A university town with a breezy sense of cool, Wollongong strikes the perfect balance between outdoor and city living. This is due, in part, to its location, perched between mountains, lush rainforest, national parks, and a dramatic coastline that gives rise to the city’s surf, boat, and beach culture. For starters, Wollongong boasts a top-notch restaurant and bar scene, which radiates out from the city’s centre around Crown Street and draws Sydneysiders who make the 80-minute drive for spicy Balinese noodles and traditional lamb shawarma.

Wollongong is also known as a hub for new technology, with two science centres championing technological advances and future sustainability. Choosing the right holiday house in Wollongong all depends on what you’re looking for. The Blue Mile district is close to the city’s eateries and coffee haunts. Or, if you want the sand on your doorstep, take your pick from one of the town’s three city beaches, or head up or down the coast for a more rural vibe.

Wollongong Airport (WOL) is an easy 20-minute drive from the city centre. If you're arriving by car from the direction of Sydney, be sure to take the Grand Pacific Drive for picture-postcard coastal scenes through the Royal National Park over Sea Cliff Bridge, one of Wollongong’s iconic landmarks. The city has good bus, coach, and train links along the coast from its heritage-listed railway station, with services to some of the area’s popular beaches. Getting around the city itself is a breeze using the free daily shuttle service that runs every 10 or 20 minutes, depending on the time of day.

For optimal beach weather, it’s best to search for Wollongong holiday rentals in the cooler summer months of February and March. December and January are popular too, but it can get quite hot. If you’re a fan of live music and dancing, come in January when the city celebrates Australia Day. This is also when the Honk! Oz Street Music Festival rolls into town to transform the city streets into a parade of performers. Winter is the time to surf, as the low-pressure systems in the Tasman sea beef up the swell and the winds blow offshore. May, September, and October are the months when you’re most likely to see schools of migrating whales from one of the area’s lookouts.

Markets

If you’re planning on cooking during your stay, head to the Friday Forage weekly farmers market for fresh local produce. Or, for the city’s best street food, make a Thursday evening date with the food trucks at East Street Market. For independent fashion stalls and works by local artists, visit the Showground every second Sunday, when the Sunday Foragers mix up food stalls with arts and crafts from the region.

Wattamolla Beach

Known for its calm waters, with the sea on one side and a lagoon on the other, Wattamolla Beach is popular with anyone looking for a safe spot to swim and snorkel. Located in the Royal National Park, there is a charge to drive there and parking is limited during the summer months when the beach is at its busiest.

Hang Gliding Bald Point Lookout

Bald Hill is worth a visit just for the views from its famous lookout. But, if you’re feeling brave, this is also the ideal place to take flight and try your hand at single or tandem hang gliding. After a short safety course, you can launch off the hill and float out toward the sea for a birds-eye view of the coast.