Places to visit in and around Wollongong NSW

Sea Cliff Bridge is one of Australia's most scenic experiences. The 665 metre bridge hugs the Pacific Coast just north of Wollongong. Linking the Illawarra’s pretty coastal villages with Sydney to the north, the bridge adjoins a 7-span, 203 metres incremental launched bridge, sharing a common pier.

This is more than just a link, however – its magnificent design lends itself to a brilliant walk where you’ll feel like you’re floating above water. You can park at the south end of the bridge and get out to stretch your legs on a 30-minute return walk along the path that runs parallel to the bridge.

You might also use the viewing platform, accessible from the car parking area, to look for migrating whales or even manta rays in the ocean below. Look up and you might be able to spot a sea eagle soaring above the cliffs.

The Sea Cliff Bridge is also accessible via public transport. There is a steep incline from the Coalcliff rail station to the bridge; the walk will take approximately 15 minutes.

With an elevation of approximately 300 metres, Bald Hill is one of the best known lookouts in the Illawarra. From this vantage point, you’ll enjoy panoramic vistas across the Illawarra escarpment and over the Illawarra plain and South Pacific Ocean.

The area is also internationally known as a major hang-gliding point – you can spend hours just enjoying the views of humans taking flight. You might also want to take in the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge that extends along the Grand Pacific Drive.

The beach below Bald Hill welcomed Lawrence Hargrave, an Australian pioneer of flight, from his successful flight in 1894 – visit the memorial cairn dedicated to his achievements at the peak of Bald Hill. You can also relax at Stanwell Park Reserve and enjoy some takeaway from the café as the kids play at the playground. Picnic facilities are also available.

If you’re travelling in November, you might catch the Stanwell Park Festival of Flight to commemorate the anniversary of Hargrave's achievements.

Wollongong Botanic Garden is a serene place to relax, celebrate and immerse yourself in nature. It features an impressive collection of native and exotic plants from around the world and is home to a range of native wildlife including bower birds, ring tail possums, kookaburras, native bees, water dragons and more.

Escape with a walk through one of Australia’s largest rainforest collections and explore the new Nature Wellness Trail, designed to help you slow down, connect and relax. Two free mobility scooters are available for hire on weekdays for visitors who are less mobile or jump onboard the Garden Discovery Buggy Tour, which operates weekly.

On your journey take in the Garden’s impressive sculpture collection, which includes ‘King Coal’ by Louis Pratt, ‘Steel City’ by Michael Purdy, ‘Curious Dream of an Architect’ by Fatih Semiz, and Robert Woodward’s Mercury Fountain, inspired by Wollongong’s industrial and mining history.

The Japanese bridge and tea house are a gift from the City of Kawasaki. The shape of the bridge is called taiko-bashi (drum bridge) in Japanese, as it forms a circular reflection in the water like a drum.

Kids will love the all-abilities playground, the duck pond, the nature-based school holiday activities and weekly story time. The Garden also hosts guided tours, workshops, nocturnal walks and the popular outdoor cinema.

The Wollongong Botanic Garden is free and open 7am to 6pm weekdays (non-daylight saving hours) and 7am to 6.45pm weekends and public holidays (daylight saving hours).

Everyone in Wollongong knows Mount Keira – it overlooks the city, towering nearly 464 m above the beautiful coastal city. Mount Keira is a significant location to the Aboriginal people of Dharawal Country. Also pronounced Djeer or Geera, the mountain holds a strong connection to a local Dreaming story and the creation of the Five Islands. It is culturally known as a significant area for Aboriginal women and ceremonial practice.

You can access the summit from Mount Keira Road or by the Mount Keira Ring track, a 5.5 kilometre track that passes through the terrains and forests of the Illawarra Escarpment. From here you’ll view the Illawarra coastline from the Royal National Park in the north, across the Wollongong CBD, to Port Kembla, Five Islands and Lake Illawarra to the south.

Be sure to visit the ‘Six Daughters of the West Wind’ sculpture at the south-facing lookout, behind the picnic area. This sculpture commemorates the Aboriginal significance of Mount Keira with the story about this mountain and the Five Islands visible off the coast.

You can access Mount Keira lookout every day. The summit park has a kiosk serving coffee and light meals as well as BBQ facilities and accessible toilets.

Wollongong Harbour is a beautiful place to relax and wander along the beaches and lawns.

This area was first used by Aboriginal people, with the sheltered area now known as Flagstaff Hill used for cultural and ceremonial purposes for thousands of years. This sheltered aspect also attracted European settlers, who used the bay off Brighton Beach to ship local timber to Sydney.

The Harbour is home to the Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, also known as Wollongong Harbour Lighthouse, on the southern breakwater. Venture to south of the Harbour to Flagstaff Hill and enjoy stunning views of the harbour and the coastal beaches. Further along the Hill is Flagstaff Point with another lighthouse that assists the passage of vessels into Port Kembla.

This area is the only point on the eastern coast of Australia that has two lighthouses – both are delightful places to spend time and enjoy the coastline.

The area offers opportunities to stop for a break on the grassy areas to enjoy a picnic. There are also cafes along for a light meal or refreshments as well as accessible amenities.

