Wonderful Waterside Wollongong

It might be stretching the imagination slightly to envisage the Opera House sited at Wollongong Harbour or Bulli beach. Nevertheless, if it were not for a bit of rough weather back in the year 1770, our gallant discoverer, James Cook would quite likely have chosen one of these spots as the location for a first settlement and the consequent capital city.

Instead, it was the farmers and timber-getters who initially benefited from the region’s vast range of natural attributes, not the least being Wollongong’s excellent potential to accommodate a major harbour facility.

Nowadays, visitors to the Illawarra region can connect with 200 years of Wollongong’s history simply by strolling along the ‘Heritage Trail’ encompassing Belmore Basin through to North Beach.
Located along this trail, 13 numbered plaques convey many of the early events connected with this historic area. Locations range from the site of a 1830’s convict stockade to the first public swimming baths, (convict-built and complete with ladies dressing sheds), to a long-forgotten commercial salt producing venture in 1867.

Wollongong is approximately 85 km drive south of Sydney. Wollongong offers countless adventure activities, great beaches, shopping, fantastic local restaurants and cafes, golf courses, art galleries and more. Wollongong is also a great place to stay with a huge mix of options from international hotel brands to quaint and unique B&B’s to backpacker accommodation - Wollongong has something to offer any traveller.

For more information about Wollongong contact the Southern Gateway Centre on 1800 240 737, via email tourism@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or visit www.visitwollongong.com.au.

Grand Pacific Drive

The Grand Pacific Drive encompasses 140km of some of NSW’s most spectacular scenery and coastline.

From Royal National Park (world’s second oldest) to Wollongong and beyond, the route takes you through coastal rainforests, spectacular driving scenery, coastal villages, the bustling coastal city of Wollongong, and beautiful coastal towns of Shellharbour and Kiama.

The drive ends in the spectacular Shoalhaven and from here you can experience the ‘beyond’ to the Southern Highlands, greater South Coast and Canberra!