04 July 2023
6 mins Read
Whether you’re an outdoorsy family, a couple looking for a romantic weekend away or an adventurous type who likes to fly solo and get away from it all, we’ve got you sorted with some of the coolest places to stay on the South Coast. And the best thing about our list of the best places to stay in Wollongong and surrounds is that it ranges from campgrounds to hotel suites and beach houses with wrap-around views. Take your pick from the following.
If you’re looking for some romance in the Gong, book a long weekend at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. Dive headfirst into all the recently refurbished hotel has to offer: dinner at Palisade Kitchen and Bar and drinks at the North Bar, which looks like something out of an Entourage scene. Best of all, doe-eyed duos don’t need to leave the pool in order to order a cocktail at the spiffy Adrift Pool Bar.
Book a long weekend at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach.
Families with little ones will appreciate the fact the Sage Hotel has an activities room with old-school video games, table tennis and Giant Jenga. The hotel, which is within walking distance of Wollongong CBD and City Beach, feels as if it could double as a lighthouse, with its glass-fronted floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Illawarra coastline. Parents will also appreciate the pool bar, which features Friday night movies.
Parents will appreciate the pool bar the Sage Bar.
The new Headlands Austinmer Beach wraps around the Austinmer headland and it’s those sea views that guests are here for. The stylish ocean-view apartments, which are proving popular for weddings and luxury escapes, look out over the Illawarra and the beauty of the location is that you can stay glued to a sun-lounger by the hotel pool, one of the coolest on offer on the coast, have dinner at the pub downstairs and then hang happily on your hotel balcony.
Headlands Austinmer Beach wraps around the headland.
The paint is only just dry at Argo Apartments located in the heart of the Wollongong CBD. Many of the new apartments, which accommodate small pets, offer views over the ocean and iconic Illawarra Escarpment. The rooms have stuck to a mainly minimalist palette of whites and charcoals enhanced by the warm glow of copper tones, which are a lustrous feature of the lobby. Enjoy glittering city views from the balcony at night as the Gong is lit up like a circuit board.
The paint is only just dry at Argo Apartments.
Surprise your squeeze with a thrilling tandem hang-gliding adventure followed by a stay at Ocean Blue Bed & Breakfast, which is a multi-level home comprising the Beachcomber Spa Suite on the upper level, the Ocean Blue garden wing with a west-facing deck, and the Sandpiper Spa Suite on the ground level. Insulate yourself from the world at this bright and breezy retreat, which includes a fully cooked breakfast of a morning.
Bask in the greenery at Ocean Blue Bed & Breakfast.
Whether you’re travelling with your kids, the in-laws or a group of foodie friends, we’ve done the Airbnb Wollongong edit and found the best Wollongong accommodation on offer. Wollongong Coastal Bungalow is one of them. Here are the details: the three-bedroom, three-bathroom bungalow is located in the Wollongong CBD, is a 10-minute walk to some of the city’s best beaches and is packed with everything you will need and includes ocean views to boot.
Wollongong Coastal Bungalow is a great AirBnB on offer.
Easton’s Escape is a well-designed light-filled apartment that has room for up to six guests, and enough room for everyone to spread out in the communal living-dining area and sunny balcony. While there’s plenty of reasons to just kick back and relax in the apartment, when you do leave, you’re just a few blocks back from the beaches in North Wollongong and some of our favourite places to eat in Wollongong. Perfect for families.
The light-filled living area extends to a private balcony.
The Bower is not on the coast. But the Mt Kembla home deserves special mention in our guide to Wollongong accommodation as it’s a quiet oasis away from the bustle of the city and the perfect base from which to lace up your boots and hit some trails. Fans of Mid-Century design will love the Mid Century lines of this architecturally designed home, while families will appreciate making memories around the fire pit under the stars.
The Bower is a quiet oasis away from the bustle of the city.
The Coledale Camping Reserve is a small grassy campground just metres away from Coledale Beach. The campground has a really cool communal vibe and is filled with shaggy haired surfers living their best #vanlife and families with little ones who aren’t up for anything too intrepid. Swim, fish, surf, dive and play French cricket and then head to Sharky’s across the road for fish and chips.
Pitch a tent metres away from Coledale Beach.
Corrimal Beach Tourist Park is a go-to for a night or two spent under canvas when visiting the Gong as it offers the simplest of joys – proximity to 1.4-kilometre stretch of sand beach views – all within nine minutes of Wollongong’s CBD. The park backs onto sand dunes and native grasses that whisker the coastline and is near to Towradgi Creek, which is a top spot to catch dusky flathead.
Windang Beach Tourist Park is sandwiched between Lake Illawarra and Windang Beach Tourist Park and it’s a choose-your-own-adventure vibe with cabins, and powered campsites that cater to tents and caravans. The location – smack-bang on Windang Beach – is perfect for immersing yourself in the Wollongong lifestyle. Families should pitch their tent as near to the children’s playground as possible.
Windang Beach Tourist Park is sandwiched between Lake Illawarra and Windang Beach.
Reflections Holiday Park in Killalea Reserve is popular with large family groups who book out the backpacker-style accommodation for special occasions. In addition to the 40-bed bunkhouse, the holiday park has large, unpowered camping sites that are popular with the grizzled surfer brigade. Thanks to the park’s reserve status, the campsite is surrounded by rolling hills and near to famed surf breaks, The Farm and Mystic’s.
unset at Reflections Holiday Park in Killalea Reserve.
For more travel tips and itineraries read our Ultimate guide to Wollongong holidays.
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