Things to do in Wollongong, Australia

The best things to do in Wollongong, Australia, include hang-gliding at Stanwell Park Beach, the Nan Tien temple, Wollongong Botanic Gardens and the Mount Keira Lookout.

Wollongong is the third largest city in New South Wales, after Sydney and Newcastle. It has a reputation as an industrial city, known for its steelmaking, coal mining and large port. But it is also a beach city, stretching down the New South Wales coast from Helensburgh to Windang and Lake Illawarra, backed all the way by the imposing Illawarra Escarpment.

6 fantastic Wollongong experiences to book before you arrive

Tandem hang-gliding flight from Bald Hill – float down towards the beach.
One hour private surf lesson in Woonona – learn the basics, and get standing on your board.
Illawarra Fly ziplining course and treetop walk – test your nerves high up in the canopy.
Tandem skydive with beach landing – feel the rush of freefall.
Explore the city on a scavenger hunt – a fun way to get to know Wollongong better.
Half day deep sea fishing adventure – haul in some big boys.

Things to do in Wollongong, NSW: Beaches and surf lessons

Main Beach in Wollongong, Australia. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW

If you can’t find a beach you enjoy in Wollongong, you simply aren’t looking hard enough. North Beach is arguably the best all-rounder, with shallows for kids to splash in and solid surf breaks. The Pines Surfing Academy runs surfing lessons at North Beach, with two hour surfing lessons costing from $50. North Beach is also where Skydive Australia’s beach skydive experiences land.

The northern end of Wollongong City Beach is also good for swimming, but everyone has their favourites up and down the coast. In the Towradgi Beach Hotel and Scarborough Hotel, Towradgi Beach and Scarborough Beach have got two absolutely classic Australian beach suburb pubs.

Meanwhile, Corrimal Beach, Thirroul Beach, Woonona Beach, Coledale Beach and Austinmer Beach and Scarborough Beach all have their fans north of the city centre. Port Kembla Beach and Windang Beach are the best options south of central Wollongong. If it’s beaches you’re coming for, the Wollongong weather is at its best in December.

Stanwell Park Beach and hang-gliding from Bald Hill

Stanwell Park Beach is another attractive option north of the city. It’s the most northerly part of the Illawarra coastal strip, and lies just to the south of the Royal National Park. This was where aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave conducted most of his experiments, and his memory is honoured today by the scores of hang-gliders descending from Bald Hill.

The hang-gliders flying from Bald Hill down onto Stanwell Park Beach are the classic sight of Stanwell Park. If you’d like to have a go yourself, HangglideOz runs training courses. More importantly from a visitor’s point of view, however, the company also offers tandem hang-gliding experiences. These are suitable for complete beginners and cost from $280. More conventional flying experiences are available in Albion Park, south of Wollongong. Here, Illawarra scenic flights take in the coastline for a pricy $450, while helicopter tours of the Illawarra coastline are a little cheaper.

Things to do in Wollongong, NSW: Helensburgh Temple and Kelly’s Falls

If you’re coming down Lawrence Hargrave Drive towards Stanwell Park Beach, after branching off the Princes Motorway at Helensburgh, there are several attractions on the way. These Wollongong attractions include the Symbio Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos and get close to Aussie wildlife. Further along are the huge Sri Venkateswara Temple and Kelly’s Falls.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple, often called the Helensburgh temple, is one of the biggest and most elaborate Hindu temples in the southern hemisphere. It’s possible to visit the grounds, but there are restrictions on what can be taken inside (including mobile phones and cameras). Oddly, it’s not the only big temple in Wollongong. In the south of the city, on the way out along the Princes Motorway, you’ll see the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple. This is the biggest Buddhist Temple in the southern hemisphere.

Near the Helensburgh Temple, you can take a stroll along the Kelly’s Falls walking track to get the best views of Wollongong’s favourite waterfall. And if walking’s your thing, you can stretch your legs again further down the road at Stanwell Tops.

Things to do in Wollongong, NSW: Sea Cliff Bridge

The Grand Pacific Drive from Sydney to Wollongong continues along the coast, and takes in the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge. This bridge essentially winds around the clifftops of the Illawarra coast on stilts sticking out of the sea. There’s a good photo stop at the southern end of the Sea Cliff Bridge in Clifton.

Nearer central Wollongong, there are several enjoyable walking trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. It’s a good spot for a picnic, too. But the most popular natural escape in Wollongong is the Mount Keira Lookout. It’s a reasonably easy climb just north-west of the centre, and offers cracking views of the city and ocean.

Things to do in Wollongong: Wollongong Botanic Garden

The Mount Keira Lookout is close to the Wollongong Botanic Garden. The Discovery Centre does the educational thing here, but the most unexpected attraction in the Wollongong Botanic Garden is Gleniffer Brae. This Tudor-style manor house was the home of the man who founded Wollongong’s steel industry. Arthur Sidney Hoskins donated a large part of his estate to Wollongong City Council. The Botanic Garden was founded on that land.

Wollongong museums

Of the things to do in Wollongong, not many are in the city centre itself. That’s not to say it isn’t worth venturing into the city centre – there’s a buzzy restaurant and bar scene. But the Wollongong Art Gallery and Illawarra Museum aren’t going to hold your attention for all that long. The twin lighthouses at Wollongong Harbour might be of more interest. The Breakwater Lighthouse is no longer active, but the Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse very much is.

Wollongong accommodation

Wollongong accommodation options worth considering include the apartment-style Adina, the facility-heavy Novotel Northbeach and the Best Western City Sands, centred around a golf course.

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