Six Great Ways to Relax in Wollongong

Located 82 kilometres south of Sydney, Wollongong is the third-largest city in New South Wales and the ninth-largest city in Australia. The beautiful seaside city sits on a narrow strip of coast between the Pacific Ocean and the Illawarra Escarpment and is a wonderful place to seek some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Consider these six ways to unwind in Wollongong.

1. Enjoy Nature at the Wollongong Botanic Garden
Opened to the public in 1971, the Wollongong Botanic Garden boasts a striking assortment of exotic and native flowering plant life, shrubs, grasses, ferns, herbs, food plants and rainforest vegetation. There are many ways to spend your time at the Garden, including guided and unguided walks, live musical performances, bird-watching and picnics.

2. Learn about Science and Space at the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium
Situated on the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong, the Wollongong Science Centre and Planetarium is an inspiring place to spend a day. In the Exhibit Hall, you’ll find over 100 interactive exhibits grouped under themes like “Dinosaurs, Fossils and Coal,” “The Machine,” “Energy and Motion” and “Nanotechnology.” The BlueScope Steel Planetarium seats 70 guests and offers fun, educational shows in full-dome video format for all ages. There is also a powerful telescope in the Observatory, and you can see plenty of exhibits in the daytime. Before you leave, don’t forget to attend an entertaining and interactive show at the Science Centre’s Illawarra Coal Science Theatre.

3. View Incredible Art Collections at the Wollongong City Gallery
Renowned as one of Australia’s most creative and original regional art museums, the Wollongong City Gallery presents exhibits by well-known international artists and exhibits from regional and local artists and groups. At the City Gallery, you can also view a remarkable collection of Asian, contemporary Australian and Aboriginal works of art or participate in a public education program.

4. Attend an Event at the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre
Located in the downtown area of Wollongong, the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre is a multipurpose indoor arena. The facility’s WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre play host to a wide range of sporting events including rugby, basketball, Federation Cup tennis and world championship boxing. Wollongong residents and visitors can also catch international musical and comedy acts at the centre.

5. See a Performance at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC) is located in the central part of Wollongong and is the city’s leading performance venue. The Centre is also home to the Merrigong Theatre Company, a lively regional group that produces some of the best performances in New South Wales. Each season, Merrigong offers premier presentations in theatre, dance and children’s programs.

6. Relax on One of Wollongong’s Gorgeous Beaches
Along the coastline of Wollongong, you’ll find 17 brilliantly beautiful beaches that are watched over by lifesavers from September to April. All of the beaches are near shops, clubs and hotels. North Wollongong Beach, known locally as North Beach, is the most populated of Wollongong’s beaches and has the most rock pools. North Beach offers better services and is better patrolled than other beaches in Wollongong. It is also open all year long. South Wollongong Beach, known locally as South Beach or City Beach, also has attached rock pools that allow for safe swimming.

Enjoy a vast number of onshore and offshore activities including swimming, surfing, sailing, water skiing, cycling, canoeing, fishing, hang gliding and paragliding. When you visit Wollongong, you’ll also find the only beach in New South Wales where you can skydive directly onto the sand.