Wollongong

Eat & drink

From visiting bustling food markets to enjoying a cocktail at a hidden small bar, there are many foodie experiences on offer in Wollongong. Explore the dedicated ‘eat street’ on Keira Street between Crown and Smith streets. Visit Babyface Kitchen for a seasonal produce-inspired menu, His Boy Elroy for American-style burgers, Rookie Eatery for contemporary cuisine within a historic house and Diggies Cafe for a modern Australian brunch with water views.

Diggies Cafe, Wollongong

Wollongong’s small bar scene is quite exciting, with top options including The Little Prince, Night Parrot Bar and Kitchen, The Throsby, Humber rooftop bar, Red Square and Howlin’ Wolf Whisky Bar. Or enjoy a cool drink at The Illawarra, a historic pub, and visit the cellar door of Five Barrel Brewing. A 30-minute drive away is the Glenbernie Orchard, where you can pick your own seasonal fruit or enjoy a crisp cider. 

Things to do

The city also has a vibrant arts precinct, centred on the Wollongong Art Gallery, one of Australia’s finest regional art galleries that houses a large collection of contemporary, Aboriginal, Asian and colonial artworks. At the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, there are three venues that host theatre, music and comedy.

North Wollongong Beach, Wollongong

Journey to the stars at the Science Space, home to Australia’s most digitally advanced Planetarium and over 90 interactive exhibits For children under 10, Early Start Discovery Space offers hand’s on experiences that will inspire the imagination, perfect for 10 years and under. A short drive south of Wollongong is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere, Nan Tien Temple. Take a tour and explore the pretty gardens. There are also guided tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks and the historic Blue Mile.

Wollongong Art Gallery, Wollongong

The great outdoors

Take a dip at one of the beaches that line the edge of the city. Around Wollongong, there are plenty of outdoor adventures from skydiving and scuba diving to surfing, fishing and mountain biking. Explore rainforest walking tracks on the Illawarra Escarpment at Mount Keira and Mount Kembla.

Wollongong Beach, Wollongong

Just getting to Wollongong from Sydney is a tourist attraction. Instead of taking the M1 Princes Highway, take the Grand Pacific Drive, a spectacular touring route through the Royal National Park to Stanwell Park and south over the Sea Cliff Bridge. More scenic views await at Hill 60 lookout.

Flagstaff Hill Park, Wollongong

Getting there

Wollongong is located just south of Sydney and the drive takes around 90 minutes. For the scenic option, journey via the Grand Pacific Drive. You can also catch the train from Sydney, which also takes around 90 minutes.

Port Kembla is a working industrial port and cruise ships dock at a dedicated terminal. Because of this, it’s considered a ‘closed port’ and you can’t walk around the area. A free shuttle bus meets the cruise ships and takes passengers into the city centre, where they will be met by friendly local ambassadors. You can also book a taxi or private car.