Wollongong Australia
Wollongong sits on the New South Wales coast about 85 km south of Sydney, on a narrow coastal plain between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific. It grew as a steel and coal town and still has the Port Kembla works south of the centre, but the University of Wollongong has reshaped it into a research city with a substantial cryptography and information security group. The setting is the main draw: a continuous string of surf beaches runs the length of the city, the escarpment rises sharply behind it, and the Sea Cliff Bridge to the north is one of the better coastal drives in Australia. The centre is small and easily walked.
- North Wollongong and City Beach - Patrolled surf beaches within walking distance of the centre, which is unusual for a city this size.
- Sea Cliff Bridge - A cantilevered coastal road bridge 20 minutes north at Coalcliff, and the classic Illawarra drive.
- Nan Tien Temple - The largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, just south of the city.
- Mount Keira lookout - A short drive up the escarpment for the full view over the coastal plain and the sea.
- Wollongong Botanic Garden - Free, next to the university, and a good hour between sessions.
- Day trip to Sydney - 90 minutes by train, easy to add either side of a conference.
Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) is the practical gateway, about 90 minutes north by road or a train journey with a change. Wollongong has a small regional airport at Albion Park with limited service. The South Coast Line train from Sydney Central is scenic and runs frequently, and for many visitors it is easier than driving.
The city centre and the beaches are walkable, and a free shuttle bus loops the centre, the station and the university. The University of Wollongong campus is about 5 km north-west of the centre, roughly 15 minutes by bus. Trains on the South Coast Line run to Sydney in about 90 minutes. A car is useful for the escarpment lookouts and the coast road but not needed otherwise.
October to April is warm and beach-appropriate, with November, when CANS runs, sitting in late spring at around 22 to 25C. Summer, from December to February, is hottest and busiest with Sydney visitors. The winter months from June to August are mild by most standards, around 17C, and the whale migration passes offshore.
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1 upcoming conference in Wollongong
The choice is between the centre around Crown Street and the beachfront at North Wollongong. The centre puts you next to the restaurants, the mall and the train station, and is the better base if you are commuting to the university by bus. North Wollongong is a short walk further but sits directly opposite the beach, which is the reason most people come. Either way you are within about fifteen minutes of the campus. Wollongong is significantly cheaper than Sydney and rarely sells out, but summer weekends and university graduation weeks are the exceptions.
Our picks in Wollongong
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong
19 Market Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Serviced apartments in the middle of the CBD with full kitchens and laundry in the larger units - the sensible choice for...
Novotel Wollongong Northbeach
2-14 Cliff Road, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Four-star directly opposite North Wollongong Beach with an outdoor pool and several restaurants, a short walk from the centre - the pick...
Sage Hotel Wollongong
60-62 Harbour Street, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Contemporary four-star between the harbour and the centre with a heated 20-yard lap pool, walkable to both City Beach and the Crown...
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