Puckeys Nature Reserve Estate has a strong connection to the Aboriginal people who once used this land and remain custodians of this important cultural place.

It contains one of the few remaining coastal back dune systems and was once part of the Illawarra foreshore. Linked to the Wollongong Botanic Garden, this rare coastal dune system is home to several endangered plant communities, lagoons, front dune systems, marshland and endangered coastal rainforest.

Keen bird-watchers will embrace this habitat for its 130 species of migratory birds, possums, reptiles, frogs, flying fox and fish. You might even see the remains to the salt works and homestead used by Courtney Puckey, an eccentric English chemist who built a salt mill and a grand home called ‘Seafield’ in the early 20th century.

While at the reserve, walk along the 1.5 kilometre links from Fairy Creek Bridge on Squires Way in the south, through to Elliotts Road, Fairy Meadow.

Enter the reserve from the south via a pedestrian boardwalk located adjacent to the Fairy Creek Bridge on Squires Way, North Wollongong or from Elliots Road at Fairy Meadow from the north. Public amenities are located in nearby Fairy Meadow surf club (near north entry) and at Lagoon Seafood Restaurant (near south entry).

Wollongong Art Gallery is one of the largest regional galleries in Australia. Located in a historically significant building in the centre of Wollongong – surrounded by theatres, restaurants and cafes – Wollongong Art Gallery, known as WAG to locals, hosts a diverse program of contemporary exhibitions and cultural programs that celebrate its Aboriginal, multicultural and working-class history as well as the region’s natural beauty.

Some of the artworks from the gallery’s collection of more than 3,000 objects are presented alongside works by regional and national artists in unique and innovative exhibitions.

The Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm and weekends 12pm to 4pm, and closed Mondays and public holidays. Entry is free. It’s on the corner of Kembla and Burelli Streets, about 10 minutes from Wollongong rail station. You can catch the free Gong Shuttle Bus to the Gallery or metered parking is available.

Hooka Park is a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Illawarra. Situated on Dharawal land, it is named after King Hooka, an Aboriginal leader and Wodi Wodi man otherwise known as Micky Johnson.

You can enjoy a fully accessible walking loop track and take in the stories from interpretive artworks on the Hooka Creek jetty, bridge and pontoon – beautiful places to be active in a natural setting.

This is an easy place to spend time, with water bubblers and seating for you to rest and take in the scenery. A 2-storey bird watching tower overlooks the lake and an impressive view towards Kanhooka, as well as a secluded spot to watch numerous species of water birds, including the Australian Pelican, Pied Cormorants and the Pacific Black duck.

The second walk at Hooka Park meanders off the main path into Hooka Creek. This area includes a large-scale community art project called ‘Bright Lives’ that involved more than 300 local community members alongside local Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists.

The artworks you’ll see aim to promote Aboriginal heritage and both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal healing, including stone seats and carved wooden seating

Open grassy areas are a lovely place for a quiet picnic. Dogs on leash are also welcome. Toilets and parking are located nearby.

Lake Illawarra, located between the Illawarra escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, is around 9.5 kilometres long and 5.5 kilometres wide. Its surrounded by boat ramps to support recreational fishing, prawning and all water sports.

You might want to see out mullet, blue swimmer crab, dusky flathead and school prawns. You can arrange to hire a boat or stand up paddle board to enjoy on the lake during the day, and you can stay to watch a beautiful sunset in the evening.

The walking and cycling trails include the Lake Illawarra Foreshore Walk, commencing at Hooka Point and continuing for 7 kilometres to King Street Wharf in Warrawong. Reddall Reserve on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra is a popular spot for picnics with its new children's playground, picnic shelters, gas BBQs, toilet facilities and a kiosk.

You can also visit Shellharbour’s Lake Illawarra Art Trail, which explores Aboriginal heritage, local history, flora and fauna.

The artworks were created by local artists in collaboration with the community in response to the lake, its history and its people. The artists use natural and fabricated objects and various techniques such as woodcarving, painting, mosaic and glass imagery.

The Hill 60 reserve north of Port Kembla Beach is an iconic headland with a rich history.

Dominated by the rocky headland of Boilers Point and the sheltered embayment of Fisherman's Beach, it is a naturally beautiful site where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of both the northern and southern coastlines of the Illawarra, including the ecologically and historically significant Five Islands.

Rising steeply above Fisherman’s Beach, Hill 60 reserve’s large grassy areas are perfect for a picnic. These areas are easy to access and offer toilets, BBQs and a walking track to the beach.

The Traditional Custodians of the Hill 60 reserve, or ‘Illowra’, are the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal language group. The Hill 60 reserve is home to significant Aboriginal sites including shell middens.

Hill 60 forms part of an emerging cultural walk known as the Ngaraba-aan Art trail. Ngaraba-aan is a local Dharawal word meaning past, present and future. The 9km trail winds its way through the Port Kembla Heritage Park, along MM Beach, up to Hill 60 and down to Coomaditiche Lagoon.

Dogs are permitted on leash and car parking and amenities are available.