses of the past through its stockman’s hut, historic schoolroom, and blacksmith’s shop.
2. Explore the historic harbourfront
Wollongong’s pretty harbour was once the linchpin of the city’s coal-exporting industry. Today it’s all about picnic spots and recreational boating, but you can still see the two graceful lighthouses (from 1871 and 1937) which testify to the city’s historic importance as a working port.
It’s a scenic one-kilometre walk from here along The Tramway to the North Beach Precinct. You’ll be following the line of the old rail cutting that used to transport coal from the Mount Pleasant mine to the harbour. There are two historic ocean swimming pools along the way — the 1920s Continental Baths and the much older/wilder Gentlemen’s Bathing Place (established in the 1870s and also known as North Wollongong Rock Pool). The path ends at the heritage Bathing Pavilion and Kiosk — both monuments to the vibrant beach culture of Wollongong in the 1930s.
3. Visit the Wollongong Art Gallery
Wollongong Art Gallery is a treasure-house of creative expression from the colonial to the contemporary, and boasts a strong showing of Indigenous work. Enjoy the wonderful beach paintings, regional landscapes, and industrial scenes depicting the essence of Wollongong life in the early to mid 20th century.
4. See a show
Music and theatre lovers are well catered for in the Gong, which has two outstanding entertainment venues. The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in downtown Wollongong, managed by the Merrigong Theatre Company, presents a year-round program of drama, dance, and comedy. Twenty minutes’ drive to the north in peaceful Thirroul, the sumptuous art deco surroundings of Anita’s Theatre lend an air of fantasy to the eclectic calendar of live music and cinema events.
5. Meditate at a Buddhist temple
Nestled incongruously into the light industrial suburb of Berkeley is the Nan Tien Temple — the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Buddhist temple. Here you can learn about Chinese Buddhism, join a meditation class, or simply admire the beautiful pagoda, shrines, and gardens.
6. Contemplate the night sky
You can contemplate the universe in a different way at the University of Wollongong’s Science Space. Take a tour of the night sky during the popular planetarium show, or watch a science fiction movie in the starlight cinema. The centre also stages live presentations on a variety of scientific topics.
7. Eat out… a lot!
Wollongong’s dining scene has flourished in recent years and offers endless variety. Two must-trys are the Northbeach Pavilion and Harbourfront Seafood Restaurant, both of which will treat your tastebuds while you feast your eyes on the waterfront setting.
Foodies will also want to check out Keira Street — the city’s main dining hub. Enjoy flavoursome wood-fired pizzas at Da Orlando, clean lines and modern Australian cuisine at Rookie Eatery, and well-priced, reliably good Asian dishes at Balinese Spice Magic.
8. Learn to surf
Given the many fabulous beaches — both in the city itself and along the nearby coastline — it’s no wonder surfing has a long, proud history in the Gong. If you’ve always wanted to learn to hang ten, this is the place to do it. Have a chat with Pines Surfing Academy, which offers well priced group lessons in Wollongong, Shellharbour, and The Farm in Killalea State Park.
9. Pedal the Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track
If you prefer wheels to waves, the 17-kilometre Wollongong to Thirroul Bike Track is a great ride for all ages and abilities. The outlook from the bike path includes beaches, lagoons, forests, and islands, and there are plenty of places along the way to refuel with a coffee or ice cream. Hire a bike from one of the self-service stations operated by Boomerang Bikes.
10. Reach for the sky on foot or by air
Options for bushwalking abound along the Illawarra Escarpment — the 500-metre high sandstone cliff that towers above and behind the city, defining its landward boundary. Iconic walks include the steeply forested Sublime Point Walking Track and the highly scenic Mount Kembla Ring Track. The escarpment’s height also makes it an ideal spot for hang-gliding (in fact, it’s renowned as one of the best launch sites in the world). Hang-glide Oz operates from Bald Hill Lookout in Stanwell Park and will get you airborne on a tandem flight all year round.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.visitwollongong.com.au.
Browse our range of New South Wales tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do in Wollongong? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Cover image: Destination NSW. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Roslyn Jolly is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in Escape (News Limited), Mindful Puzzles, Vacations and Travel, and Mindfood. In her former career as an English Literature academic, she studied and taught the work of great travel writers, such as Henry James, Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson, and became fascinated by the history of travel and tourism. Two years at school in Wales and three years at university in England allowed Roslyn to travel extensively in Europe and North America, which she continues to do.
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