Hotels in Wollongong

Best time to visit Wollongong

With its warm summers and mild winters, Wollongong is a perfect round-the-year destination. Average summer temperatures from December – February are around 27 degrees Celsius while winter temperatures from June – August hover around 17 degrees Celsius. Winter is a busy tourist season and prices of hotel and travel are relatively higher. Most of the rainfall occurs between February – June. If you don’t mind the rain and wish to avoid the crowds, then the autumn months from March – May are a good time to visit Wollongong, and also get some good deals and bargains.

Getting around Wollongong

The Wollongong CBD area is compact and can be easily explored on foot. You also have the option to use the free Gong Bus Shuttle operated by Premier Illawarra in a loop from Wollongong Station to Wollongong University. Buses arrive every 10 minutes from 7.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. and every 20 minutes from 6.00 p.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, the free service is available every 20 minutes from 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Premier Illawarra and Dions also operate regular bus services within the city. If you are looking to travel to the neighbouring suburbs or coastal towns, you can use the train services operated by Transport Sydney Trains. Taxis and ride-share services such as Uber are also easily available in the city.

Best places to stay in Wollongong

Nestled around a calm harbour of the Pacific Ocean on one side and surrounded by hilly forests on the other, Wollongong offers its visitors the perfect blend of beachside excitement and nature-based activities. From fine dining and small bar culture to vast beaches and trails, Wollongong is a beautiful destination for short vacations.

Wollongong Central Business District (CBD)

The area along Crown Street, Market Street and a few blocks extending around Wollongong Town Hall and Wollongong Central Library have plenty of shopping and dining, while the beach and harbour front is just a short walk away. Stay at the Quest Wollongong, a serviced apartment-style hotel on Kembla Street at the heart of Wollongong CBD. Close to the beach, the Sage Hotel Wollongong on Harbour Street offers an excellent location, just a 4-minute walk to the WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres.

North Wollongong

North Wollongong offers a number of unspoiled and less crowded beaches as well as spectacular scenery of the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. You can find exotic beachfront properties as well as cosy bed and breakfast places nestled between the hills and the waterfront. A 3-minute walk from the North Beach, you have the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach Hotel which features modern rooms with panoramic ocean views. Or enjoy spacious rooms with ocean views and a friendly, relaxed ambience at the Beach Park Motel, located opposite Stuart Park.

South Wollongong

Close to the yellow sands of Port Kembla and Windang beaches, South Wollongong offers a countryside feel with urban amenities. Right next to the Port Kembla Golf Club, you can stay at the Comfort Inn Fairways hotel and enjoy proximity to Lake Illawarra and the beach.

Cheap hotels in Wollongong

There are plenty of budget accommodation options in Wollongong. Stay at the Wollongong Backpackers Keiraleagh housed in a charming heritage building within the heart of Wollongong CBD. You can also consider the Harp Hotel on Corimal Street or the simple, affordable lodging offered by Downtown Motel on Crown Street.

An ideal year-round destination for beach lovers and nature lovers, Wollongong offers a host of activities and attractions suited to varied lifestyles and interests. You can plan your activities around the vibrant Wollongong beach and Wollongong CBD area, or you can also step out and explore the surrounding areas that offer spectacular sights and a host of adventure sports activities. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started on your Wollongong itinerary.

• Spend time on any of the 17 extraordinary beaches along the Wollongong coastline, and swim, surf, or just sunbathe along the sandy shores.
• Stop by for a wide range of craft beers at the Illawarra Brewery located near the beach in the WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres.
• Enjoy award-winning breakfast and lunch dishes at the stylish Diggies Café located in a heritage site on the North Wollongong Beach.
• Hop on to the Free Gong Shuttle Bus and head to the Wollongong Botanic Garden for a picnic lunch, and enjoy a cool break from the beach.
• Visit the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Admire Buddhist architecture of the 7-storey Pagoda, brightly coloured South-East Asian sculptures in the surrounding gardens, and Japanese gardens in the courtyard.
• Put on your hiking boots and head to one of the walking trails off the Mt. Keira Ring Track to enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and rainforests from the Mr. Keira Summit Park.
• About an hour outside Wollongong CBD, in the Knights Hill area, try the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk or the Illawarra Fly Treetop Zipline Tour and enjoy stunning views of the rainforest canopy, coastal towns, and the Pacific Ocean.
• Meet exotic native animals such as Sumatran Tigers, Meerkats, Red Pandas, and Cotton Top Tamarin monkeys at the Symbio Wildlife Park, just a 30-minute drive from Wollongong CBD.