Fast facts
- Coastal escarpment and a ribbon of beautiful beaches
- Famous for its great surfing and Sea Cliff Bridge
- One hour’s drive south of Sydney
Why go there
Wollongong, the State’s third largest city, has in recent years reinvented itself as a great weekend escape.
The Illawarra as a whole is made for outdoor adventures. The small coastal villages around Wollongong boast excellent surfing beaches, and Lake Illawarra offers a choice of sailing, waterskiing, canoeing and fishing.
The area is also shaping up as a fine food and wine destination, with talented chefs serving great local produce and premium wines.
Things to do
- Walk the Sea Cliff Bridge, a dramatic start to the Grand Pacific Drive.
- Have a dip in an ocean pool at Austinmer.
- Ride a bike along one of the Illawarra’s purpose-built tracks.
- Admire the panoramic view from Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Tops.
- Walk around Mt Keira on a 5.5-km trail that passes through rainforest and eucalypt forest.
Don’t miss
- A locally brewed beer at Five Islands Brewery in Wollongong.
- Nan Tien Temple, Wollongong, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere.
- Wollongong’s Symbio Wildlife Gardens, with its native animals as well as meerkats and red pandas.
- The State’s only beach skydive at Wollongong.
- The Illawarra Light Railway Museum at Albion Park.
Events
- Festival of Flight, Stanwell Park, in Wollongong, in November.
- Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival, in April.
