Hotels in Wollongong

Wollongong welcomes you with a low-rise metropolis surrounded by a mix of resorts, parks, forests, and beaches. It’s the perfect out-of-town trip as it will take you only a day or two to explore the whole city and the surrounding suburbs. Even locals from Sydney and Melbourne visit Wollongong for a relaxing weekend getaway.

For nature explorers, there’s the Illawarra Escarpment. For beach people, there’s the Bulli Beach. If you just want a staycation, there are numerous upscale and budget Wollongong hotels in the CBD area. Simply put, Wollongong is a place where you can recharge and reward yourself after surviving a long week.

How to Get There

Land travel is the best way to get to Wollongong because you’ll go through scenic routes to get to the city proper. From Sydney, you can take the 90-minute train ride to the city from Wolli Creek Station. If you’re driving, get to the Grand Pacific Drive.

From Canberra, you can catch the daily coach service offered by Murrays. But if you’re driving, you can take either the Illawarra Highway or the Picton Road/Mt Ousley Road. If you want to get to the city quickly by air travel, the Shellharbour Airport has direct flights to Wollongong from Brisbane or Melbourne.

Getting Around

The city proper is relatively small that many of the popular destinations are within walking distance from your hotel. Going around with a bike is the best option here since Wollongong doesn’t have that many cars running on the streets.

If you prefer riding public transportation, you should catch the Gong Shuttle Bus for a free ride within the CBD. To get to the suburbs, you can take the train or ride the bus services offered by Dions and Premier Illawarra.

Top Things to Do

The iconic Sea Cliff Bridge has been one of the signature tourist spots in Wollongong since it opened in 2005. Even if you don’t want to take a picture with it, make sure to stop by and enjoy the panoramic view of the ocean.

Meanwhile, the Nan Tien Temple is a gargantuan Buddhist temple hailed as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Relish its grand architecture, take a walk in its peaceful gardens, and know more about Buddhism through educational exhibits. There’s also the smaller, but still stunning Sri Venkateswara Temple to include in the spots you should visit.

If you’re travelling with kids, the go-to tourist spots in Wollongong are the Science Centre and Planetarium, the Symbio Wildlife Park, and the Jamberoo water park. The Kiama blowhole is also one of the most favoured tourist spots in Wollongong, receiving over a million visitors annually. It’ll be fun to go there with your family.

Need a breather from the trip? Take a relaxing walk at the Wollongong Botanic Garden. For solo backpackers and hikers, the Illawarra Escarpment, Kelly’s Falls, Sublime Point, and Macquarie Pass Jump Rock will embrace you in nature’s glory.

The Stanwell Tops is also a gorgeous viewpoint that offers one of the most exciting things to do in Wollongong: paragliding. If you’re looking for salty waters, take a picnic in Bulli Beach or dip your toes in Wattamolla Beach. The latter is ideal for snorkelling, bushwalking, swimming, and fishing.

What to Eat

Most of the best restaurants in Wollongong can be found along Crown Street. Whether you’re looking for Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Italian, American, or Mediterranean cuisine, this busy street has all of them. It’s also the place to go to if you want to take a sip of Wollongong’s strong coffee brews.

Dagwood is another popular spot that serves a fusion of Asian and South American cuisine. For a taste of authentic Mediterranean dishes, Samaras is the restaurant to go to. On the other hand, the Harbourfront Restaurant and Diggies are the perfect places for an ocean-view dining experience. They serve fresh and tasty seafood selected from the day’s catch.

Nightlife

Wollongong is relatively quieter compared to more populous cities in Australia. Still, there are a few clubs with a dance floor that plays lively music. But generally, the night crowd here is more laid back.

One of the best places to drink to the spellbinding view of the city lights is at Humber. It’s a rooftop bar where you can enjoy drinking with your friends. If you want to enjoy the view of the ocean at night, there’s no better place to head to than the Wollongong Head Lighthouse. It’s situated at the top of a cliff, giving you a nice view of the waters with the cool breeze gently blowing through the night.

Where to Stay

If you prefer staying in upscale hotels in Wollongong with a great balcony view of the ocean, the CBD is the place to stay. There are luxury hotels, serviced apartments, budget motels, and B&Bs in the area suited for all travellers.

To enjoy the natural beauty of Australia, look for Wollongong hotels north of the city. Here you’ll wake up to spectacular and refreshing scenery of trees, mountains, and seas. Sydney is also just a train away from this area, making it very accessible to public transportation.

North Wollongong is also popular among backpackers and hikers. Aside from Wollongong hotels, there are B&Bs, camping tents, and beachside cabins where you can stay.

If water is your element, you’ll love the sand and beaches of South Wollongong. Surfing, fishing, swimming, and other water sports activities are prevalent here. You won’t have trouble finding affordable motels and cosy B&Bs here.

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